Non-Profit Company Incorporation

A non-profit company, incorporated under the Companies Act, Ch. 81:01, is an association, society, body or other group formed to achieve some useful object, without gain to its members, which has been established a body corporate with the authority, among other things, to regulate its own business, contract in its corporate name, and acquire and hold real and personal property for the objects for which it was formed.

How to Incorporate a Non-Profit Company

To incorporate a non-profit company, you are now required to:

  • create a Companies Registry Account (CRA) to access the Companies Registry Online System (CROS)
  • log into your CRA
  • choose a company name
  • reserve the name
  • complete and submit the company incorporation application and pay the fee
  • deliver signed Articles of Incorporation and original risk assessment questionnaire to the Registrar to collect your certificate of incorporation

Incorporating a Company (Non-Profit)

To incorporate your non-profit company, you must complete the following steps:

STEP 1: Create a Companies Registry Account (CRA)

Every person engaged in the formation of the company (directors, incorporator(s), attorney-at-law) must have a CRA. To create your CRA, you will need to:

  • Apply for an individual account
  • Enter personal details, contact, and address
  • Upload a copy of their birth certificate, two forms of photo identification (ID) and a headshot with one of the submitted IDs held beside their face.

For assistance with creating a CRA, you may email the CROS Help Desk at croshelpdesk@gov.tt

STEP 2: Choose a Company Name

You should carefully decide on an appropriate name for your company. That name must not be the same as or similar to, an existing business name, corporation name, or trademark. Other restrictions To ensure that the name is available you must have the name approved and reserved.

You may wish to conduct a preliminary search using the CROS Search Facility before submitting your application. This will give you an idea of whether the name is already in use, before you apply to reserve the name. You are strongly advised not to use the proposed name in advance of receipt of your certificate of incorporation.

STEP 3: Reserve the Company Name

To have your name reserved, you must electronically submit an Application for Name Search and Name Reservation to ensure the availability and suitability of the name. To submit your application:

  • Log into your CRA and select the ‘Name Reservation’ service
  • Complete a new company name reservation and pay the fee

Fee: $25.00.

Processing time: three (3) working days

Once processed, you will receive confirmation, via email, of the Registrar’s decision. The Registrar may:

  • Approve
    • The name is reserved for forty-five (45) days.
  • Query
    • Further information/clarification is needed. You will have to reply to the email, providing the necessary information.
  • Reject
    • The name has not met the availability/suitability requirements. You will have to submit a new application and pay the fee.

Once the name is approved and reserved, you must complete the company incorporation within forty-five (45) days, i.e., before the name reservation expires.

STEP 4: Consent

All other persons/entities engaged in the formation of the company must approve their inclusion on the incorporation application.

  • Approvals by a person

    The individual must:

    • Log into their CRA
    • Select “My Account”, click “Approval”, and enter the:
      • Type - Yet To Be
      • Role -
        • Director
        • Incorporator
        • Statement Signatory (director/attorney-at-law/secretary)
      • Identifier - Name Reservation Number
      • Name - Company Name
  • Approvals by a company

    A director/secretary of the company must:

    • Log into their CRA using the role of director/secretary
    • Select “My Company”, click “Approval”, and enter the:
      • Type - Yet To Be
      • Role -
        • Director
        • Incorporator
      • Identifier - Name Reservation Number
      • Name - Company Name

Once the approval(s), as above, have been granted, they must provide you with their surname and Account PIN/ company name and Company PIN, respectively, to complete your company incorporation application.

STEP 5: Complete the Company Incorporation

To have your company incorporated, you must electronically file Articles of Incorporation. To file your Articles:

  • Log into your CRA and select the ‘Registration/Incorporation’ service
  • Submit the company incorporation application and upload a scan of a completed and signed Questionnaire to Assist in Assessing Risk
  • Pay the fee

Fee: $620.00.

The incorporation particulars will be reviewed by the Registrar. A notification of the decision of the Registrar will be sent via email.

Processing time –two (2) working days

STEP 6: Collect your Certificate of Incorporation

Once the payment is processed, each director will receive confirmation, by email, that the company documents were successfully received. Your copy of the completed Articles of Incorporation and Notices of Address and Directors will be included for download. To collect your certificate of incorporation:

  • Print two copies of the Articles of Incorporation, Notice of Address and Directors
  • Sign both copies with original (wet) signatures
  • Deliver the signed forms and the original Questionnaire (a scan of which was uploaded as part of the incorporation application) to the Companies Registry Counter