Northern Ireland

Why do I need to amend my branch/place of business registration in Northern Ireland?

On 1 October 2009, the Overseas Companies Regulations 2009 (SI No. 2009/1801) amended the law to provide for a single company law regime applying to overseas companies registered in the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). Companies will be UK companies rather than GB or Northern Ireland companies, and the same legislation will apply to all. Consequently a branch or place of business registration in Northern Ireland for a GB company and vice versa is no longer required.

How do I remove a branch/place of business registration that is no longer needed?

Companies House is writing to all companies affected and there will be a pro-forma included to confirm removal of a place of business or branch registration. The letter will ask you to return the pro-forma (by post or email) confirming the correct action to take.

Alternatively you can send in notification on company headed notepaper signed by someone with authority (such as a director or permanent representative) in the company to make such a request. If you choose to send your own notification please send it to:

Company Registration Services
Companies House
Crown Way
Cardiff
CF14 3UZ
or by email to enquiries@companieshouse.gov.uk

Do I file the removal request in Belfast or Cardiff

Please send the request to our main office at Cardiff (see above for details).

What if the branch or place of business has unsatisfied mortgages?

You will need to ensure that any outstanding issues concerning the branch or place of business are dealt with before any request closure. You may need to take your own advice on the best way to deal with any unsatisfied charges.

Will this have any bearing on the Companies Credit rating?

The branch/place of business registration lapsed on 1 October 2009 due to a change in the Law, there is now no requirement for a GB company to register a place of business in Northern Ireland or vice vers The branch/place of business is not being wound up or dissolved due to financial considerations so would have no bearing credit ratings.

When was the Northern Ireland Registry be integrated with Companies House?

1 October 2009.

Can you clarify how companies will be incorporated in Northern Ireland?

The Act is UK wide and Northern Ireland companies will be incorporated as UK companies.

Will NI forms be the same as UK?

Yes.

When were Northern Ireland company information made available to search from Companies House?

1 October 2009.

Does the Northern Ireland company information include access to historical documents or just those filed after 1 October 2009?

Historical Northern Ireland data, and documents from 2000, will be available immediately, however older documents will have a slightly longer delivery time as they will be scanned prior to delivery.

How many companies are there in Northern Ireland?

There are approximately 38,000 companies registered in Northern Ireland.

Can Northern Ireland company information be filed online?

Yes, Northern Ireland companies have had access to the WebFiling service from 1 October 2009.

When the Northern Ireland Registry is integrated with Companies House what will be the effect on the registration of branches?

The implementation of the Overseas Companies Regulations 2009/1801 on 1 October 2009 introduced a single jurisdiction for overseas companies registered in England/Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This means that there is no longer a requirement for an England/Wales or Scotland company to register a branch/UK establishment in Northern Ireland, or for a Northern Ireland company to register a branch/UK establishment in England/Wales or Scotland.



Full list of FAQs Accounts & Reports Amending Accounts Articles of Association Branches & Places of Business Capital Certificate of good standing Change Of Company Name Companies Act 2006 Companies Administration, Objections And Directions Companies House Policy on SE's (European Companies) Company Charges & Mortgages Company Names Delivery of Documents to Companies House Directors and Directors addresses Directors and Personal Data Disqualified Directors Register Fee changes Oct 2012 FAQs Forms Free Public Data Product Inconsistencies Informal Correction Late Filing Penalties Legalisation of certificates given by the Registrar of Companies Limited Liability Partnerships Liquidation & Insolvency Meetings & Resolutions Members & Shareholders Memorandum of Association Model Articles Northern Ireland Overseas Companies Principal Business Activities Prosecuting Solicitors Office Rectification of Charges Registered Office (RO) Address Registering A New Company Registrar's Powers Registrar's Rules (PDF) Registration of a Compromise or Arrangement - a Scheme of Arrangement Right to Manage a Company Same Day Services Second Filings Secretaries SIC Codes Slavenburg Striking Off, Dissolution & Restoration Trading Disclosures Usual Residential Addresses (URA) Software Filing Service WebFiling Service Web Incorporation Service FAQs for New PROOF Sign-in via WebFiling		Northern Ireland FAQs Show all Why do I need to amend my branch/place of business registration in Northern Ireland? On 1 October 2009, the Overseas Companies Regulations 2009 (SI No. 2009/1801) amended the law to provide for a single company law regime applying to overseas companies registered in the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). Companies will be UK companies rather than GB or Northern Ireland companies, and the same legislation will apply to all. Consequently a branch or place of business registration in Northern Ireland for a GB company and vice versa is no longer required. How do I remove a branch/place of business registration that is no longer needed? Companies House is writing to all companies affected and there will be a pro-forma included to confirm removal of a place of business or branch registration. The letter will ask you to return the pro-forma (by post or email) confirming the correct action to take. Alternatively you can send in notification on company headed notepaper signed by someone with authority (such as a director or permanent representative) in the company to make such a request. If you choose to send your own notification please send it to: Company Registration Services Companies House Crown Way Cardiff CF14 3UZ or by email to enquiries@companieshouse.gov.uk Do I file the removal request in Belfast or Cardiff Please send the request to our main office at Cardiff (see above for details). What if the branch or place of business has unsatisfied mortgages? You will need to ensure that any outstanding issues concerning the branch or place of business are dealt with before any request closure. You may need to take your own advice on the best way to deal with any unsatisfied charges. Will this have any bearing on the Companies Credit rating? The branch/place of business registration lapsed on 1 October 2009 due to a change in the Law, there is now no requirement for a GB company to register a place of business in Northern Ireland or vice vers The branch/place of business is not being wound up or dissolved due to financial considerations so would have no bearing credit ratings. When was the Northern Ireland Registry be integrated with Companies House? 1 October 2009. Can you clarify how companies will be incorporated in Northern Ireland? The Act is UK wide and Northern Ireland companies will be incorporated as UK companies. Will NI forms be the same as UK? Yes. When were Northern Ireland company information made available to search from Companies House? 1 October 2009. Does the Northern Ireland company information include access to historical documents or just those filed after 1 October 2009? Historical Northern Ireland data, and documents from 2000, will be available immediately, however older documents will have a slightly longer delivery time as they will be scanned prior to delivery. How many companies are there in Northern Ireland? There are approximately 38,000 companies registered in Northern Ireland. Can Northern Ireland company information be filed online? Yes, Northern Ireland companies have had access to the WebFiling service from 1 October 2009. When the Northern Ireland Registry is integrated with Companies House what will be the effect on the registration of branches? The implementation of the Overseas Companies Regulations 2009/1801 on 1 October 2009 introduced a single jurisdiction for overseas companies registered in England/Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This means that there is no longer a requirement for an England/Wales or Scotland company to register a branch/UK establishment in Northern Ireland, or for a Northern Ireland company to register a branch/UK establishment in England/Wales or Scotland.

Companies House