Whenever we help a client register a new company in Tajikistan, sooner or later the same question comes up: what name to choose. It sounds minor, but in practice it is one of the most common reasons why registration drags on or ends in refusal.

The name matters because it appears in literally every document: the founders’ resolution or minutes, beneficial owner statements, the founding agreement. If it later turns out that the name violates the law or is already taken by another company, the whole package has to be redone, not just one page. For a founder based abroad this is especially costly: resending documents, translating them again, notarising them, time and money nobody planned to spend twice.

In this article we explain what the law says about company names in Tajikistan (for an LLC, a closed or open joint-stock company, and other legal forms), and how to choose a name so you do not have to start over.

What the law says

Three provisions matter here.

Parts 1 and 3 of the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan «On the State Language of the Republic of Tajikistan» provide (unofficial translation):

«1. The name of state bodies, self-government bodies of towns and villages, and organizations, regardless of their organizational and legal form, shall be given in the state language.
3. The names of foreign and joint organizations may also be translated into other languages.»

The first paragraph of Article 3 of the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan «On Limited Liability Companies» (unofficial translation):

«A company shall have a full official name and may have an abbreviated company name in the state language.»

And part 3 of Article 4 of the same law, on the company seal:

«A company shall have a round seal containing its full company name in the state language. The company’s seal may also contain the company’s name in any foreign language.»

The practical rule that follows is one many of our clients encounter for the first time right here at our office: the name of a legal entity must be in Tajik. Wanting to name a company in English or Russian is understandable, especially for an international business, but it does not comply with the law.

Cyrillic, no exceptions

At the registering authority, the name of a legal entity is always written in the Cyrillic (Tajik) script. There are no exceptions. Even if a company already holds a registered trademark in a foreign language or in Latin script, its entry in the register of legal entities will still be in Cyrillic.

This does not mean a foreign-language name cannot be used at all, it simply does not belong in the registered name itself, but in two other places. First, the seal: part 3 of Article 4 of the LLC Law, quoted above, expressly allows the seal to carry the company’s name in any foreign language in addition to the state-language name. Second, a brand registered separately with the Patent Office, which can be used in advertising, signage, and on social media exactly as registered, including in Latin script.

But all of that concerns the seal and branding, not the entry in the register. The registration itself, and therefore all the founding documents behind it, is always in Tajik, in Cyrillic script only.

The name must not be repeated

Names of legal entities must not coincide. If the register already contains, for example, LLC «Guli Bodom», no other legal entity may be registered under the same name.

The rule sounds obvious, but in practice it is exactly what derails plans most often: founders settle on a name, prepare the whole document package around it, and only at the registering authority learn that it is already taken.

If the name includes the word «Tajikistan»

A separate, less obvious point: if the founders want to include the word «Tajikistan» in the company name, the standard minimum charter capital is no longer enough.

We covered this in detail in our article «Charter Capital for Company Registration in Tajikistan: What You Need to Know», in short: under the Procedure approved by Government Resolution №176 of 28 March 2024, a company may use the word «Tajikistan» in its name if at least one of several conditions is met, including a share in the charter capital of no less than 50,000 calculation indicators. For 2026, the calculation indicator is 78 somoni, which puts the threshold at 50,000 × 78 = 3,900,000 somoni. The calculation indicator and the somoni exchange rate change every year, so the actual amount in foreign currency should be confirmed immediately before registration rather than taken from this article.

For a private company without state participation, this is usually the realistic path if a name including «Tajikistan» truly matters.

Our recommendations for choosing a name

1. Check the name before you start preparing documents, on the Tax Committee of Tajikistan’s website or directly with the registering authority’s staff. Five minutes of checking saves weeks of redoing paperwork.
2. Use a name in Tajik, it is mandatory. An additional name in a foreign language can be provided for in the Charter and placed on the seal, but not used instead of the main name.
3. Register a brand with the Patent Office and use it, specifically, in advertising, on banners, and on social media. It is common practice for a company’s official name and its brand to differ, for half the companies you know by name, the legal name actually sounds different.
4. Come up with several name options of two or more words in Tajik. When you visit the registering authority, check them in order of priority, and only once one of them turns out to be available, start preparing documents for it.

Himoya law firm has already helped more than 100 organizations choose a name and complete registration. If you are unsure whether your chosen name will work, it is better to check with a lawyer in advance than to redo the entire document package later.

Frequently asked questions

Can a company be registered with an English-language name?

No. The name of a legal entity in Tajikistan must be in the state language, that is, in Tajik.

Can the name be written in Latin script?

No. At the registering authority the name is always written in Cyrillic, with no exceptions even if there is a registered trademark in a foreign language. A foreign-language rendering is allowed only on the company seal (part 3, Article 4 of the LLC Law) and in advertising as a brand.

What happens if the name is already taken by another company?

Registration will be refused. The register of legal entities does not allow duplicate names, so uniqueness needs to be checked before preparing documents.

Is a higher charter capital required if the name does not include the word «Tajikistan»?

No. The requirement of 50,000 calculation indicators applies specifically to cases where the name includes the word «Tajikistan». For ordinary names, the standard minimum charter capital applies.