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

Foreign and domestic private entities may establish and own businesses; an SARL (limited liability company) can be 100% foreign-owned and Niger's Investment Code has no general foreign-investment screening or approval mechanism (though informal government due diligence occurs).

Energy, mineral resources and national-security-related sectors restrict foreign ownership/control. For mining, the government takes a minimum 10% free stake and reserves the right to require up to a 33% stake in a company's Nigerien operations.

Under OHADA-aligned rules an SARL requires at least one shareholder of any nationality and minimum share capital around XOF 100,000 (~US$170), with shares of XOF 5,000; an SA (public company) requires substantially more.

Company registration is done at the CFE/Maison de l'Entreprise, which files with the RCCM and simultaneously handles tax ID (NIF), social security (CNSS) and employment agency (ANPE) registration; basic registration targets roughly 3 days, down from 14+ days in 2016.

Foreign investors must use a notary to draw up and register incorporation documents under the OHADA framework, of which Niger has been a member since 1995; this adds a formal but standardized step.

Registration cost fell to roughly XOF 17,500 (~US$33) by 2019, yet the post-2023-coup context — ECOWAS withdrawal, lingering sanctions effects, electricity shortages and political risk — significantly degrades the practical climate for new businesses.