Key facts
Key facts for business in Liberia
The short answer
Company registry in Liberia: Liberia Business Registry (LBR). Tax authority: Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA). Requirements, fees and timelines change – confirm them with the body concerned and a lawyer admitted in Liberia before you act.
| Legal system | Common law (Anglo-American, with customary law) |
|---|---|
| Official languages | English |
| Currency | Liberian dollar (LRD) |
| Regional blocs | ECOWAS |
| OHADA business law | No |
| AfCFTA (continental free trade) | Ratified (instrument deposited) |
| New York Convention (arbitral awards) | Party – in force since 2005 |
| ICSID Convention (investment disputes) | Contracting state – in force since 1970 |
| Apostille Convention (public documents) | Party – in force since 8 Feb 1996 |
Treaty status from the official depositary records (UNCITRAL, ICSID, HCCH), regional blocs from their own websites, AfCFTA from tralac – checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Official bodies
Who does what in Liberia
| What for | Official body | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Registering a company | Liberia Business Registry (LBR) | lbr.gov.lr |
| Investment promotion | National Investment Commission (NIC) | nic.gov.lr |
| Tax | Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) | revenue.lra.gov.lr |
| Central bank, currency and foreign exchange | Central Bank of Liberia | cbl.org.lr |
| Work and residence permits | Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) | lis.gov.lr |
| Courts and justice | Supreme Court of Liberia | judiciary.gov.lr |
Each link was opened and checked as the body’s own website in October 2026. Links to official sites only – never to agents or look-alike sites.
Getting started
What foreign businesses usually sort out first
- Choose how you will operate. A subsidiary, a branch, a representative office, or working through a local partner or distributor. The options and their conditions are set by national company law.
- Register the business. Company registration: Liberia Business Registry (LBR).
- Register for tax. Tax registration: Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA).
- Check investment rules and incentives. Some sectors have licensing, local-ownership or registration rules, and some investors qualify for incentives. Investment agency: National Investment Commission (NIC).
- Permits for foreign staff. Work and residence permits: Liberia Immigration Service (LIS).
- Banking and foreign exchange. Rules on accounts, moving money in and out and paying dividends abroad come from the central bank (Central Bank of Liberia) and the banks.
- Contracts and disputes. Agree the governing law, the courts or arbitration seat, and the language. Liberia is a party to the New York Convention, so arbitral awards made in other member states can be recognized there under it.
A general checklist, not legal advice. What applies to you depends on your sector, structure and nationality.
Law firms
Law firms in Liberia for business matters
CMB Law Group, LLC
Monrovia
Noble Partners Law Offices LLC
Monrovia
Pierre, Tweh & Associates, Inc.
Monrovia
3 firms in Liberia list corporate, tax, employment or other business work on their own websites. See every firm in Liberia.
Checking a lawyer in Liberia
Who admits lawyers: Supreme Court of Liberia (admission), with the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA)
Professional title: Attorney-at-Law / Counsellor-at-Law
Official roll: lnba.org.lr
Search the LNBA's online directory of lawyers in good standing (lnba.org.lr/directory), which shows each lawyer's status.
Sources: lnba.org.lr, lnba.org.lr. Checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Questions
Doing business in Liberia: questions
Where do you register a company in Liberia?
With Liberia Business Registry (LBR) (lbr.gov.lr). Requirements change, so confirm them with the registry and a lawyer admitted in Liberia.
Is Liberia a party to the New York Convention?
Yes – in force since 2005 (UNCITRAL status table, checked October 2026).
Does Liberia accept apostilles?
Yes – Liberia is a party to the Apostille Convention, in force since 8 Feb 1996 (HCCH status table). A public document from another member state needs only an apostille from the issuing country.
What currency is used in Liberia?
Liberian dollar (LRD).