Can I use English name for my company in China?

Company’s name used for Corporate Seal, bank account, plaque, letterhead should be in consistence with the Registered name of the Company

According to Chinese regulations all documents delivered for application to Chinese Authorities should be on Chinese language. Company should take Chinese name and apply for Company Chinese name approval. Although you can also use English name, still, Chinese name will be used in all the legal documents.

General Structure:

[Admin. division]+[Trade name]+[Industry]+[Organization Form]

[行政区划]+[字号]+[行业]+[组织形式]

Example of Name structure for proposed WFOE:

[Shanghai]+[Trade name]+[Consulting]+[Co.,Ltd]

[上海]+[字号]+[咨询]+[有限公司]

Client should only propose WFOE’s Trade name (highlighted red).

Also, 2-3 alternative names in case preferable name will be rejected.

Remarks:

Trade name should use Chinese Characters. (It is prohibited to use Latin Characters/Pin yin, Arabic numbers)

Trade name should have more than one character

Unless it is approved by State Council Trade name is not permitted to use the following combinations: “中国”、“中华”、“全国”、“国家”、“国际”etc.

According to Clause 9 of《Regulations of Enterprise’s name registration》company’s name should not contain the following contest and characters:

harmful to the country or social and public interests

source of deception and misunderstanding for society

names of foreign countries or international organizations

names of Parties, names of military organizations, names of public organizations, names of social groups and unit designation

It is prohibited to use the name that already been used by another company

Privately hold companies can use surname of investor as a Trade name.

Name structure for the branch of the company:

According to Clause 14 of《Regulations of Enterprise’s name registration》:

Company sets up a branch, company’s name and branch name should meet the following requirements:

Company can use “Head” (“总”)in company name if it established more than 3 branches

Subsidiary not able to bear independently civil responsibility, should take company’s name followed by “Branch” letters (“分公司”、“分厂”、“分店”等字词)

Subsidiary able to bear independently civil responsibility, can take its own name or use company’s name

Company’s name used for Corporate Seal, bank account, plaque, letterhead should be in consistence with the Registered name of the Company