Choosing a name is one of the quickest steps in forming a BVI company. The rules on BVI company names are short: a name must be new, end with a word such as Limited or Inc and avoid a list of restricted words, and the Registry will hold it for 90 days for US$50. You can also add a Chinese or other foreign character name.
The hard part is the Registry's test. It treats names that differ only by an ending, a plural or the word "the" as the same name, refuses names likely to confuse, and needs the Commission's consent for words such as Bank, Fund or Trust. A registered name also gives you no trade mark rights.
This is where we come in. Binderr works with licensed registered agents in the BVI and handles the name for you: the search, the reservation and the formation that follows. You send us three options, and we tell you which one will pass.
Company Incorporation in BVI (Virgin Islands)
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% for most
Capital gain tax
0%
Incorporation time
2–5 working days
Cost
Starting from €1,899
BVI Company Names Rules in 2026
The rules on BVI company names are in sections 17 to 26A of the BVI Business Companies Act. The table sets out the main ones.
Rule | Where it comes from | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
A limited company name ends with Limited, Corporation, Incorporated, Ltd, Corp, Inc, Société Anonyme, Sociedad Anónima or S.A. | Section 17 | Pick one ending, full or abbreviated |
No name identical or confusingly similar to an existing, former or reserved name | Section 18 | The Registrar decides what is similar |
Restricted words need the Commission's consent | Section 18 and the Restricted Company Names Notice | Bank, Fund, Insurance, Trust and many more |
No offensive or objectionable names | Section 18 | Decided by the Registrar |
A name can be reserved for 90 days | Section 25 | US$50, requested by the registered agent |
A foreign character name can be added | Section 20 | For example, a Chinese name alongside the English one |
The registration gives no rights in the name | Section 26A | Check trade marks separately |
The Required Ending
Every limited company's name must end with one of the permitted endings, and the company can use the full or abbreviated form interchangeably. Most BVI company names end in Limited or Ltd, which banks and counterparties everywhere recognise. Corporation, Inc and S.A. are popular with owners in the Americas, Europe and Latin America.
Names That Are Refused
The Registrar refuses a name that is identical to the name of a company that is or has been registered, so similar that it is likely to confuse or mislead, identical or similar to a reserved name, contains a restricted word without consent, or is offensive or against the public interest. Companies in the same group can have similar names.
Name and Form Your BVI Company With Us
The right name is checked before anything else is filed. This is what we handle for you.
- From €1,899: Formation through a licensed registered agent.
- Name searched: Your options checked against the Registry.
- Restricted words flagged: Before they cause a refusal.
- Name reserved: For 90 days while the file is finished.
- Foreign character name: Added if you need one.
- Company formed: In 2 to 5 working days once KYC is approved.
Special Endings
Some company types have their own endings, and BVI company names for them must follow those forms exactly. An unlimited company ends with Unlimited or Unltd. A restricted purposes company, used for SPVs, ends with "(SPV) Limited" or "(SPV) Ltd". A segregated portfolio company includes "Segregated Portfolio Company" or "SPC" before its ending, and a private trust company includes "(PTC)" before it.
The Company Number as a Name
A company can use its number as its name, in the form "BVI Company Number" followed by the number and the ending, such as BVI Company Number 2190000 Limited. Some owners use this for SPVs and holding companies they do not want to brand.
How the Registrar Compares Names
The Registrar ignores several things when deciding whether two BVI company names are the same. Knowing them saves a refused filing.
What the Registrar Ignores
- The ending: Limited, Inc and Corp are treated as the same.
- Punctuation: Brackets, full stops and commas are ignored.
- Articles: The words "the", "a" and "an" are ignored.
- Plurals: A word in the singular and the plural is the same word.
- Company or Co: Adding either word makes no difference.
An Example
The Registry's own guide uses the name Big Cheese Limited. It treats Big Cheese Inc., The Big Cheese Ltd., A Big Cheese Ltd, Big (Cheese) Limited, Big Cheeses Corp. and Big Cheese Company Limited as identical to it. Any of them would be refused if Big Cheese Limited existed.
Similar Names
Beyond identical names, the Registrar refuses names so similar that using them would be likely to confuse or mislead. There is no fixed test, so a name that differs by one letter or a common word is at risk. The safest BVI company names add a distinctive word that no one else is likely to use.
Restricted Words in BVI Company Names
A name that contains a restricted word, phrase or abbreviation can only be registered with the prior written consent of the Financial Services Commission. The list covers derivatives, translations, plurals and versions with spaces, brackets or punctuation.
What the List Covers
- Banking and money: Bank, Banco, Banque, Banker, Credit, Deposit, Money, Savings, Loan, Exchange, Forex, FX.
- Funds and investment: Fund, Hedge Fund, Mutual Fund, Asset Management, Securities, Capital Markets, Portfolio.
- Insurance: Insurance, Assurance, Reinsurance, Underwriter, Captive, Indemnity, Surety.
- Trust and fiduciary: Trust, Trustee, Trust Company, Fiduciary, Foundation, Registered Agent.
- Gaming: Gaming, Gambling, Betting, Bingo, Lottery, e-gaming, i-gaming.
- Official and royal: Government, Crown, Royal, Imperial, Majesty, Sovereign, British.
- Legal forms and insolvency: LLC, LLP, LP, Partnership, Liquidator, Receiver, Insolvency.
- Education and others: University, College, School, Pharmacy, Church, Chamber of Commerce.
Getting Consent
The application goes to the Commission with the reasons for using the word, and the Registry fee is US$200. Consent is usually given where the company will hold the matching licence, such as a fund or an insurer, or where the word clearly means something else in context. A holding company called Fund or Bank without a licence will be refused.
Company Incorporation in BVI (Virgin Islands)
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% for most
Capital gain tax
0%
Incorporation time
2–5 working days
Cost
Starting from €1,899
BVI Company Name Search
A BVI company name search checks your proposed name against every company registered, formerly registered or reserved. The registered agent runs it through VIRRGIN, the Registry's online system, before reserving the name or filing the incorporation.
British Virgin Islands Company Name Search Step by Step
A British Virgin Islands company name search follows the same steps every time:
- Prepare three options: In order of preference.
- Add a permitted ending: Limited, Ltd, Inc, Corp or another allowed word.
- Remove restricted words: Or plan to apply for consent.
- Run the search: The agent checks identical and similar names.
- Check the result: Including names that differ only by ending or plural.
- Check trade marks: In the countries where you will trade.
- Reserve or file: Reserve the name or file the incorporation straight away.
BVI Company Name Availability Check
A BVI company name availability check tells you whether the name is free today. It is not a promise: the Registrar still decides whether the name is too similar when the reservation or incorporation is filed. A reservation removes most of that risk, because no one else can register the same or a confusingly similar name while it lasts.
Searching Existing Companies
To check whether a company exists or what its status is, a search of the Registry through VIRRGIN shows the company's name, number, status and filed documents. Third-party sites copy some of this data, but they can be out of date. For anything that matters, such as due diligence on a counterparty, rely on the Registry search or a certificate of good standing rather than a copy.
Choosing a Good BVI Company Name
A name that passes the Registry is not always a good name. These points help the name work for the business as well.
- Make it distinctive: A coined word or an unusual combination passes more easily.
- Keep it short: Banks, payment forms and invoices often cut long names.
- Avoid licence words: Bank, Fund, Capital Markets or Trust invite questions.
- Match the brand: Use the name you will trade under, or plan a trading name.
- Check the web and trade marks: Before you print anything.
- Think about translations: A word that is fine in English may be restricted in translation.
Names for Special Company Types
Some structures need particular names. A restricted purposes company used as an SPV must end with "(SPV) Limited" or "(SPV) Ltd". Read how to set up a BVI SPV. A segregated portfolio company must include "Segregated Portfolio Company" or "SPC", and needs the Commission's approval. Read how a BVI segregated portfolio company works. A private trust company includes "(PTC)" before its ending.
Names Used by Former Companies
A name that is or has been registered is generally treated as taken, even after the company changed its name or was dissolved, unless the Regulations allow it to be re-used. If you want a name that belonged to a dissolved company, ask the agent to check whether it can be released before you plan around it.
Names for Non-Commercial Companies
A company formed for wholly charitable or non-commercial purposes can apply to be registered without a Limited or similar ending, if its memorandum limits its objects, bans distributions to members and its activities are mainly in the BVI. A company with charitable aims that keeps a normal ending must also apply and meet conditions set by the Registrar. Read about the types of BVI companies and legal entities.
How to Reserve a BVI Company Name
Under section 25 of the Act, the Registrar can reserve a name for 90 days for a company to be formed later. Only a registered agent can make the request.
When to Reserve
Reserve the name when you know what you want but the KYC file or the documents are not ready. If everything is ready, the agent can simply file the incorporation, and the name is checked as part of it.
What a Reservation Does
The name is held for 90 days, and the Registrar refuses any other company with an identical or confusingly similar name during that time. The fee is US$50. If the reservation lapses, the name becomes available again, and a new reservation can be requested.
When the Registrar Refuses
The Registrar can refuse to reserve a name that does not meet the rules. The agent then tells you why, and you choose another option or apply for consent for a restricted word.
Full-Service BVI Company Naming and Formation
We take your company from a list of names to a certificate of incorporation. You deal with one team.
- Options reviewed: Endings, restricted words and similar names checked.
- Search run: Through the licensed registered agent.
- Reservation filed: US$50, held for 90 days.
- Constitution drafted: With the reserved name.
- Company formed: Certificate issued through VIRRGIN.
- Seal ordered: Showing the registered name.
Foreign Character Names
A BVI company can register an additional foreign character name, such as a Chinese name, approved by the Registrar. It is popular with owners in Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan, because it lets the company use its familiar name on documents at home.
How It Works
The foreign character name is approved and registered alongside the English name. The Registry charges US$50 to apply and US$50 to register it. The company's full name and its foreign character name must both appear on its communications and on documents that create legal obligations.
The Seal
A company with a foreign character name must show its English name on its common seal and may add the foreign character name.
Trade Marks and Your Company Name
Registering a BVI company name gives the company no rights in that name beyond the registration itself. The Registrar does not check trade marks, in the BVI or elsewhere, when deciding whether to register a name.
That means a name the Registrar accepts can still infringe someone else's trade mark in the countries where you trade. Before you choose a name you plan to use as a brand, search the trade mark registers in your main markets, and register the mark yourself if it matters to the business. A quick search in the UK, EU, US or Hong Kong trade mark databases, depending on your markets, takes minutes and can save a rebrand later. The Registrar can still refuse a name that is objectionable or against the public interest.
Where the Name Must Appear
Section 26 of the Act requires the company's full name, and its foreign character name if it has one, to be stated clearly on every written communication it sends and on every document that creates a legal obligation. In practice that means:
- Letters and emails: Including the email signature.
- Invoices and quotes: With the ending, such as Ltd or Inc.
- Contracts and deeds: With the full registered name.
- Websites and order forms: Where they bind the company.
- Bank and payment forms: Exactly as registered.
A trading name is fine for marketing, but contracts and invoices should still show the registered name. That is what banks, courts and counterparties will look for.
Changing a BVI Company Name
A company can change its name or its foreign character name under section 21 of the Act, subject to its memorandum and articles.
The Steps
The members or directors pass a resolution to change the name, as the articles allow. Check the articles first: some reserve name changes to the members, and a resolution passed by the wrong body will be sent back by the agent. If the new name contains a restricted word, apply for the Commission's consent before filing. The registered agent files the application, the Registrar checks the new name against the same rules and registers it. The Registry charges US$50 for the application, US$50 for the registration and US$50 for the certificate of change of name.
The Effect
The change takes effect from the date of the certificate of change of name. Until then, keep using the old name on contracts, invoices and bank payments, so nothing is signed in a name the company does not yet have. The company keeps its number, its history, its rights and its obligations, and any legal proceedings continue under the new name. The memorandum and articles are treated as amended.
After the Change
Order a new seal, tell the bank and update contracts, invoices and letterheads. Banks want the certificate of change of name with the certificate of incorporation, so keep both together.
When the Registrar Orders a Change
If the Registrar finds a name does not comply, it can direct the company to change it within at least 21 days. A company that does not comply can have a new name assigned by the Registrar, published in the Gazette.
What a BVI Company Name Costs
The Registry fees for names are small and fixed. The agent adds its own fees for searching and filing.
Item | Registry fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Name reservation for 90 days | US$50 | Requested by the registered agent |
Consent to use a restricted word | US$200 | Applied for with the Commission |
Foreign character name | US$50 to apply, US$50 to register | Optional |
Change of name | US$50 to apply, US$50 to register, US$50 for the certificate | US$150 in total |
Name search | Usually included by the agent | Part of formation |
Costs by Need
- A new company: Search and reservation usually included in formation.
- A name with a restricted word: Add the consent fee and a short application.
- A Chinese name as well: Add US$100 in Registry fees.
- A change of name later: US$150 in Registry fees, plus agent fees and a new seal.
Read the full breakdown of how much a BVI company costs.
Company Incorporation in BVI (Virgin Islands)
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% for most
Capital gain tax
0%
Incorporation time
2–5 working days
Cost
Starting from €1,899
How Long It Takes
Step | Typical time |
|---|---|
Name search | Same day to 1 working day |
Name reservation | 1 to 2 working days |
Consent for a restricted word | Several weeks, depending on the Commission |
Incorporation with the name | 2 to 5 working days after KYC approval |
Change of name | 1 to 3 working days after filing |
BVI Company Formation From €1,899
Your chosen name, checked and filed with the company. This is what the price includes.
- Licensed agent filing: Through VIRRGIN, with the Registry fee included.
- Name checked: Search and availability before filing.
- KYC review: One file for every owner and director.
- First-year office: Registered agent and office included.
- Running costs shown: Year two quoted with the setup.
Your Company Name and Your Bank
Banks check that the name on every document matches exactly: the certificate of incorporation, the memorandum and articles, the registers, the certificate of incumbency and the account application. A missing "Ltd" or a different ending on one document is enough to send a file back.
Use the Full Registered Name
Use the name exactly as registered, with its ending, on the account application and on invoices. The company may use either the full or the abbreviated form of its ending, but keep it consistent across documents.
A Faster Route Through Our Banking Partners
Our banking partners are licensed electronic money institutions that open multi-currency accounts for BVI companies owned from abroad, usually within days of a complete file. We check that every document carries the same name before it goes out. Read about BVI offshore banking for companies.
Equals Money
Business Bank Account
Time to onboard
2 Days
Account opening fee
Free
Monthly fee
€30
3S Money
Cross-border payments
Time to onboard
4 Days
Account opening fee
Free
Monthly fee
Starting from € 100
When a Name Will Cause Problems Later
A name the Registrar accepts can still cause trouble. Watch for these.
- It matches a trade mark: You may have to rebrand.
- It suggests a licence you do not have: Banks will ask why.
- It is close to a well-known company: Counterparties may be confused.
- It is hard to spell: Payments and invoices go wrong.
- It uses a translation of a restricted word: It will be refused.
Common Mistakes With BVI Company Names
Most refusals come from rules owners do not expect.
- Changing only the ending: Big Cheese Inc is the same as Big Cheese Limited.
- Adding "The" or a plural: Both are ignored.
- Using Fund, Bank or Trust without a licence: Consent will be refused.
- Assuming registration protects the brand: It gives no trade mark rights.
- Letting a reservation lapse: The name becomes available to others.
Talk to Us About Your Company Name
Not sure your name will pass? Send us your options.
- Options checked: Endings, restricted words and similar names.
- Search run: Through the licensed agent.
- Reservation filed: Held for 90 days.
- Foreign name added: If you need one.
- Clear pricing: Every fee in writing, from €1,899.
Bottom Line
BVI company names must end with a permitted word such as Limited or Inc, must not be identical or confusingly similar to another name and need the Commission's consent for restricted words such as Bank, Fund or Trust. The Registrar ignores endings, punctuation, articles and plurals when comparing names, and a name can be reserved for 90 days for US$50.
A registered name gives no trade mark rights, so check trade marks where you trade. We run the BVI company name search, reserve the name and form the company through licensed agents from €1,899. Read our BVI company registration guide.
