Business
Commercial companies under a 2004 statute with SERVE registration
Commercial Companies Law No. 4/2004 provides for private and public limited companies. Registration runs through SERVE, the business registration and verification service, which operates as a single window for incorporation and licensing.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — National. SERVE administers registration; commercial disputes go to the district courts.
Governing law
- Commercial Companies Law (Law No. 4/2004) — company forms, capital and governance
- Decree-Law No. 6/2013 — establishment of SERVE as the business registration authority
- Private Investment Law (Law No. 15/2017) — investment incentives and guarantees
In practice
The two principal forms are the sociedade por quotas, a private limited company, and the sociedade anónima, a public company. SERVE has substantially shortened incorporation timelines by consolidating registration, tax number issuance and municipal licensing. The Private Investment Law of 2017 offers tax and customs benefits for qualifying investment through TradeInvest Timor-Leste, and provides guarantees against expropriation without compensation. Petroleum activity is carved out and governed by its own regime tied to the Timor Sea arrangements.