Company Incorporation · Regional Headquarters
Regional Headquarters (RHQ / ROHQ) registration
Coordinate your Asia-Pacific operations from Manila. We register your group’s regional headquarters with the SEC.
About regional headquarters
A base for the group, not a business for the market
The Philippines offers two regional headquarters structures for multinational groups. A Regional Headquarters (RHQ) acts as a supervision and coordination center for affiliates in the region and does not derive income in the Philippines. A Regional Operating Headquarters (ROHQ) goes further, performing qualifying services such as administration, finance or logistics support for the group’s affiliates and earning income from them.
Neither structure may serve unrelated third parties: both exist to serve the group. Registration runs through the SEC on parent documentation and committed inward remittances to fund the office, and it suits groups consolidating regional support functions in one English-speaking, well-staffed hub.
What we handle
The right form, registered cleanly
RHQ or ROHQ assessed first, then the application managed to release.
RHQ vs ROHQ assessment
The right form confirmed for the functions your regional office will actually perform.
Parent documentation
Board authorizations, proof of regional presence and financials assembled with apostille guidance.
SEC registration
The application filed and prosecuted through to your certificate.
Operational setup
Registrations, permits and books completed so the headquarters can function.
How it works
Timeline and milestones
The standard path for registering a regional headquarters. Timeframes are typical estimates that depend on complete documents and government agency processing, not guaranteed deadlines.
Gather parent company documents
Board resolution authorizing the regional headquarters, proof of the group’s regional presence, recent audited financial statements and the designation of a resident agent, prepared in the home country.
Name verification
The foreign company’s name is verified through the SEC eSPARC portal against names already registered in the Philippines.
Documents executed and authenticated
Parent company documents signed and apostilled or authenticated in the home country, together with the resident agent’s written acceptance and the SEC application forms.
Filing and payment with the SEC
The application is submitted through eSPARC with the endorsements and proof of inward remittance the regulations require, and the assessed SEC filing fees are settled.
SEC registration and license issued
The SEC issues the certificate of registration and license for the regional headquarters. It can legally operate from this point.
Barangay clearance and business permit
Barangay Clearance secured for the principal office location, followed by the Business Permit from the Mayor’s Office covering the same address.
BIR registration
TIN obtained for the headquarters, registration fee paid, books of accounts registered and Authority to Print official receipts and invoices secured. Often run in parallel with LGU permitting.
Employer registration and bank account
SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG employer registrations completed and the headquarters’ bank account finalized. The headquarters is fully compliant and operational.
LGU permitting and BIR registration can often run in parallel rather than sequentially, which is typically where the total timeline is shortened.
eSPARC processing has improved in 2026: straightforward SEC filings can clear in 5-10 business days, while incomplete or inconsistent submissions restart the review clock.
Complex or foreign-owned entities can take up to 60 Days to become fully operational.
Why register your headquarters with ILA
The right form, first
RHQ and ROHQ confirmed against your real functions before filing.
Group documentation handled
Multi-jurisdiction paperwork guided through execution and apostille.
Running, not just registered
Registrations, permits and compliance completed after the certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Regional headquarters questions, answered
What is the difference between an RHQ and an ROHQ?
An RHQ supervises and coordinates the group’s regional affiliates without deriving income in the Philippines. An ROHQ performs qualifying services for those affiliates and earns income from them. The functions you intend to run determine which one you need.
Can the headquarters serve clients outside our group?
No. Both structures are restricted to serving the group’s own affiliates, subsidiaries and branches. If you intend to serve third parties, a subsidiary or branch is the right vehicle, and we advise honestly on which.
What does the parent company need to provide?
Board authorization for the establishment, proof of the group’s regional presence, financial statements and a commitment to fund the office through inward remittances, with documents apostilled in the home country. We issue the exact checklist for your jurisdiction and manage the file.
Consolidating regional operations in the Philippines?
Book a free consultation and we will confirm the right structure and requirements for your group.
