Starting a Business - Angola

Law No. 10/18 (2018) abolished the prior requirement that at least 35% of share capital be held by Angolan nationals, enabling 100% foreign ownership in most sectors. Sector-specific restrictions persist: the oil/petroleum sector is governed by the Local Content Law (Presidential Decree No. 271/20 of 20 October 2020), Angolan nationals must hold a majority stake in maritime shipping agencies, and banking and mining retain their own special regulatory regimes.

The Guichet Único de Empresa (GUE), operating at gue.gov.ao, is the official single-window for company formation, alteration, and dissolution. Simplified incorporation of an LDA or SA can be done online or in-person and completed in a matter of hours; practical operational setup including corporate bank account opening typically extends to several additional weeks.

For a Sociedade por Quotas (LDA), minimum share capital is the Kwanza equivalent of approximately USD 1,000; for a Sociedade Anónima (SA), the equivalent of USD 20,000, with at least one-third paid at formation. The Simplification Law (Lei No. 11/15 of 17 June 2015) relaxed mandatory minimum capital for LDAs formed through the simplified GUE procedure.

Foreign investors may incorporate a company without prior AIPEX registration. After incorporation, investors must register with the Angola Investment and Export Promotion Agency (AIPEX) to obtain a Private Investment Registration Certificate (CRIP), which is required to legally repatriate dividends and access tax and customs incentives. Applications are submitted via AIPEX's electronic SETIP platform, with supporting documents including proof of funds and company articles.

Investments exceeding USD 10 million fall under the contractual regime introduced by amending Law No. 10/21 (22 April 2021): a negotiated investment contract must be authorised by the Council of Ministers and signed by the President, adding significant procedural complexity and time for large foreign investments.

Presidential Decree No. 172/23 (August 2023) replaced multiple prior commercial authorisations with a single indefinitely valid commercial licence, further streamlining the process for commencing commercial activity following company registration.