Starting a business in Djibouti: foreigner's guide (2026)

Foreigners may own 100% of a SARL (LLC) or SA (joint-stock company) with no local partner required; exceptions apply to maritime cargo handling (stevedoring), transit services, and insurance when structured as a locally-incorporated company rather than a branch of a foreign firm.

The Guichet Unique, operated by NIPA, coordinates all registration agencies and completes the process in approximately 3 working days when documentation is complete; fully online registration is not yet available for all entity types.

Registration is processed through three agencies via the single window: ODPIC for the commercial/trade registry, the Directorate General of Taxes (DGI) for tax registration, and CNSS (National Social Security Fund) for social-security enrollment; all documents submitted must be notarized.

A standard SARL requires minimum share capital of DJF 1,000,000 (approximately USD 5,600); companies established within the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone (DIFTZ) face a higher threshold of approximately USD 70,000.

Foreign investors must establish a physical registered office in Djibouti; a postal or virtual address does not satisfy the jurisdiction's local-presence obligation, and beneficial ownership information must be disclosed to the CEPD.

In April 2025 the Djiboutian government enacted the 'Startup Act Djibouti,' creating a 'Djibouti Startup' certification label and providing targeted tax, financial, and administrative incentives for innovative technology-driven companies, alongside a proposed National Fund of Funds to improve venture-capital access.