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Company registers in Libya: al-sijill al-tijari and the Ministry of Economy

Last checked 7 November 2026 · 6 sources

Short answer

Libya's commercial register, al-sijill al-tijari, is run under the Ministry of Economy and Trade, whose site links to an electronic commercial register system 1. The ministry lists the documents for forming, renewing and changing a sharika musahima (joint-stock company), including a bank letter showing 30% of subscribed capital paid 2. In March 2020 the ministry reviewed the general commercial register system before launch 3. No official Libyan register search, fee schedule or land register could be opened for this page.
Register name
al-Sijill al-Tijari (the commercial register) 1
Ministry in charge
Wizarat al-Iqtisad wa al-Tijara (Ministry of Economy and Trade) 1
Central office
Maktab al-Sijill al-Tijari al-'Amm (general commercial register office) 3
Online system
Manzumat al-sijill al-tijari (commercial register system), linked at cr.economy.gov.ly 1
Capital paid at formation, joint-stock company
30% of subscribed capital, shown by a commercial bank letter 2
Company law named by the ministry
Commercial Activity Law No. 23 of 2010 2

Who keeps the register

The commercial register sits with Libya's Ministry of Economy and Trade. Its website lists al-sijill al-tijari among its company services, next to joint companies, commercial agencies and foreign company licences 1. The page footer names the ministry as Wizarat al-Iqtisad wa al-Sina'a (Ministry of Economy and Industry), the name used in its 2020 news items 1,3. The site gives a Tripoli address and the telephone number +218213631313 1.

The ministry's news pages refer to a Maktab al-Sijill al-Tijari al-'Amm (general commercial register office) 3,4. A notice posted on 3 November 2019 was titled damj ba'd makatib al-sijill al-tijari al-mahalliya (merger of some local commercial register offices) 5. The notice page carries only its title, so the offices concerned are not known from that source 5.

The electronic register system

Under khadamat iliktruniya (electronic services), the ministry links five systems. They are the import and export system, the commercial register system, the commercial agencies system, the consumer cooperatives system and the public companies system 1. The commercial register system link points to cr.economy.gov.ly 1.

On 23 March 2020 the minister held a meeting at the ministry on the general commercial register system 3. The undersecretary, the head of the media and IT office, the director of the general commercial register office, the Niqabat Muharriri al-'Uqud (syndicate of contract drafters) and the company building the system attended 3. The meeting reviewed how the system works and gave final comments before launch. The minister asked that the comments be added and that work on the system start as soon as possible 3.

On 2 March 2020 the ministry announced rules for receiving mail and handing over mustakhrajat (extracts) at the general commercial register 4. The ministry's own pages do not state a launch date for the online system, so none is given here.

Forming a joint-stock company

The ministry's list for ta'sis (formation) of a sharika musahima (joint-stock company) has seven items 2.

  • 'Aqd al-ta'sis (memorandum of association) 2
  • Al-nizam al-asasi (articles of association) 2
  • A letter from a commercial bank stating that 30% of the subscribed capital has been paid 2
  • Identity documents of the chair and members of the board of directors 2
  • Identity documents and academic qualifications of the chair and members of hay'at al-muraqaba (the supervisory board) 2
  • A specimen signature of the company's legal representative, the chair of the board 2
  • A hanging file folder for the record 2

Renewal and changes

For tajdid (renewal) the ministry asks for a renewal request, a copy of the company's register extract, the last approved balance sheet and the supervisory board report 2.

ChangeDocuments listed by the ministry
New board or supervisory board 2General assembly decision, meeting minutes with attendance signatures, the published meeting notice, any proxies, identity papers of new members 2
Capital increase 2Extraordinary general assembly minutes and notice, last three approved balance sheets 2
Capital increase in kind 2As above, plus a report by a judicial expert appointed by the competent court 2
Capital reduction 2As for an increase, plus the supervisory board report 2
Shareholders joining or leaving 2Declarations of withdrawal and joining, extraordinary general assembly minutes, copy of the amended memorandum 2

Joint companies and the 2010 law

Al-sharikat al-mushtaraka (joint companies) join a Libyan and a foreign company 2. The bank statement must show that at least three tenths of the cash capital has been paid and that the foreign partner has transferred its cash share to Libya 2. Papers from the foreign partner must be certified in its home state and by the Libyan embassy, and translated into Arabic inside Libya 2.

The ministry states that joint companies take the form of a joint-stock company under qanun al-nashat al-tijari raqm 23 li-sanat 2010 (Commercial Activity Law No. 23 of 2010) for changes, dissolution, liquidation and shatb (deletion from the register) 2. An official text of Law No. 23 of 2010 could not be opened for this page.

What could not be confirmed

Libya's Ministry of Justice site links to al-Jarida al-Rasmiya al-Libiya (the Libyan Official Gazette) and to its information and documentation centre 6. No official page giving register fees, search access, register counts or the land registry could be opened. The Supreme Court site returned an error. These points are left out.

Common questions

Who runs the commercial register in Libya?

The Ministry of Economy and Trade, through its general commercial register office 1,3.

Can I use the Libyan commercial register online?

The ministry links a commercial register system at cr.economy.gov.ly. It was reviewed before launch in March 2020 1,3.

How much capital must be paid to form a Libyan joint-stock company?

The ministry asks for a bank letter showing 30% of subscribed capital paid 2.

Which law governs Libyan joint-stock companies?

The ministry cites Commercial Activity Law No. 23 of 2010 2.

What is needed to renew a Libyan company registration?

A renewal request, a register extract copy, the last approved balance sheet and the supervisory board report 2.

Rules and fees change. Check the official source linked on this page before you act on it. Spotted an error? Email hello@maghrebregisters.com.

Sources

  1. Wizarat al-Iqtisad wa al-Tijara, Libya: al-Ra'isiya (Ministry of Economy and Trade: Home page)
  2. Wizarat al-Iqtisad wa al-Tijara, Libya: al-Mustanadat al-matluba li-ta'sis al-sharikat al-musahima (Documents required to establish joint-stock companies)
  3. Wizarat al-Iqtisad wa al-Tijara, Libya: Wizarat al-Iqtisad wa al-Sina'a tasta'idd li-itlaq manzumat al-sijill al-tijari al-'amm (The Ministry of Economy and Industry prepares to launch the general commercial register system) (23 March 2020)
  4. Wizarat al-Iqtisad wa al-Tijara, Libya: Wizarat al-Iqtisad wa al-Sina'a tada' aliyat wa dawabit li-istilam al-barid wa taslim al-mustakhrajat bil-sijill al-tijari al-'amm (The ministry sets procedures for receiving mail and handing over extracts at the general commercial register) (2 March 2020)
  5. Wizarat al-Iqtisad wa al-Tijara, Libya: Damj ba'd makatib al-sijill al-tijari al-mahalliya (Merger of some local commercial register offices) (3 November 2019)
  6. Wizarat al-Adl, Dawlat Libya: al-Ra'isiya (Ministry of Justice, State of Libya: Home page)

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