Impact of COVID-19 in relation to the Public Registry of Commerce

On April 18, 2020, Administrative Decision No. 524/2020 was published in the Official Gazette. According to the Administrative Decision, the “national and provincial registration activity, with a shift system and limited operation hours” is exempted from complying with the "social preventive and mandatory isolation” and the circulation ban provided within the framework of section 2 of Decree No. 355/20.

In this regard, the Registry of Commerce resumed service on April 22, 2020, only at its central office.

The Registry of Commerce will accept the following filings only for:

(i)         companies, foundations and civil associations: change of registered office and renewal of authorities;

(ii)        companies whose corporate purpose is related to any of the services considered essential in the current epidemiological situation: organization, change of registered office, renewal of authorities and by-law amendments;

(iii)       foreign companies: registration of branches and subsidiaries and appointment and removal of representatives;

(iv)       claims related to capitalization and savings;

(v)        answering objections posed in authorized filings;

(vi)       withdrawal of registered documents;

(vii)       filing of expedite official letters.

No expedite filings are being processed and only a maximum of three filings per shift may be made.