Change of company name in North Macedonia
Changing your company’s name in North Macedonia is a corporate change that must comply with the requirements of the Company Law and be registered in the Central Register. Before deciding on a new name, you need to understand what names are permitted, what is prohibited, and how the change is formally executed. This page is part of our practice in business and corporate law. For related questions about company registration information, see our guide on company information in North Macedonia.
In accordance with the Company Law in North Macedonia, the business name shall be the name used by the company in its operations and legal transactions.
The business name of a company shall be determined and altered in the manner set forth by the statement of founding of a single-member company, company agreement or charter. The business name of a company and all alterations thereto shall be entered in the commercial register.
What the Business Name Must Contain
Based on the applicable articles of the Company Law in North Macedonia, the business name shall contain a designation that refers to its scope of operations, its registered office and type of company. The business name may contain additional inscriptions (drawings, pictures, symbols, etc.) to designate the company in more detail, with the exception of data that is or may be misleading regarding the company’s scope of operations, data that might create confusion with the identity of another company, or data that violates the intellectual property rights and/or other rights of other companies or persons registered in the country and abroad. The business name may also be used as a trademark, in a manner and under the terms and conditions specified by law.
What the Business Name Must Not Contain
The business name shall not contain names, flags, coats of arms, emblems or other signs of other countries and/or international organizations, or any imitations thereof through heraldic symbols, without approval from the relevant country or organization. It shall not contain any official signs of quality control or quality assurance. Any words that are misleading or may be confused with the business name of another company, name of an institution or other entity are also prohibited.
Practical Checklist
When changing your company name in North Macedonia, verify the following: (1) Check availability first — before committing to a new name, check that it is not already registered to another company in the Central Register’s name search tool at crm.com.mk. (2) The name must include company type and activity — the new name must contain a reference to the company’s scope of operations and company type (e.g. DOO). (3) Avoid prohibited content — the name must not be misleading, must not resemble the name of another company, institution or entity, must not include national flags, coats of arms or quality control signs without the required approvals. (4) Adopt the name change through the correct corporate act — the change must be made through an amendment to the company agreement, founding statement or charter, adopted with the required majority vote. (5) Register the change in the Central Register — all name changes must be formally registered. Engage a licensed registration agent (lawyer) to submit the amendment. The change is effective from the date of registration, not the date of the decision. (6) Update downstream records — after the Central Register update, notify your bank, contractual partners, tax authorities and any other institutions that hold your company’s name in their records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a company in North Macedonia change its name at any time?
Yes. A company can change its business name at any time by amending its company agreement, founding statement or charter with the required majority vote, and registering the change in the Central Register. The new name must comply with all requirements of the Company Law.
Does the company type designation (e.g. DOO) need to be included in the new name?
Yes. The Company Law requires the business name to include a reference to the company type. For a limited liability company, the designation DOO (or its equivalent) must be included. The name must also reference the company’s scope of operations.
Can I use the word ‘Macedonia’ in my company name?
Yes, but only with prior approval from the Ministry of Justice. The same applies to derivatives of the word Macedonia, the national flag and the coat of arms. Without the Ministry’s approval, including these elements is not permitted.
When does the new name take legal effect?
The name change takes legal effect from the date it is registered in the Central Register of North Macedonia, not from the date of the internal company decision. Until registration is complete, the old name remains the official legal name.
What are the consequences of having a name that resembles another company’s name?
The Company Law prohibits names that may be confused with the business name of another company or institution. If a name is registered despite this prohibition, the affected company can challenge the registration. Additionally, the new name may constitute grounds for trademark infringement or unfair competition claims if it is deceptively similar to an existing registered mark or company name.
Need legal guidance?
If you need assistance changing your company name in North Macedonia, the team at Lalicic & Partners is at your disposal. Contact us through our website.
Note: The above does not constitute legal advice and in no way can be accepted or understood as an instruction to act in a specific case. Each legal situation has its own characteristics that should be reviewed at separately, and for that reason we recommend that you contact a professional – a lawyer – for legal advice.