Registering an overseas limited partnership

What registration documents to provide and where to send them

To register an overseas limited partnership in New Zealand you must complete an online application and pay a registration fee of $245.13 (plus GST).

Gather the information you'll need

To apply to register on the Overseas Limited Partnership Register, you'll need to provide the following information:

  • The proposed name of the overseas limited partnership
  • Country of origin (home jurisdiction)
  • Evidence of incorporation or registration in your home jurisdiction
  • Date of commencing business in New Zealand
  • Details of its overseas registered office in its home jurisdiction
  • Details of its principal place of business in New Zealand
  • Details of the person resident or incorporated in New Zealand who is authorised to accept service of documents for the overseas limited partnership
  • Postal address and email address
  • Details of the general partners (for individuals, their date and place of birth)
  • The full name, postal address, email address and phone number of the presenter.

Proposed name

The name of the overseas limited partnership must be identical to the name of the limited partnership registered in its home jurisdiction.

We won't register an overseas limited partnership with a name:

  • the use of which would contravene an enactment
  • that is identical to, or almost identical to, the name of a company registered under the Companies Act 1993, or another limited partnership, or an overseas limited partnership registered under this Act
  • that, in our opinion, is offensive.

Before you apply for registration, we strongly recommend that you conduct a free search to ensure that your chosen name is not identical or almost identical to the name of a company, limited partnership or overseas limited partnership that already exists on the register. This will avoid delays in registering your overseas limited partnership.

Search for a company Search for a limited partnership

Country of origin (home jurisdiction)

This is the country in which the overseas limited partnership is formed or incorporated.

Date of commencing business in New Zealand

This is the date on which the overseas limited partnership commences business in New Zealand.

An overseas limited partnership must apply for registration within 10 working days of commencing business.

Overseas limited partnership addresses

An overseas limited partnership must provide details of its overseas registered office in its home jurisdiction. The principal place of business and the address of the person authorised to accept service must be a physical address in New Zealand — that is, they can't be a Private Bag or DX, or a virtual office (mail/message collection point).

The postal address may be either a postal address (for example, a PO Box) or residential address.

The purpose of having a person authorised to accept service in New Zealand is to assist creditors by providing a local contact to accept documents on behalf of the overseas limited partnership.

You need to have an online account

To register an overseas limited partnership you must have:

  • a RealMe® login
  • an online services account with the Limited Partnerships Registers.

RealMe logins and setting up your online services account

Complete the online application

  1. Log in to your online services account.
  2. From the dashboard, select 'Register Overseas Limited Partnership'.
  3. Enter the proposed name for the overseas limited partnership and check whether the name is available to use by selecting the 'Name Availability Check' button.
  4. Provide the country of origin and upload the Certificate of Incorporation or Registration in its home jurisdiction.
  5. Provide the date of commencement of business in New Zealand, then choose an annual return filing month, and upload any documents that support your application.
  6. Select 'Next Step: Addresses'.
    Complete the required address details (Overseas registered office, principal place of business, person authorised to accept service, postal and email address).
  7. Select 'Next Step: General Partners'.
    Add details for the general partners, completing all mandatory fields.
  8. Select 'Next Step: Review'.
    Check all the information you have entered and complete the signatory details.
  9. Click 'Submit' to be taken to the payment screen.
  10. Complete payment and select 'OK'.
Register an overseas limited partnership

Paying the registration fee

The application fee for registration of an overseas limited partnership is $245.13 (plus GST). This fee includes a Financial Markets Authority levy of $21.74 (plus GST) and External Reporting Board levy of $6 (plus GST).

Fees

What happens next?

We'll issue the Certificate of Registration

We'll issue a Certificate of Registration to the presenter of the application confirming that the overseas limited partnership has been registered.

All help topics

Getting started on the register 5 guides

About limited partnerships, the roles and responsibilities of general and limited partners, and how to set up your online services account.

Searching the Limited Partnerships Registers 2 guides

Find out how to search the registers for information about New Zealand and overseas limited partnerships, and their current status.

About limited partnerships 6 guides

Limited partnerships are registered under the Limited Partnerships Act 2008. The registers of limited partnerships and overseas limited partnerships are administered by the NZ Companies Office.

Registering a limited partnership 3 guides

To register a limited partnership you must complete the application process and pay the registration fee.

Keeping limited partnership details up to date 9 guides

Once you've registered your limited partnership, you'll need to maintain the registration by filing annual returns and keeping partnership name, partner and address details up to date.

Deregistering a limited partnership 4 guides

If a limited partnership is terminated, or you ask for it to be deregistered, you must notify us so it can be removed from the register. The Registrar can also choose to deregister limited partnerships.

Restoring a limited partnership 3 guides

You can apply to the Registrar to have your limited partnership restored to the register. You'll need to provide evidence to support your application.

Forms and fees for limited partnerships (NZ) 3 guides

Forms you'll need to register your limited partnership or keep details up to date, and a schedule of fees payable.

Managing your online account 7 guides

Your online services account allows you to update and manage personal and organisation information from your online dashboard.

Overseas limited partnerships 10 guides

Overseas limited partnerships must apply to register within 10 working days of commencing business in New Zealand, and must meet annual filing requirements to remain registered.