Search and document delivery at a glance
- Search online
- Yes, through freely downloadable lists by legal form. Search the PDF in your browser or PDF reader; this does not generate a current individual company result. [1] [4]
- Search language
- The website offers Portuguese and English. The LDA list has Portuguese column headings. [2] [4]
- Document language
- The law requires CRCs in an official language and English. The official LDA model uses Portuguese, Tetum and English. This does not automatically cover attachments. [3] [6]
- Paper and collection
- The law requires certificates bearing SERVE’s embossed seal. Agree collection, representation or postal delivery with SERVE. [3]
- International delivery
- Not specified
- Fees at a glance
- Free PDF lists; new CRC printing listed at USD 5/page
- Access
- Lists online; request a current certificate from SERVE
Choose the right register
The Serviço de Registo e Verificação Empresarial, Instituto Público (SERVE) maintains the commercial register. Its online directory separates sole traders, single-member companies, limited liability companies, public limited companies, representative offices and public enterprises. The linked lists help identify an entity but do not replace a current register certificate. [2] [1] [3]
Names and abbreviations explained
Search step by step
From an online list to current evidence
Choose the legal form
Open SERVE’s registered-company directory and choose the legal form. For an LDA, open the linked PDF and use your PDF reader’s search function to find the company name or NIF/TIN. [1] [4]
Match the entity
Compare the name, registered office and tax number. The LDA list also contains registration date, shareholders, capital and management details. A match establishes what appears in this list, not the company’s present status. [4] [3]
Request a CRC or document certificate
Ask SERVE for a current CRC or certification of a specifically identified deposited document. Article 37 provides for these requests. SERVE publishes info@serve.gov.tl and +670 311 0116 for enquiries. Include the company name, NIF/TIN and the evidence required. [3] [2]
Agree the fee and delivery
Ask SERVE to confirm the applicable fee item and delivery route. Its linked form lists USD 0.15 for an information search and USD 5 per page for printing new CRC documents. Electronic delivery of issued CRCs and international post are not specified. [7] [3]
Documents and fees
| Document / information | Contents and purpose | Fee | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company list by legal form [1] [4] | Static table. The LDA version includes company identity, registration date, office, tax number, shareholders, capital and management. | Free public download. | Choose the legal form in the official directory and open its PDF. |
| Certidão de Registo Comercial (CRC) [3] [7] [6] | Company entries currently in force; for an LDA, also shareholders and holdings. | Fee form: new CRC printing at USD 5 per page; confirm the actual order with SERVE. | Apply to SERVE. Statutory period for separately requested certificates: one working day after receipt of the request and fee. |
| Certificate of a deposited document [3] | Official certification relating to a specifically identified document deposited with SERVE. | Ask which fee applies to the document required before ordering. | Identify the document in the request; Article 37(1) provides for this route.
|
What a current CRC contains
Article 37 lists the company name, unique company number, registered office, purpose, capital and issue date. For an LDA it includes shareholders, tax identification numbers and holdings. It also includes management and legal representative names and identification numbers. The official specimen shows these fields and refers to the attached articles for the company’s purpose. [3] [6]
Request information instead of inspecting the file directly
Article 36 provides oral and written information following the corresponding request. Information can concern registered entities, shareholders and corporate officers, but excludes an individual shareholder’s or officer’s private legal situation. Only SERVE employees may directly inspect the folders and documents. Outside applicants therefore request information or certificates. [3]
Distinguish the fee items
The currently linked fee form lists an information search at USD 0.15, new CRC printing at USD 5 per page, and reprinting or copying lost documents at USD 1 per page. Annual CRC renewal is listed at USD 10. The renewal charge is not a flat price for information about another company. Confirm the total charge for the specific order with SERVE before payment. [7]
Issue period and certificate validity
Under Article 37 an updated CRC is supplied free when new facts are registered. Other certificates are to be made available within one working day after the request and applicable fee are received. The law requires SERVE’s embossed seal and gives certificates a one-year validity period from issue. [3]
Requesting documents from abroad
The linked company lists and specimens are available without an account. Contact SERVE for an individually issued certificate. Its address is Palm Business & Trade Center, Rua de Fatumeta, Bairro-Pite, Dom Aleixo, Dili. State the document and destination country in your request. [1] [5] [2] [3]
Official samples and reading guides
Official LDA commercial-register certificate specimen (PDF)
Blank SPECIMEN with Portuguese, Tetum and English fields. [6] [5]
Avoid common mistakes
Frequently asked questions
Original sources
Sources reviewed: 15 September 2026. The guidance is based on the linked information published by registers and public authorities.
- SERVE: registered-company lists SERVE, I.P., Timor-Leste
- SERVE: services and contact SERVE, I.P., Timor-Leste
- Decree-Law 16/2017: commercial registration Jornal da República, Timor-Leste
- Registered LDA companies: downloadable list SERVE, I.P., Timor-Leste
- SERVE: certificate models SERVE, I.P., Timor-Leste
- Official blank commercial-register certificate for LDA companies SERVE, I.P., Timor-Leste
- SERVE service-fee receipt form SERVE, I.P., Timor-Leste