EU Inc Registration: How It Will Work

The 48-hour promise

The Commission's proposal sets a binding target: EU Inc incorporation must be completable within 48 hours of a complete application being submitted. This is not an aspiration — it's a legally binding service level that member states will be required to meet.

For context: the current EU average for company formation is 7–10 working days. Italy averages 15–20 days. Germany 7–14 days. The 48-hour target represents a 5–10x improvement on current reality.

What the digital registration process will look like

Based on the proposal and the existing eIDAS framework (EU digital identity), the EU Inc registration process is expected to work as follows:

Step 1: Choose your member state (Day 0)

You choose which EU member state to register your EU Inc in. This affects your registered address, your corporate tax obligations, and which national commercial register will be your "home register." You do not need to be a citizen or resident of that country.

Step 2: Prepare your application documents (Day 0–1)

Based on the proposal, the required documents will include:

• Identity verification for all founders/directors (via eIDAS digital identity or equivalent)
• Draft articles of association (either the standard template provided, or a customised version)
• Registered office address in the chosen member state
• Statement of beneficial ownership (as required by EU AML directives)
• Payment of registration fee (amount set by each member state)

Step 3: Submit via the national register portal (Day 1)

The application is submitted entirely online through the chosen member state's business register portal. The proposal requires each member state to have a compliant digital portal by the time EU Inc goes live. There is no physical attendance, no notary appointment, and no original document submission required.

Step 4: Verification and approval (within 48 hours)

The national register reviews the application. Under the proposal, if the application is complete, the register must approve it within 48 hours. If there are issues, the register must inform you of exactly what is needed to complete the application.

Step 5: BRIS registration and EU-wide recognition

Once registered in your chosen member state, your EU Inc is automatically registered in the Business Registers Interconnection System (BRIS). This is the technical backbone that makes EU-wide recognition possible — any EU authority, court, or institution can verify your company's existence and details through BRIS without requiring additional filings in each country.

The once-only principle

One of the most important features of EU Inc is the "once-only principle" — you submit documents once, and they are accepted across all member states. Currently, if a German GmbH wants to open a branch in France, the French authorities may require certified translations, apostilled documents, and re-verification of information that was already verified in Germany.

Under EU Inc, BRIS handles the cross-border data sharing. An EU Inc registered in Germany is automatically recognised in France — no additional filing, no translations, no apostilles needed for basic recognition.

What EU Inc articles of association will look like

The proposal includes a standardised articles of association template that founders can use without any modifications. Key default provisions include:

• Single or multi-class shares
• Simple majority voting for ordinary resolutions
• 75% supermajority for constitutional amendments
• Director appointment and removal procedures
• Shareholder information rights
• Dividend distribution rules

Founders can also use a customised version — the template is a floor, not a ceiling. Investor-specific provisions, veto rights, drag-along/tag-along clauses, and ESOP provisions can all be added to the standard template.

Bank account opening: the known gap

Even if EU Inc registration takes 48 hours, bank account opening will likely remain the bottleneck for getting actually operational. Currently, EU business bank account opening takes anywhere from 1 day (fintechs like Revolut Business, Wise) to 4–6 weeks (traditional banks with strict KYC requirements).

EU Inc registration will not automatically solve the banking KYC problem. New companies with €1 minimum capital may face heightened scrutiny from banks. Plan for this gap — consider using a fintech business account initially while the traditional banking relationship develops.

Timeline: when can you actually register?

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• European Commission proposal COM/2026, Article 14 (48-hour obligation)
• BRIS — Business Registers Interconnection System, official documentation
• eIDAS 2.0 Regulation — EU digital identity framework
• EU AML Directive — beneficial ownership requirements