Transferring a company name reservation

If you want someone else to finish incorporating your company

Part of: Reserving a name for a new company

Before you register a company with the Companies Office, you must reserve a company name on the New Zealand Companies Register. If you've already reserved a company name, but another authorised person or organisation is completing the process of incorporating your company, the reservation can be transferred to them, free of charge.

Time limit on company name reservations

Once your company name reservation is approved, you have 20 working days to incorporate your company, or change its name, before your reservation expires. That 20-day period applies even if you transfer the name reservation to someone else.

If you do plan to transfer a name reservation, and the reservation period is about to expire, consider reserving the name for another period of 20 working days, before making the transfer.

If you need more time to reserve a name for a new company

Who can authorise a transfer

You can only authorise the transfer of a name reservation if:

  • you reserved the company name, or
  • you're a member of the organisation that reserved it.

Who you can transfer a name reservation to

Your company name reservation must be transferred to the person or organisation who is going to complete the incorporation process for the company.

The authorised person to whom you transfer your company name reservation must have:

  • a RealMe® login, and
  • an online services account with the Companies Register.

RealMe logins and setting up your online services account

How to transfer a name reservation

The authorised person or organisation that the company name reservation is being transferred to must complete the following process.

To transfer the reservation to yourself:

  1. Log in to your online services account.
  2. From the 'Online services' menu, go to the section on 'Incorporating a NZ company' and choose 'Transfer name reservation'
  3. Enter your company's name reservation number.
    You can find this number in the reservation confirmation email we sent to the person who originally reserved the company name.
  4. Select 'Check name' to view the reserved company name and confirm the transfer request details in the 'Confirmation' window.
  5. If the details shown are correct, select 'Submit'.
  6. Choose 'OK' next to 'Name reservation' to view a summary of the details of the transfer.

What happens next

After the transfer is completed, a confirmation email will be sent to:

  • the person who originally reserved the company name, and
  • the person or organisation to which the name reservation has been transferred.

The company name reservation will appear in the 'My unfinished business' section on the dashboard of the authorised person or organisation to which the name reservation has been transferred.

Transfer a name reservation

More 'Reserving a name for a new company' guides:

All help topics

Before you start a company 5 guides

Get an overview of how companies are structured, find out about the company records you need to keep, and what's involved when you incorporate with and report to the Companies Office.

Starting a company 11 guides

You need to comply with New Zealand laws when you incorporate your company with the Companies Office, including reserving a company name, appointing directors, issuing shares and registering for tax.

Keeping company details up to date 13 guides

Once your company is registered with the Companies Office, nominate who will have authority to file your annual returns, and update your name, address, constitution, director and shareholder details.

See all 13 guides for Keeping company details up to date

Shares and shareholders 7 guides

When you incorporate, you must provide details of all company shares and shareholders. As changes occur, you must update this information on your own share register and in your company's annual return.

Company directors 7 guides

Directors have responsibilities to their company and shareholders, and under the Companies Act 1993. You must register all your directors with the Companies Office and they must sign a consent form.​

Filing annual returns 8 guides

Find out about filing an annual return — the information you need to update, how to change your filing month or request a time extension — and what happens if you don't file your annual return by the due date.

Complying with the law 11 guides

Find out how New Zealand law affects the directors and shareholders of your company, and your responsibility to create and maintain accurate company records, report to us and file financial statements.

Financial reporting 7 guides

​Some large New Zealand and overseas companies, and all FMC reporting entities must submit audited annual financial statements to the Companies Office.

Managing an overseas company in New Zealand 11 guides

Before they can carry out some business activities, companies incorporated in other countries, including Australia, must register with the Companies Office and then keep their company details up to date.

Closing a company 11 guides

When your company closes down you need to remove it from the register. Your company can be removed if it amalgamates with another company or doesn't file its annual return.

Restoring a company to the register 4 guides

Only some companies can be reinstated to the Companies Register once they've been removed. Find out who can apply, what evidence to provide and if you should apply to the Registrar or the High Court.

When your company fails 9 guides

Find out about voluntary administration, receivership and liquidation (external administration), and the roles and responsibilities of those appointed to manage your company's affairs.

Managing your online account 8 guides

Creating an account with the Companies Office allows you to complete the majority of your transactions online. It's free to set up, but fees apply for some transactions, such as filing annual returns.

Getting support to use the Companies Register 8 guides

Get help with any technical problems you have using the register, such as uploading documents or searching for companies, directors and shareholders.