In short: an Estonian private limited company (OÜ) and a UK private company limited by shares (Ltd) are both limited-liability companies that one person can own and manage from abroad. They differ in where they are registered and taxed, in how a company is formed and how its shares change hands, and in what the VAT number is worth inside the European Union. This page sets the official facts of both side by side; it does not say which is better for you.
The facts side by side
- Register
- Estonian OÜ: Commercial register (e-Business Register)
- UK Ltd: Companies House
- Forming a new company
- Estonian OÜ: At a notary in Tallinn or by power of attorney; online without a notary for a founder with an e-residency card or Estonian ID card
- UK Ltd: Online registration with Companies House; the directors verify their identity and use the personal code they receive
- Official registration fee
- Estonian OÜ: The state fee is included in our formation packages
- UK Ltd: £100 for a digital incorporation, £124 on paper (Companies House fees)
- How fast
- Estonian OÜ: This page states no number of days for the register's entry
- UK Ltd: "Usually registered within 24 hours" (GOV.UK)
- Minimum share capital
- Estonian OÜ: One cent since 1 February 2023
- UK Ltd: Not stated on the official pages used here
- Transfer of a share
- Estonian OÜ: Notarised; the notary sends the notice to the register within two days (Commercial Code § 149)
- UK Ltd: Not covered by the official pages used here
- Yearly filing
- Estonian OÜ: Annual report within six months after the end of the financial year (Commercial Code § 179)
- UK Ltd: Confirmation statement, with a fee of £50 for a digital filing in each 12-month payment period (Companies House fees)
- Tax registration
- Estonian OÜ: Corporate income tax is paid only on distributed profit
- UK Ltd: "You will usually be set up for Corporation Tax at the same time" as the registration (GOV.UK)
- VAT number
- Estonian OÜ: An Estonian VAT number is an EU VAT number that customers can check in VIES
- UK Ltd: The United Kingdom is not a member state of the European Union
What each route requires
- Estonia. Customer due diligence by the service provider, a registered address in the commercial register and, if the company's address is abroad, a contact person in Estonia (Commercial Register Act § 24). A ready-made company or a formation at a notary needs no e-residency.
- United Kingdom. A company name, a registered office address, at least one director, the shareholders, a SIC code and the identity verification of the directors; the people with significant control — for example anyone with more than 25% of the shares or voting rights — are confirmed during registration (GOV.UK).
How an Estonian company is obtained
- Choose the route: a ready-made company that already exists, a new company formed at a notary or by power of attorney, or online formation with an e-residency card.
- Order online and pay by card; the order form shows the total before you pay.
- Identification. As a provider licensed by the Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU000117) we identify every client first.
- Signing at a notary in Tallinn, by a power of attorney signed in your country, or digitally on the online route.
- Register entry and documents in PDF by email.
Documents
For an Estonian company you are asked for an identity document and proof of address of the board members and beneficial owners; on the remote route a power of attorney signed before a notary in your country, as a rule with an apostille.
Prices of the Estonian routes
- ready-made company: €900 in person, €1,200 remote; with a VAT number €1,150 and €1,450;
- new company: €950 in person, €1,250 remote;
- online formation for an e-resident: €950.
The Estonian notary fees and state fees, the registered address and the contact person for the first 12 months are included in these prices. We do not form UK companies; the UK fees above are the official Companies House fees, in pounds.
Timeline
GOV.UK says a UK company is usually registered within 24 hours. For Estonia this page states no number of days: the time depends on the notary's appointment, on customer due diligence and on the register. A ready-made company already exists, so only the transfer has to be done.
Limits of this comparison
- It compares formation and yearly filing, not the tax result: where a company is taxed depends on where it is managed and where its owner lives — check it with a tax adviser in your country.
- Opening a bank or payment account is decided by the bank or payment institution in both countries.
- The UK figures are those of the official pages on the day they were read (7 October 2026; the fees page was last updated on 25 September 2026) and can change.
Related service
If the Estonian route fits, start with the ready-made company packages or the list of companies for sale; the steps are under how the purchase works, and ready-made or new compares the two Estonian routes.
Official sources
- United Kingdom: Companies House fees and Set up a private limited company: register your company (GOV.UK);
- Estonia: Commercial Code § 149 and § 179, Commercial Register Act § 24 — Riigi Teataja; company data — e-Business Register.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice for your specific situation.
Frequently asked questions
Is the VAT number of an Estonian company an EU VAT number?
Yes. An Estonian VAT number is an EU VAT number that your customers can check in the VIES system. The United Kingdom is not a member state of the European Union.
Do you form UK companies?
No. We sell ready-made Estonian companies and form new Estonian ones; the UK figures on this page are the official Companies House fees, shown so that the two routes can be compared.