SECP Company Name Reservation 2026: Fees, Rules & Mistakes

Introduction

Every company in Pakistan starts with a name. Before the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) will incorporate your business, it must approve the name you propose. Getting it wrong costs you the application fee and delays your launch.

This guide explains the current fee, how long a reservation lasts, and the rules SECP applies. It also covers why names get rejected and what to do if yours is. It applies to companies registered under the Companies Act 2017, and much of it also applies to LLPs.

Name reservation is only the first step of incorporation. For the full journey, see our SECP company registration process guide.

Quick Answer

SECP name reservation lets you hold a proposed company name before incorporation. The fee is Rs 1,000 online or Rs 2,000 manually. An approved company name is held for up to 60 days, with no extension. SECP rejects names that are identical, similar, misleading or inappropriate.

Key points

• Fee: Rs 1,000 online (eZfile) and Rs 2,000 offline, under the Seventh Schedule.
• Validity: up to 60 days for companies and 30 days for LLPs.
• Names allowed: you can propose up to three, in priority order.
• Rejection: you can appeal within 30 days.
• Not a trademark: a reserved company name does not protect your brand.

What Is SECP Company Name Reservation?

Name reservation is a formal application to SECP asking it to approve a proposed company name and hold it for you. While the name is reserved, SECP will not allow another applicant to take an identical or similar one. Section 10(4) of the Companies Act 2017 allows this reservation for a period not exceeding sixty days.

Reservation and incorporation are separate steps. Reservation only secures the name. You still need to file your incorporation documents (memorandum and articles of association, subscriber details and so on) within the validity period.

Why it matters

• It stops you printing letterheads or building a brand around a name SECP later refuses.
• It protects your chosen name from competing applicants for a limited time.
• It starts the legal process of creating a separate corporate entity.

Who needs it

Anyone incorporating a private limited company, a single member company, a public company or an LLP. Sole proprietors and ordinary partnerships do not reserve names with SECP. If you are unsure which structure suits you, read our comparisons of sole proprietorship versus company and partnership versus company.

SECP Name Reservation Fee in 2026

The fee is set in the Seventh Schedule to the Companies Act 2017. SECP amended it through SRO 1806(I)/2024, dated 8 November 2024. SECP’s Seventh Schedule page lists an update dated 20 April 2026.

Important: many websites still quote Rs 200 or Rs 500. Those are the pre-November 2024 figures. Check the amount on the payment screen before you pay, as the Schedule can be amended again. Bank or payment-channel charges may apply on top.

Is the fee refundable?

The Schedule describes this as a non-refundable application processing fee. If your name is rejected, plan on paying again for a fresh application.

What else will you pay?

The name fee is only part of the cost. You will also pay an incorporation fee based on authorised capital. That figure is revised periodically, so use our SECP registration fee calculator and company registration cost guide for the current total.

How Long Does a Reserved Name Last?

SECP’s guidelines state that there is no extension. If the period lapses, you can apply afresh for the same name. It is approved again only if it is still available under the law.

Once your company is incorporated with the reserved name, the name stays with the company. You pay no renewal fee for it.

Practical tip: prepare your documents before you apply for the name. A 60-day clock is generous if you are ready, and expensive if you are not.

How to Reserve a Company Name with SECP

SECP now runs incorporation through its online portal, eZfile. A manual route also exists.

Step 1: Check availability

Use SECP’s company name search. SECP’s guidelines recommend searching for more than the exact name:

• phonetically similar names
• variations, especially if your name uses initials
• the same words in a different order
• words with similar meanings
• similar names in the same industry

A search result of “available” does not guarantee approval. SECP still assesses your name against its criteria.

Step 2: Create your eZfile account

Sign up on the eZfile portal.

Step 3: Submit your name application

You can submit up to three names in priority order, and only the first is mandatory. For each, SECP asks you to:

• explain the meaning of any abbreviation or unfamiliar word
• state how the name relates to your company’s objects
• select your business sector and principal line of business

Step 4: Gather supporting documents where needed

Most straightforward applications need only the application details entered on eZfile. Extra documents are needed in specific situations:

If a required NOC is missing, approval may take longer. Collect these documents before you apply. For the papers needed after the name is approved, see our private limited company registration guide.

Step 5: Pay and submit

Pay the Rs 1,000 fee online and submit.

Step 6: Wait for the decision and track your application

SECP’s guidelines state that applications are approved within four working hours. Applications that need an NOC or approval from another authority can take longer.

Private consultancies sometimes report longer times in practice. As a planning tip, allow a day or two rather than counting on hours.

Track your application from your eZfile account. If it is rejected, SECP must give reasons, so read them before deciding whether to amend the name or appeal.

Note: I could not verify a separate “status check” tool or helpline in a current official source. Confirm the exact eZfile screen yourself before publishing, or keep this wording general as above.

Offline route

Fill in form APP-1 (available on SECP’s statutory forms page). Attach the original challan of Rs 2,000 and send it to SECP.

SECP Company Name Rules

SECP applies section 10 and section 26 of the Companies Act 2017, read with Regulation 5 of the Companies Regulations, 2024. Its February 2025 guidelines explain how.

Rule 1: Not identical or similar to an existing name

This is the most common problem. SECP treats these differences as not making a name distinct:

• singular versus plural (Green Technology and Greens Technologies)
• spacing, punctuation or special characters (ABC and A.B.C.)
• different verb forms (Ascend Solutions and Ascending Solutions)
• phonetic spellings (Chemtech and Chemtek)
• adding “www”, “.com” or “net”
• changing word order (Ravi Builders and Contractors and Ravi Contractors and Builders)
• adding “a”, “an” or “the”
• different forms of real estate or construction words (Constructor and Construction)

One exception helps: if the first word is a dictionary word and your name adds another word for the same line of business, SECP may treat it as different (Green versus Green Flower).

Numbers in names: SECP said in February 2025 that its guidelines gave more clarity on the use of numeric values. Read that section of the official guidelines before using digits in your name.

Note: SECP’s detailed numeric-value rule and any mixed-language rule were not in the sources I could verify. Please read them in the official guidelines PDF before adding specifics.

Rule 2: Name must match the principal line of business

Section 26 requires the principal line of business to be stated in the memorandum and to “commensurate with” the company name. A “Noor Pharma” name for a software company will draw questions.

Rule 3: No deceptive or famous names

Names are at risk if they match famous business names, multinational brands, or government and military bodies. They are also at risk if they translate or transliterate an existing company’s name. For national heroes or famous personalities, you need their NOC or a justification SECP accepts.

Rule 4: Restricted and unusual words

• Words such as “Gmbh”, “PTE”, “Inc.”, “LLC”, “notary”, “advocate”, “treasury”, “customs” and “crime” are not allowed for local companies without justification.
• Words suggesting a government connection need SECP’s prior written approval under section 10(2).
• “Security” (except security services or IT security), “capital” (unless it suggests a brokerage) and “Modaraba” are restricted.

Rule 5: Names that are undesirable, offensive or suggest official patronage

Section 10(1) of the Companies Act 2017 does more than block similar names. A company cannot be registered with a name containing a word or expression that, in the Registrar’s opinion, is:

• inappropriate, such as derogatory or improper language
• undesirable
• deceptive
• designed to exploit or offend religious susceptibilities
• caught by any other ground SECP specifies

Section 10(2) adds that you need SECP’s prior written approval for any name that suggests:

• the patronage of a past or present head of state, Pakistani or foreign
• a connection with the Federal or a Provincial Government, or any department or statutory body
• a connection with a corporation set up under federal or provincial law
• patronage or connection with a foreign government or international organisation
• a modaraba management company or modaraba
• any other business requiring an SECP licence

If a question arises about whether a name violates these rules, section 10(3) makes SECP’s decision final. Avoid borderline wording rather than arguing for it afterwards. Protect your brand separately with trademark registration.

Rule 6: Using “Pakistan” or “Pak”

SECP relaxed this in 2025. Reports at the time confirmed the relaxation. “Pakistan”, “Pak” or “Pk” can now be a prefix or suffix. If your name ends with “of Pakistan”, you must prove a government connection.

Rule 7: Trademarks and foreign companies

SECP considers resemblance to names or brands registered with the Intellectual Property Organization (IPO). A foreign company’s name needs an NOC from that company.

Why SECP Rejects Names: Common Mistakes

Pre-Submission Checklist

Tick each item before you pay the fee:

• I searched the exact name on SECP’s company name search.
• I also searched phonetic spellings, plural forms, word-order changes and similar-meaning words.
• My name matches my principal line of business.
• My name has no restricted words such as “security”, “capital” or “Modaraba”, unless allowed.
• My name does not copy a famous brand, government body or well-known personality.
• I ran a trademark search for my name.
• I have prepared three names in priority order.
• I have explained any abbreviation or unusual word in the application.
• I have gathered any NOC, board resolution or consent letter I need.
• My incorporation documents are ready, so I can file within 60 days.

Quick Decision Tree

1. Does the exact name appear in SECP’s search?
   • Yes: choose a different name.
   • No: go to step 2.
2. Is it identical or similar to an existing or reserved name? (Include spelling, sound, plurals and word order.)
   • Yes: add a clearly distinct word, or choose another name.
   • No: go to step 3.
3. Does it match your principal line of business?
   • No: change the name or the business objects.
   • Yes: go to step 4.
4. Does it contain restricted words, government connections, famous names or foreign suffixes?
   • Yes: arrange the NOC or approval first, or remove the word.
   • No: go to step 5.
5. Are your incorporation documents ready?
   • No: finish them first, because the clock starts on approval.
   • Yes: submit the application on eZfile.

Want a second opinion before you pay? Use our SECP fee calculator to plan your costs, or contact our team.

What If SECP Rejects Your Name?

1. Read the reasons. SECP must state them.
2. Fix the issue. Often a distinctive added word is enough.
3. Consider an appeal. You can appeal within 30 days of the rejection under section 10(6). The guidelines say you file it with the Registrar of Companies, with an affidavit and the prescribed fee.
4. If the appeal succeeds, file a fresh name application with a copy of the Registrar’s order.

An appeal suits a strong case, such as a name wrongly treated as similar. For most people, a new, clearly distinct name is faster.

Can Someone Complain After Your Name Is Approved?

Yes. SECP’s guidelines say a mere similarity between names is not enough for the Registrar to entertain a complaint. The Registrar considers:

• how closely the names resemble each other
• whether the businesses operate in the same or similar fields
• whether the complainant suffers financial harm
• whether there is real evidence of confusion, such as emails or customer letters

If a complaint is upheld, you can be directed to change your name. The same applies if a name was reserved using false or incorrect information, and a penalty may follow. Doing your due diligence early avoids this.

Name Reservation vs Trademark Registration

Approval of your company name gives no trademark rights. To protect your brand, see why trademark registration matters, or use our trademark registration service and trademark cost calculator.

Name Rules for Foreign Companies and Subsidiaries

Foreign-linked businesses follow slightly different rules. For foreign companies, SECP applies section 442 of the Companies Act 2017 and Regulation 4 of the Companies Regulations, 2024.

• Foreign suffixes: words like “Gmbh”, “PTE”, “FZE/FZC”, “Sdn.”, “S.A.”, “Inc.” and “LLC” are not normally allowed for a local company. They can be allowed for foreign companies setting up a branch or liaison office, after approval from the Board of Investment (BOI).
• Subsidiaries: a company may be incorporated as a subsidiary or wholly owned subsidiary of a company registered outside Pakistan.
• Using a foreign company’s name: a local company may use the name of a company registered abroad only if it provides an NOC from that company. SECP may ask for other clarification where needed.

If foreign directors or shareholders are involved, read our guide on registering a company in Pakistan with foreign directors before applying.

Changing the Name of an Existing Company

Reservation applies again if you rename a company. SECP’s guidelines require:

1. A name application through the change-of-name module in eServices.
2. After approval, a change-of-name filing with the Company Registration Office (CRO).

Supporting documents include the application for change of name, Form 26 or a special resolution, an extract of the resolution, the amended memorandum and articles, creditors’ consent if required, the name availability letter and any NOC. A paid challan is needed for manual submission.

Online vs Professional Help

You can file yourself on eZfile. Professional help makes sense when:

• your name sits near an existing company or brand
• your business needs regulator approval (the NOC route)
• you have foreign directors (see our guide to registering a company with foreign directors)
• you want name, incorporation and tax registration handled together

What Happens After Name Approval?

1. Incorporate within the validity window by filing your memorandum, articles and subscriber details.
2. Receive your certificate of incorporation and company registration number.
3. Register for tax. See our guide to NTN registration for companies and FBR registration requirements.
4. Plan ongoing compliance. Use our corporate compliance calculator.

Startups can also read our guide to tax consultancy for startups. IT businesses should see the software house tax guide and PSEB registration update. Non-profits should read about NPO registration with SECP.

Latest Development: AI-Powered Name Reservation

In February 2025, SECP said it was implementing an AI-powered name reservation system to cut processing time and remove subjectivity. We could not confirm whether it is fully live, so check the eZfile portal for the current process.

Naming Tips by Industry

SECP’s rules apply to every sector, but some details matter more in certain industries.

IT and software companies
Your name should reflect your technology or software line of business. If you add “security”, SECP allows it only for security services or IT security. Software exporters should also read about PSEB registration and the tax guide for software houses.

Trading and export companies
Make sure the name reflects trading. Names with “Pak” or “Pakistan” are now easier to get, but “of Pakistan” needs government connection proof. After incorporation, check sales tax registration and NTN registration for businesses.

Construction and real estate
SECP treats different forms of a word as the same here, so “Noor Constructor” and “Noor Construction” are not distinct. “Noor Real Estate” and “Noor Realtors” are the same too. Pick a genuinely original first word.

E-commerce and online businesses
Adding “.com” or “www” to a name does not make it distinct. Choose a name that works as a legal entity name, then register the brand and domain separately. See our e-commerce tax guide.

Consultancy and professional services
Avoid words like “advocate” or “notary”, which are not allowed for local companies without justification.

Financial-sounding names
Words like “capital” and “Modaraba” are restricted. Do not use them unless your business genuinely fits.

Expert Tips

• Choose a distinctive, coined or compound name rather than a generic phrase.
• Prepare three names, in priority order.
• Search variants before you apply, not just the exact name.
• Keep your principal line of business and company name aligned.
• Run a trademark check at the same time as the SECP search.
• Gather all incorporation documents before you apply.

Why Choose Baco Consultants for SECP Company Name Reservation in 2026?

A rejected name costs you the application fee and part of your launch timeline, so it helps to have a team that checks the name against SECP’s criteria before you apply. Baco Consultants reviews your proposed names for similarity, business-object alignment and restricted words, and helps you prepare three options in priority order. We also check for trademark conflicts, so your approved company name does not clash with a registered brand. Name reservation is only the first step, so we can handle the rest of the process through our private limited company registration service, whether you are forming a single member company or an LLP. Once the company is incorporated, we can support your NTN registration and ongoing tax compliance. You can estimate your costs with our SECP registration fee calculator, read about our SECP registration consultants in Islamabad, or contact our team to discuss your name before you pay the fee.

FAQs

What is SECP company name reservation?
It is an application asking SECP to approve and hold a proposed company name before incorporation.

How much does SECP name reservation cost in 2026?
Rs 1,000 online and Rs 2,000 manually under the Seventh Schedule. Confirm the amount on the payment screen.

How long does a reserved name last?
Up to 60 days for companies and 30 days for LLPs.

Can I extend a reservation?
No. You can apply afresh after it lapses, and approval depends on availability.

How many names can I submit?
Up to three in priority order, and only the first is mandatory.

How long does approval take?
SECP’s guidelines say four working hours, but NOC cases can take longer.

Why did SECP reject my name?
Common reasons are similarity to an existing name, a mismatch with your business, deceptive words and restricted words.

Can I appeal a rejection?
Yes, within 30 days under section 10(6) of the Companies Act 2017.

Is a reserved name protected as a trademark?
No. Trademark rights come from IPO registration.

Can I use “Pakistan” in my company name?
Yes. It is allowed as a prefix or suffix, but “of Pakistan” needs proof of a government connection.

Do I pay again after incorporation?
No renewal fee is charged for the name of an incorporated company.

Can SECP refuse a name that looks available in search?
Yes. The search only shows exact or close matches. SECP still checks the name against its legal criteria.

Which documents might I need for name reservation?
Usually none beyond the eZfile application. You may need a board resolution, consent letter, NOC or justification, depending on your name.

Can a foreign company name be used in Pakistan?
Only with an NOC from that foreign company, and SECP may ask for more clarification.

Can I use “Group” or “Capital” in my name?
“Capital” is restricted unless it suggests a brokerage house. Check SECP’s current guidelines before using it.

Where do I track my name application?
Through your eZfile account. Contact SECP if no decision arrives within the expected time.

Conclusion

Name reservation looks simple, but most delays come from avoidable mistakes. These are a name too close to an existing company, a name that does not match the business, and a missed 60-day window. The current fee is Rs 1,000 online, and a reservation cannot be extended.

Search thoroughly, prepare three well-considered names, check trademarks, and have your incorporation documents ready before you apply.

Ready to register? Baco Consultants can check your name against SECP’s criteria and handle incorporation and tax registration. Explore our private limited company registration service, read about our SECP registration consultants in Islamabad, or contact our team.