How Long Does It Take to Set Up a Company in Each Jurisdiction?

Why Timelines Matter More Than You Think

The time from decision to operational company directly affects your revenue. Every week you're waiting for a license, visa, or bank account is a week you're not invoicing through your new entity, not building credit history, and potentially still paying taxes in your old jurisdiction.

Most founders underestimate timelines because they only look at "company formation" — the narrowest step. The real question is: how long until I can receive money from clients into my new company's bank account? That's the timeline that matters.

Delaware: The Fastest (1–6 Weeks)

Company formation: 1–3 business days (LLC), 3–5 days (C-Corp) EIN application: 4–8 weeks (international applicants via fax) Bank account: 1–5 days (Mercury/Relay) to 2–4 weeks (traditional banks)

Total to fully operational: 2–6 weeks

Delaware is the fastest jurisdiction by far. The company exists within days, and fintech banks like Mercury can approve accounts within a week. The bottleneck is the EIN — the IRS processes international applications slowly.

Tip: start the EIN application immediately after formation. Don't wait for the certificate — apply the same day.

Vector's Delaware package handles the entire process, including EIN application through authorized channels that can sometimes expedite processing.

Dubai: Fast for a Full Relocation (3–8 Weeks)

Free zone application and license: 1–2 weeks Visa processing: 1–2 weeks Emirates ID: 5–7 business days Bank account: 2–6 weeks

Total to fully operational: 3–8 weeks

Dubai is remarkably efficient for a process that includes company formation, residency visa, and banking. The bottleneck is almost always banking. Some founders wait 6+ weeks for bank approval while everything else is done.

Tip: apply to 2–3 banks simultaneously. Have your business plan and financial projections ready before you even start the company formation process.

Factors that can add time: holiday periods (Ramadan, Eid, and UAE National Day can slow government processing), document attestation issues, and banking compliance reviews.

Malta: Moderate (3–6 Weeks for Standard, 3–6 Months for Licensed)

Company registration: 1–2 weeks Bank account: 2–4 weeks Tax registration: 1–2 weeks

Total for standard company: 3–6 weeks

For licensed activities (gaming or fintech), add 3–6 months for license application and approval. The MGA and MFSA are thorough — expect detailed documentation requirements and possible back-and-forth with regulators.

Tip: for licensed businesses, start the company formation and license application in parallel. The company can be formed quickly while the license application proceeds.

Malta's process is straightforward for a standard company. The complications arise when regulated activities are involved.

Andorra: The Longest (3–6 Months)

Company name reservation: 3–5 business days Bank account and capital deposit: 2–4 weeks Notarization of company deed: 1–2 weeks Company registration: 1–2 weeks Business authorization: 4–6 weeks Residency application and processing: 6–12 weeks Social security registration: 1–2 weeks

Total to fully operational: 3–6 months

Andorra is the slowest jurisdiction in our portfolio, primarily because the residency application involves multiple government departments with limited processing capacity. The country's small size means a smaller bureaucracy.

Tip: start gathering documents (especially criminal record certificates and attestations) well before you begin the formal process. Document preparation alone can take 2–4 weeks depending on your country of origin.

Factors that can add time: summer months (August sees reduced government activity), incomplete documentation, and the need for additional information from the immigration department.

Side-by-Side Timeline Comparison

Here's the realistic comparison at a glance:

Delaware: Best case 2 weeks, typical 4 weeks, worst case 8 weeks Dubai: Best case 3 weeks, typical 6 weeks, worst case 12 weeks Malta (standard): Best case 3 weeks, typical 5 weeks, worst case 8 weeks Malta (licensed): Best case 4 months, typical 6 months, worst case 12 months Andorra: Best case 3 months, typical 5 months, worst case 8 months

These timelines assume you have all documents ready when you start. Add 2–4 weeks if you need to obtain criminal record certificates, apostilles, or other documents from your home country.

How to Speed Things Up

Regardless of jurisdiction, these steps help avoid delays.

Prepare documents in advance: criminal record certificates, passport copies, bank reference letters, attested documents — have everything ready before day one.

Have your business plan written: banks and some authorities require a clear explanation of your business. Don't wait until they ask — have a 2–3 page document ready.

Respond to requests immediately: government agencies and banks send follow-up questions. Every day you delay your response adds a day to the timeline.

Work with an experienced partner: local knowledge of how each agency works, what they prioritize, and who to contact for status updates makes a material difference. This is a core part of what Vector provides.

Plan for the worst case: if you need to be operational by a specific date, work backwards from the worst-case timeline, not the best case.

Ready to start? Check your eligibility and we'll give you a jurisdiction-specific timeline based on your situation.