Vienna · AustriaWONE Global Capability Partner · Austria
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Cases · Markets, trade & operations · Market entry, licensing & government engagement
Register a branch or representative office
Can we just open a branch or representative office instead of a full company?
WONE Global checks what the office may lawfully do in that market, prepares and legalises the parent's documents, registers it and sets out exactly what the office must not do.
Countries in the typical case Japan · Vietnam
The situation
What is happening
What is at stake
A representative office that starts selling, or a branch nobody registered for tax, can create penalties and a taxable presence you did not plan for.
A scenario
Industrial manufacturerCorporation · from Japan · in Vietnam
It wants people in Vietnam to support its distributors, without trading locally or creating a taxable business there.
Where it ends A licensed office that supports distributors without creating a tax problem.
A representative scenario of the work WONE Global coordinates, not a specific client’s matter.
Also asked as “What can a representative office legally do?”“How is a foreign branch taxed?”“Our company needs a local representative to operate legally”
The solution
How WONE Global handles it
WONE Global checks what the office may lawfully do in that market, prepares and legalises the parent's documents, registers it and sets out exactly what the office must not do.
Usually led by Setting up and running a company, with Tax and structuring and Licences, permits and regulators.
Step by step, in the scenario
- Day 1WONE Global sets out what a representative office may and may not do in Vietnam.
- Week 1Parent documents are prepared, notarised and legalised in Japan.
- Weeks 2-6A local professional files the licence and registers the office.
- ThenStaff receive a one-page list of permitted and prohibited activities.
Timings are typical. They depend on the countries, the authorities involved and how quickly documents are available.
Decisions
The decisions involved
- 01Whether the activity is permitted for a branch or representative office
- 02What the parent must file and certify
- 03How profits, if any, will be taxed locally
Outcomes
What you receive
- Registered branch or representative office
- Legalised parent-company documents filed
- Clarity on what the office may and may not do
This is a general guide. Your WONE Global professional confirms the work, timing and fees for your markets before anything starts.
Services
The services involved
One area of expertise usually leads; the others move with it. WONE Global keeps them connected across every country involved.
Who handles it
Setting up and running a company, market by market
The status of the lead service in the markets that matter for this case. A named WONE Global Partner acts under their own licence; where none is in place yet, WONE Global confirms availability before anything else.
- Japanin the typical case On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
- Vietnamin the typical case On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
- Austria WONE Global Partner Mag. Mario Haider · Tax Consultant Brief this Partner →
- Rwanda WONE Global Partner Lydie N. Murorunkwere · Founder & Managing Director Brief this Partner →
- United Arab Emirates WONE Global Partner Dr Hajra Nazir · Head Corporate Advisory / Consultancy Division Brief this Partner →
- India On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
- Saudi Arabia On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
- Singapore On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
- United Kingdom On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
- United States On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
Other markets: WONE Global covers 100 countries. Name yours in the requirement →
Vienna · Austria
Kigali · RwandaWONE Global Capability Partner · Rwanda
Lydie N. Murorunkwere
Lydie is the Founder and Managing Director of ML Corporate Services Ltd and the first Chairperson of the Rwanda Trust Companies Association (RTCA).
Dubai · United Arab EmiratesWONE Global Capability Partner · United Arab Emirates
Dr Hajra Nazir
Dr Hajra Nazir is qualified Professional Doctorate (PD) in Business Advisory & Compliance with prestigious organizations in the field of Corporate Advisory, Business Administration, Law, Commerce, Applied Economics etc.…
Vienna · AustriaWONE Global Capability Partner · Austria
Dr. Rosam Karl J.
Douala · CameroonWONE Global Capability Partner · Cameroon
Edmond Christian AKOA MBALLA
Bogotá · ColombiaWONE Global Capability Partner · Colombia
Katherin Diaz Velilla
Complete profile
- Tax and structuringNamed lead
- Licences, permits and regulatorsNamed lead
- Buying, selling and investingNamed lead
International tax attorney and strategic advisor with 12+ years across Colombia's DIAN, Ministry of Finance, Senate, Presidency, and EY. Co-founder of V&V Asociados. Specializes in cross-border tax structuring, transfer…
Discover
Where this case connects
The markets, corridors and guides behind this case, and the questions to put to Ask WONE below. Every link opens a page that links back here.
Markets in the typical case
Corridors
Services and subject
Worked examples
How it goes in practice
Researched corridor journeys, and representative scenarios on the same subject. None is a specific client’s matter.
- Japan ↔ Southeast Asia · researched journeyA Japanese manufacturer sets up a BOI-promoted Thai subsidiaryRead the journey →
- Mid-sized company · from Germany · in Saudi ArabiaIt has won its first Saudi contract and must be able to invoice and staff the project within weeks. The choice is between a branch, a local company or working through a local agent, and each carries different tax, licensing and liability consequences.How WONE Global handles it →
- Founder-led company · from Singapore · in United KingdomIts first enterprise client in London will only sign with a UK entity. The company must exist, with a bank account and tax registrations, before the contract date next quarter.How WONE Global handles it →
Market entry, licensing & government engagement
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WONE Global Intelligence
Ask about doing business across borders
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