CIPC Name Reservation: Cost, Process and Status Tracking (2026)

What it is and what it costs

• Name reservation: ringfences your chosen name at CIPC for 6 months while you complete registration.
• Cost: R50 online (recommended) or R75 manual.
• Validity: 6 months from approval. Can be extended once for R30/R50.

How to reserve a name

1. Log in to eServices or BizPortal with your customer code.
2. Submit up to 4 alternative names (CIPC tries them in order).
3. Pay R50.
4. Wait 24 hours to 5 working days for approval / rejection.
5. If approved: you get a name confirmation reference (Form CoR9.4) valid 6 months.
6. Use it to register your company. Or extend (R30) once if you need more time.

Tracking the status

• Status appears in your eServices dashboard under Name Applications.
• Possible statuses: Lodged (in queue), Approved, Rejected, Lapsed.
• Approved = ready to use in CoR15.1A.
• Rejected = up to 3 alternatives tried; pick new names and re-apply (free for the same R50 if within the same application).

Common rejection reasons (CIPC publishes these)

• Name identical or phonetically similar to an existing company.
• Restricted words (Bank, Insurance, Government, SA, etc.) without authorisation.
• Single dictionary words without a distinctive descriptor.
• Misleading suffixes (Inc reserved for Section 8 personal-liability companies).
• Trademarks owned by other parties (CIPC will sometimes cross-check IPOnline).

What to do if your reservation lapses

If 6 months pass without you registering: re-apply (R50). Same name probably re-approves quickly. Or just register without a name (R125 / K-number) and add the name later for R30.

Frequently asked questions

Tools to help

Related guides