An unlimited company in Ireland is a type of legal entity in which the company’s founders have unlimited liability for the business’ losses. Our team of specialists in company formation in Ireland can assist and offer in-depth details related to the registration of an unlimited company.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Support in registering an Irish unlimited company (YES/NO) | Yes, our Irish company formation agents can assist with the setup of an unlimited company. |
Main features | In this type of company, the owners have unlimited liability for the business’ losses. |
Applicable law | Companies Act, Part 19. |
| Types of unlimited companies | – designated, – non-designated, – public companies. |
| Minimum number of members | One member is required to set up an unlimited company in Ireland. |
| Minimum number of directors | At least 2 directors must be appointed. |
| Resident director required (YES/NO) | Yes. |
| Other special registration requirements (if any) | Yes. |
| Statutory document requirements | Constitution, which comprises the Memorandum and Articles of Association. |
| Minimum share capital requirements (if any) | There are no specific share capital requirements. |
| Particularities | Such companies can only operate in the sector of activity specified in their Constitution. |
| Taxation | This type of entity is subject to the personal income tax applied to its members. |
| Other special registration requirements (if any) | This type of company must also appoint a secretary. |
| Registration timeframe (approx.) | Around 5 working days. |
| Advantages | – increased privacy for the members, – quick registration procedure, – exemption from filing annual account with the tax authorities under certain conditions. |
Table of Contents
Types of unlimited companies in Ireland
The main characteristic of an unlimited company registered in Ireland refers to the unlimited liability applicable to the company’s founders. The regulation is provided under Section 1271 of the new Companies Act. When starting the registration procedure for this business structure, the investors must comply with Section 1228 of the law. Investors who want to open a company in Ireland under this business structure should know that the entity represents 2% of all the companies registered in the country.
If you are interested in setting up a company in Ireland, you can choose between the following 3 types of unlimited ones, each one providing different benefits:
- the private company with a share capital;
- the public company with a share capital;
- the public company without a share capital.
Our Irish company formation specialists can offer detailed information on each type of unlimited company to help you make the right choice.
Requirements for registering an Irish unlimited company
The Irish unlimited company may be set up by only one member (this type of company does not have shareholders). However, it is necessary to appoint two directors, who must be natural persons. At the same time, it is also necessary to appoint a company secretary, which can be represented by one of the company’s directors. Our team of Irish company formation agents can offer more details on the duties of the directors of an unlimited company.
The company registration in Ireland for this business form requires drawing up the statutory documents, which, following the regulations of the new Companies Act, are now represented by the Constitution.
The company has to be registered with the Companies Registration Office (CRO), a procedure that can take approximately five working days.
Documents required to open an unlimited company in Ireland
The procedure to register an Irish unlimited company is the same as for any other business form. The following documents must be registered with the Companies Registration Office in this sense:
- Form A1, which is specific to this type of company;
- the Memorandum and Articles of Association;
- the minutes of the first meeting of the directors;
- the share certificates issued by the company;
- the trading name reservation form.
Please note that the name of the company must contain the words “Unlimited Company”, the short form “UC”, or the Irish form of these words.
You can rely on our company registration agents in Ireland for assistance in drafting the constitutive documents for your future unlimited company.
The designated unlimited company in Ireland
An unlimited company can take the form of a designated entity whose members are:
- companies limited by shares;
- companies limited by guarantee;
- partnerships.
It is also possible for the designated company to be registered as an Irish subsidiary of an enterprise registered abroad. This is often the case with EU businesses seeking to operate in Ireland.
The main differences between unlimited companies in Ireland
If you do not know how to choose between the different forms of the Irish unlimited company, especially when it comes to the share capital requirements, you should know that there is no specific amount to be deposited in the case of those with a share capital.
The only condition set out in the Companies Act is that private and public unlimited companies with a share capital must provide for the amount subscribed and its division into shares in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. As such, you are not bound to deposit a specific amount; however, it must be sufficient to cover the business’ operations.
Why invest in Ireland?
Ireland is one of the most appealing business destinations in Europe and the European Union. No matter if you decide on a limited or unlimited company here, according to the European Commission:
- Ireland scored 74.1% of the EU average for finance and support for businesses at the level of 2025;
- the country also ranked above the EU average in company investments with a score of 102%;
- Ireland also scored 187.8% in terms of environmental sustainability, which is above the EU average.
Businessmen are invited to contact our team of Irish company formation consultants, who can also provide advice on the tax regulations applicable to this entity and can also help you open a bank account in Ireland for your new company.