Skip to content
World Watch

How to start a business in Chad as a foreigner (2026)

Starting a business in Chad as a foreigner: moderate.

Chad operates within the OHADA regional legal framework, which standardises company formation across 17 member states. The government has centralised registration through the ANIE one-stop shop (Guichet Unique de Création des Entreprises), which legally processes registrations in 72 hours, though practical timelines run 7-15 working days. Foreigners may own 100% of a company in most sectors, but broader infrastructure deficits and administrative capacity constraints place Chad in the bottom quintile of the World Bank's B-READY business environment assessment.

Last verified Official sources first · MethodologyCompare Chad with other countries

Legal framework

OHADA Uniform Act on Commercial Companies and Economic Interest Groups (AUSCGIE); Chad National Investment Charter (2008); ANIE (Agence Nationale des Investissements et des Exportations) one-stop shop

Key points: starting a business in Chad

  1. Foreign Ownership

    Both foreign and domestic investors may establish and fully own businesses in Chad. No sector-specific foreign-equity caps apply, with the only exception being industries that implicate national security or are deemed strategically sensitive. The National Investment Charter (2008) guarantees foreign investors the same rights as Chadians in privatisation procedures.

    state.gov state.gov

  2. One-Stop Registration (ANIE)

    The ANIE Guichet Unique de Création des Entreprises consolidates three mandatory steps, commercial court registry (RCCM), tax authority (DGI), and social security (CNPS), into a single interface. The statutory deadline is 72 hours from submission of notarised documents; practical processing typically takes 7-15 working days. Online registration is not yet available.

    anie.td state.gov centralafricataxguide.com

  3. Key Formation Steps

    The main steps are: (1) prepare and notarise incorporation documents (articles of association, shareholder identity documents); (2) submit to ANIE's Guichet Unique for simultaneous RCCM registration, tax ID issuance, and CNPS enrolment; (3) publish a formation notice in a legally authorised newspaper within 15 days of RCCM registration. A criminal-record certificate (casier judiciaire) must be obtained within 75 days of registration.

    anie.td centralafricataxguide.com

  4. Minimum Capital

    Under the revised OHADA AUSCGIE, the minimum share capital for a Société à Responsabilité Limitée (SARL) is 100,000 XAF (approximately EUR 150). At least half must be paid up on subscription; the remainder may be released within two years of RCCM registration. There is no statutory minimum capital for a sole-trader (entreprise individuelle).

    ohada.com archive.doingbusiness.org

  5. Investment Incentives

    The National Investment Charter offers qualifying companies up to five years of tax-exempt status. ANIE is the official point of contact for applying for these incentives alongside the registration process.

    state.gov anie.td

  6. Practical Business Environment

    Despite formal reforms, Chad scores in the bottom quintile on Public Services and Operational Efficiency in the World Bank B-READY 2025 assessment, reflecting weak registry infrastructure, limited digital services, and constrained administrative capacity. These practical barriers mean that nominal timelines are frequently exceeded.

    worldbank.org openknowledge.worldbank.org

Sources

  1. state.gov/reports/2025-investment-climate-statements/chad/
  2. state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/638719_2025-Chad-Investment-Climate-Statem
  3. anie.td/creer-votre-entreprise/
  4. centralafricataxguide.com/chad-one-stop-shop-for-companies-creation-in-chad/
  5. ohada.com/actualite/3364/simplification-de-la-constitution-des-sarl-dans-lespac
  6. archive.doingbusiness.org/en/data/exploreeconomies/chad
  7. worldbank.org/en/businessready
  8. anie.td/
  9. openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/717d6abc-91cc-4a0b-9f5a-6f59e4b626bb

Next for Chad: Crypto & Digital AssetsDeveloping

Next topic

Orientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 24 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026