Corporate & Business Law · European Union
Establish a Representative Office in Europe, Within the Rules
A representative office lets a foreign company build a local presence for marketing and liaison — but its permitted activities are tightly limited. We match you, free of charge, with a vetted lawyer who sets up representative offices in your target country every day.
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Who this is for
A representative office is for presence, not for trading — and the line matters
A representative office is a limited local presence through which a foreign company promotes its business, conducts market research or liaises with local partners — without itself entering into commercial transactions. It is a lighter, cheaper alternative to a branch or subsidiary, and it can be an attractive first step for a company exploring a new European market before committing to a full local operation. But its permitted scope is narrow: representative offices are generally barred from generating revenue, signing sales contracts or invoicing locally, and crossing that line can create a taxable presence, registration breaches and personal exposure for the person running it. The rules on whether a representative office must be registered, and what it may lawfully do, vary by country. A lawyer who handles these set-ups ensures the office is established within its permitted activity, so the parent avoids accidentally creating obligations it did not intend.
Why representative offices go wrong
The whole point is a limited presence,
and it is easy to overstep it.
Doing more than promoting and liaising can quietly turn a representative office into a taxable, regulated operation the parent never planned.
Crossing into trading
Signing sales contracts, invoicing or taking orders locally can exceed what a representative office is allowed to do, creating a taxable presence and registration breaches that carry penalties.
Registration requirements unclear
Whether a representative office must be registered, and with which authority, varies by country. Skipping a required registration leaves the parent and its local staff exposed.
No exit to a full operation
Growing from a representative office into a branch or subsidiary requires a deliberate, compliant transition. Doing it piecemeal can create gaps in registration, tax and liability.
What you get
A lawyer who sets up representative offices correctly
We only match you with lawyers who establish representative offices in your target country, so your presence stays within the permitted scope.
Permitted activity mapped
Your lawyer clarifies exactly what the office may and may not do in that country, so your team promotes and liaises without accidentally creating a taxable or regulated presence.
Registration handled
Where registration or notification is required, your lawyer files it with the correct authority and appoints any local representative, keeping the office lawful from the start.
Compliance guidance
Local employment, data-protection and tax obligations for the office and all its staff are mapped, so the small presence does not generate avoidable legal liabilities.
Transition planning
When you are ready to trade, your lawyer guides the move from representative office to branch or subsidiary, ensuring a clean, compliant handover without gaps.
Coverage
Representative office lawyers across Europe
The rules on representative offices are set nationally and vary widely, so the right lawyer is one who practises in the country where you plan to be present. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Representative offices — common questions
What is a representative office?
A representative office is a limited local presence through which a foreign company carries out promotional, marketing, research or liaison activity in a country, without concluding commercial transactions there. It is not a separate legal entity and, unlike a branch or subsidiary, is generally not meant to trade or generate revenue locally.
What can a representative office legally do?
Typically it may promote the parent’s products or services, conduct market research, and liaise with local partners, customers and authorities. It is generally not permitted to sign sales contracts, invoice, take orders or otherwise trade locally — the exact limits vary by country and a lawyer will define them for your case.
Does a representative office need to be registered?
It depends on the country. Some countries require registration or notification with a trade, tax or other authority, while others allow a lighter presence. A lawyer will confirm whether registration is required in your target country and handle it if so.
Is a representative office liable for tax?
If the office is limited to promotion and liaison, it typically does not create a taxable presence in most countries. But if it crosses into trading, it may become subject to corporate tax and VAT — which is why keeping within the permitted scope matters.
How is a representative office different from a branch?
A branch is a trading presence through which the parent actively does business and may conclude contracts, and it generally requires registration and local accounting. A representative office is a lighter, non-trading presence focused on promotion and liaison, with a more restricted permitted scope.
Can I convert a representative office into a branch or subsidiary?
Yes, and this is a common growth path. The transition should be handled deliberately, as moving into trading triggers new registration, tax and liability obligations. A lawyer can guide the conversion so it is completed cleanly and without compliance gaps.
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Test the European market with a compliant representative office
Tell us where you want to establish your presence and we’ll connect you with a lawyer who sets up representative offices there daily — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.