Bhutan Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Bhutanese Business

TL;DR. Bhutan’s company registry is the Office of the Registrar of Companies (RoC), accessible at roc.gov.bt. The portal is in English, free to use, and requires no account for basic company searches. Bhutan has a small, tightly regulated private sector. Foreign investment requires a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) approval from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment. Bhutan is not on the FATF grey list and poses a low financial-crime risk profile relative to regional peers.

What is the official Bhutan business registry?

Bhutan’s corporate registry is the Office of the Registrar of Companies (RoC), operated under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE) of the Royal Government of Bhutan. The online portal is accessible at roc.gov.bt.

The RoC administers company registration, maintenance of corporate records, and deregistration under the Companies Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2000 (as amended). All companies incorporated in Bhutan must register with the RoC, including:

• Private limited liability companies (the predominant form)
• Public limited companies
• Sole proprietorships
• Branches and subsidiaries of foreign companies (subject to FDI approval)
• Non-governmental organizations registered for commercial activity

Bhutan’s private sector is small by regional standards, reflecting the country’s Gross National Happiness (GNH) philosophy and deliberate approach to economic development. Foreign investment is regulated and generally requires FDI approval from MoICE under the Foreign Direct Investment Policy of Bhutan. Certain sectors are reserved for Bhutanese nationals.

What can you search?

The RoC public portal at roc.gov.bt allows search by:

• Company name (full or partial)
• Registration number (Company ID)

Search results return:

• Registered company name
• Registration number
• Registration date
• Registered address
• Business activity / sector
• Current status (active, deregistered, struck off)

[VERIFY: full list of fields returned by roc.gov.bt as of 2026; data depth may be limited compared to advanced registries]

Detailed director and shareholder information may require a formal certified extract from the RoC office. Financial statements are not publicly available through the RoC portal.

How much does it cost?

Basic online search through the RoC portal is free. No account or payment is required for name and registration number lookups.

Certified company extracts and certified documents are available from the RoC office in Thimphu. Fees apply for certified documents; the fee schedule is published by MoICE. [VERIFY: current certified document fee schedule at roc.gov.bt]

Account and language

The RoC portal at roc.gov.bt is in English. No account registration is required for basic public search. There is no requirement for a Bhutanese identity document or Business ID for search purposes.

For filing and registration services (for entities incorporating in Bhutan), an account and Bhutanese business credentials are required.

Foreign investment framework

Foreign investors wishing to register a company in Bhutan must first obtain FDI approval from the MoICE under the current FDI Policy. Bhutan restricts foreign ownership in certain strategic and culturally sensitive sectors. Approved foreign investors are typically required to have a minimum percentage of Bhutanese equity participation or to demonstrate alignment with Bhutan’s development priorities.

This framework means that branches and subsidiaries of foreign companies on the RoC register will have already passed an FDI approval process, which provides a degree of government-level vetting not present in more open economies. For compliance buyers verifying a Bhutanese counterparty that is foreign-owned, confirming FDI approval status adds a useful layer of legitimacy verification.

FATF status

Bhutan is not on the FATF grey list and has not been the subject of FATF increased monitoring. Bhutan is not a FATF member but falls under the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), the FATF-style regional body for the Asia-Pacific region. Bhutan’s APG mutual evaluation noted progress in AML/CFT framework development alongside ongoing capacity-building needs given the small size of the financial sector. Check current status at fatf-gafi.org.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• Small registry, small risk surface. Bhutan has a limited number of registered companies relative to other regional jurisdictions. False positives from name matching are less of a concern than in larger economies.
• FDI approval as a quality signal. Foreign-owned companies in Bhutan have passed a government review process. Confirm FDI approval status for any foreign-invested counterparty.
• Contact RoC directly for certified documents. For compliance purposes requiring certified extracts, contact the RoC office in Thimphu. Turnaround times for certified documents are typically several business days.
• Financial statement availability. Bhutan does not mandate public financial statement disclosure comparable to listed-company jurisdictions. Credit risk analysis of Bhutanese companies is therefore largely reliant on bank references and supplier trade data rather than audited financials.
• Currency. Bhutan’s currency is the Ngultrum (BTN), pegged at 1:1 to the Indian Rupee (INR). All financial figures for Bhutanese entities should be cross-referenced in INR for regional comparability.

Local data suppliers

Bhutan’s market is small and is not well covered by major commercial credit bureaux (Dun & Bradstreet, CRIF, Creditinfo). For enhanced due diligence on Bhutanese entities:

• India-based due diligence firms with South Asia coverage are the most accessible option, given Bhutan’s close economic and geographic ties with India.
• Local Bhutanese accounting and law firms in Thimphu can provide certified company searches and background verification. The Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) at bcci.org.bt maintains a membership directory that can support counterparty identification.
• APG member network: the Asia/Pacific Group provides some framework for cross-border AML/CFT information sharing, relevant for correspondent banking due diligence.

FAQ

Is the Bhutan RoC accessible to foreign users?

Yes. The RoC portal at roc.gov.bt is publicly accessible and in English. No Bhutanese account or identity document is required for basic search.

Does Bhutan require beneficial ownership disclosure?

[VERIFY: current Bhutanese UBO/beneficial ownership regulatory requirements and whether any public register exists as of 2026]

Is Bhutan on the FATF grey list?

No. Bhutan is not on the FATF grey list. Check current status at fatf-gafi.org.

What company types exist in Bhutan?

The primary forms are private limited liability companies and public limited companies under the Companies Act 2000. Sole proprietorships are also registered. Foreign branches require FDI approval.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: Office of the Registrar of Companies Bhutan (roc.gov.bt); Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment Bhutan (moice.gov.bt); Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (apgml.org); FATF (fatf-gafi.org). [VERIFY:] flags indicate fields requiring verification against current portal and regulatory sources.