A foreign individual is forming an OOO
You need to check whether the proposed structure is available, identify the ownership interest and director, determine the founder's documents and prepare the company formation.
Foreign founders. A Russian company.
Company formation in Russia for foreign founders
Planning to set up a Russian limited liability company (OOO) on your own, with a partner or through a foreign company? Konsultant Law Firm helps assess the ownership and management structure, prepare corporate documents and organise the registration filing.
We communicate directly in English. Communication in Chinese is arranged through an interpreter.
A consultation with document review starts at RUB 5,000. Company registration support is quoted individually.
You can start by email without a Russian telephone number. We first agree the task, required documents, fees and working arrangements.
Since 2007Konsultant Law Firm has been in operation
Individuals and companieswe consider different founder structures
Structure and documentswe prepare a basis for operations after registration
How a foreign founder can start setting up a company in Russia
Start by assessing the proposed owners, activities and management arrangements. A Russian OOO can be formed with foreign participation, but whether a particular structure is permitted and which approvals are needed depend on ownership, control, the business sector and applicable requirements.
Our role is to help identify an appropriate sequence of steps, collect the initial information, prepare the agreed corporate documents and organise the registration procedure. A bank account, work authorisations, licences and the launch of sales require their own steps; any support with them is agreed separately.
When to contact us
Tell us who will own the company and what it intends to do. This helps identify the issues to resolve before preparing the registration application.
The founder is a foreign company
You need evidence of its legal status, signatories' authority and corporate approvals, together with a review of ownership and requirements for documents issued abroad.
You are setting up with business partners
You need to agree ownership interests, the director's powers, decision-making procedures and the terms to record in corporate documents before operations begin.
The founders are outside Russia
You need to establish which documents can be prepared remotely, where they must be signed and certified, and which steps require the applicant's participation.
A standard charter does not suit the business
You need governance arrangements, approval procedures for significant decisions and rules for relations between owners that reflect the actual business structure.
Registration needs to fit your launch plans
You need to understand what comes after incorporation: contracts, accounting, banking documents, permits and legal support for day-to-day work.
What we check before registration
These questions help define the scope of work and identify conditions that may affect documents, costs and timing.
The purpose and form of your Russian presence
Why you need a local company, which entity will enter into contracts and what activities are planned. Forming a Russian OOO and opening a foreign company's branch involve different procedures; we establish the proposed arrangement first.
Founders, control and restrictions
Individuals' citizenship, companies' countries of incorporation and the ownership and control structure. We check applicable foreign participation restrictions and whether specific permissions or approvals are needed.
Ownership interests and governance
The number of members, ownership percentages, voting arrangements and matters requiring approval. We assess whether a standard charter is suitable or a tailored document is needed.
The director and authority to act
Who will manage the company, sign documents and represent it. For a foreign director, we separately assess lawful stay and work requirements in Russia to the extent needed for the project.
The address and contact with the company
Where the executive body will be based, the basis for using the premises and which address details can be substantiated. Providing an address is not automatically part of our legal services.
Business activities
What the company will sell, manufacture or provide. We identify the activity information for registration and assess whether the planned operations require licences, notifications or other authorisations.
Capital and proposed funding
The amount and contribution arrangements for the charter capital, proposed contributions and movement of funds. Tax and currency regulation issues form a separate scope where they are needed to assess the structure.
Documents and filing method
Availability of founder documents, translation and certification requirements, the applicant's authority and an available filing route. Any need for an apostille or legalisation is checked for the specific country and document.
What the engagement can cover
We define the services before work begins. The scope depends on ownership, document readiness and the registration task selected.
Assessment of the structure and sequence of steps
We review the proposed ownership and management model, identify matters needing further assessment and agree the preparation process.
A list of founder documents
We identify the information needed about individuals and companies, evidence of authority and formal requirements for foreign documents.
Corporate documents
We prepare the formation resolution or meeting minutes, a tailored charter where required and other documents within the agreed scope.
The registration application
We prepare the application and filing information, checking their consistency with the documents of the founders, director and company being formed.
Filing arrangements and tracking the outcome
We agree the applicant's actions and filing method, monitor consideration and follow up on receipt of the registration authority's documents.
The next legal steps
Following the registration outcome, we identify further tasks: contracts, corporate actions and ongoing support arrangements. Any additional work is agreed separately.
Translations, notarial acts, permit applications and other third-party work are included only where expressly agreed. Registration, licensing and banking decisions are made by the relevant authorities and organisations.
The work products we agree
We establish in advance which documents and actions are included in the paid scope.
A clear preparation process
A list of initial information, documents and issues to resolve before submitting the registration application.
Corporate documents for your structure
Prepared documents covering company formation, governance and members, in the agreed composition.
An organised registration procedure
The application, chosen filing route, applicant's actions and tracking of the outcome within the engagement.
A list of follow-up tasks
Clarity on what remains after registration and which arrangements must be made separately before operations begin.
If a written legal opinion is required, we separately agree its scope and format. The registration outcome depends on compliance with the requirements and the registration authority's decision.
How we get started
You describe the proposed business
Who the founders will be, where the owners are based, what the company will do, its intended Russian region and your preferred launch date.
We identify the issues and documents
We clarify the structure, restrictions, filing method and preparation scope. Where needed, we begin with a paid consultation reviewing the materials provided.
We agree fees and prepare the documents
We define services, expenses, communication and translation languages, each party's actions and the working schedule. We prepare the agreed documents and arrange their formal execution.
We support filing and discuss the next steps
We monitor the registration stage within the engagement. Following the outcome, we identify any further legal work needed for the company's operations.
Preparation time depends on the founders, document readiness, translations and necessary approvals. The authority's application review period is not the total time needed to launch a business.
You can begin discussions and exchange materials remotely. We assess which stages can be completed without a visit after reviewing the documents and authority to act.
Who will handle your matter
Nikolay Nemkov
Managing Partner, Konsultant Law Firm
More than 20 years of legal practice. Konsultant Law Firm has operated since 2007, handling corporate matters, contracts and business litigation.
When forming a company, we consider how the owners will make decisions and operate after registration. The team and the Managing Partner's involvement are determined by the agreed scope.
Meet our firm
A short introduction to Konsultant Law Firm and our approach. The video starts when you press Play.
Open the video on Kinescope →Fees and engagement options
For a foreign founder, the preparation scope depends on ownership, where documents are issued and the procedures required. We agree fees before work begins.
Company formation consultation
From RUB 5,000
A discussion of your project with review of the documents provided, within a scope agreed in advance. It helps identify the initial issues and the next stage.
Preparation of the registration package, a written legal opinion and further support are not automatically included in the consultation fee.
Discuss a consultationPreparation and registration support
Quoted individually
Work on the company structure, corporate documents, application and filing arrangements within the agreed scope.
Fees depend on the number and type of founders, documents from other countries, the charter, execution requirements and additional approvals.
Discuss registrationChanges to an existing company
Quoted individually
If a company already exists, we separately agree amendments to its charter, director or address details, or other necessary corporate actions.
We first identify the changes, the members' authority and applicable requirements. This work is not automatically included in forming a new company.
Discuss company changesTranslations, notarial services, any required apostille or legalisation, official fees, delivery and other expenses are agreed separately. Charter capital is a contribution to the company and is not part of the lawyers' fees.
Payment arrangements and expenses are discussed before work begins. All amounts on this page are in Russian rubles.
What to tell us for the first discussion
Start with a short description of the project. We agree the full document list and how to share it once the task is defined.
The proposed founders
Individuals or companies, citizenship or countries of incorporation, proposed ownership percentages and the overall ownership structure.
Planned activities
What you will sell, manufacture or provide, who your customers and suppliers are, and whether you need staff in Russia.
The region and address
Where operations are planned, whether premises are available and whether the director's location has been determined.
The director and people involved
Who will act as director, who approves documents and where the people signing applications and resolutions are based.
Documents already available
Which founder documents you have and their languages. For a foreign company, whether registration information and evidence of authority are available.
Timing and contact details
Your preferred start date, upcoming commitments, communication language, time zone and email address or messenger contact.
A description is enough for the first message. We request passport copies, corporate documents and powers of attorney to the extent needed for the agreed work.
Official information for your preparation
The Russian Federal Tax Service provides information on company registration and records of Russian legal entities. We assess how the requirements apply to your project separately.
Questions about company formation by foreign founders
Can a foreign individual form an OOO in Russia?
A Russian limited liability company (OOO) can be formed with foreign participation. Before preparing the documents, it is necessary to assess the proposed structure, business sector and any applicable restrictions or approval requirements. Ownership of an interest and a foreign individual's right to stay or work in Russia are separate matters.
Can a foreign company be the founder?
This structure is possible where the applicable requirements are met. Registration requires evidence of the foreign founder's legal status from the relevant register or another document of equivalent legal force. We also check signatories' authority, resolutions, ownership and the formalities for foreign documents.
Can the entire process be completed without visiting Russia?
Discussions and preparation can start remotely. Whether registration can be completed without a visit depends on the documents, filing method, signatures, certification and the applicant's authority. We do not promise a fully remote process before checking these conditions. The bank's account-opening requirements are assessed separately.
Do documents need translation, an apostille or legalisation?
Requirements depend on the country of origin, document type, international agreements and where the document will be submitted. We identify the translation and certification needed for your documents. The same formalities should not be ordered for every foreign document without checking its intended use.
How should several founders agree ownership and the charter?
Before registration, it is useful to agree each member's contribution, ownership percentage, the director's powers and the procedure for significant decisions. We then assess whether a standard charter is suitable or a tailored document is needed. A corporate agreement or further work on relations between members is a separately agreed scope where required.
How long does company formation take?
The overall time depends on the readiness of initial information and foreign documents, translation, certification and necessary approvals. The authority's consideration of the application is only one stage. We set a working schedule after assessing the task; opening an account, obtaining licences and actually launching operations have their own timelines.
Is opening a bank account part of registration?
No. State registration of the company does not itself open a bank account. A bank carries out its own customer checks and decides whether to provide services. If legal assistance with documents or replies to the bank is needed, we agree its scope and fees separately. We do not guarantee account opening or payment processing.
Does company registration include an address, a director and work authorisations?
Providing an address or a director is not automatically part of the legal services. Registering an OOO also does not replace any necessary licensing or assessment of immigration and employment requirements. Before work begins, we identify the project's additional tasks and who will handle them.
Which languages can we use, and what does a consultation cost?
We communicate directly in English and use an interpreter for Chinese. A consultation reviewing the documents provided starts at RUB 5,000 within an agreed scope. We discuss the language of written materials, translation needs and related expenses in advance. The registration package and subsequent support are charged under separate arrangements.
Can we continue working with you after registration?
Yes. Once the company is formed, you can separately engage us for contract work, counterparty checks, corporate matters and ongoing legal support under Russian law. These services are not automatically included in the registration package. If your company already exists, we can start with its current task.
Discuss setting up your company in Russia
Tell us about the proposed founders, where their documents are issued, planned activities and preferred timing. We will identify the information needed to assess the task and agree the engagement.
Contact us by email
You can enquire without a Russian telephone number. Our email address:
Contact us on WeChat
Scan the QR code in WeChat or open the image. Chinese communication is arranged through an interpreter.
Your first message helps identify the task. Paid document review, preparation and support begin once the scope and fees have been agreed.
We work and respond to enquiries at weekends too. Consultation times are arranged with your time zone in mind.