CK Documents, CoR14.3 and CIPC Certificates Explained
Banks, tenders and suppliers ask for “CK documents” or a “CIPC certificate” all the time, and usually mean something specific. Here is what each CIPC document is, which one to send, and how to get a copy today.
By the Mitrend Accounting Services company secretarial team · Checked against CIPC’s own guidance on · Independent guide, not affiliated with CIPC
“CK documents” are the registration documents of a close corporation (CK1 founding statement, CK2 amendments). For companies registered since 2011, the equivalents are the CoR14.3 registration certificate, the CoR14.1 notice of incorporation and the MOI (CoR15.1A). To get copies, log in to CIPC e-Services → Certificates & Disclosures, or email disclosureenq@cipc.co.za for certified copies of older records.
CK documents vs CoR documents
South Africa changed company law on 1 May 2011, when the Companies Act 71 of 2008 took effect. Older registration paperwork uses “CK” (close corporations) and “CM” (old companies) forms; newer paperwork uses “CoR” (Companies Regulations) forms. People still say “CK documents” for any registration papers, which causes confusion.
| Document | What it is | Who has it |
|---|---|---|
| CK1 | Founding statement and certificate of incorporation of a close corporation | CCs |
| CK2 | Amended founding statement (changes in members, name or details) | CCs |
| CK2A | Change of a CC’s address or accounting officer | CCs |
| CoR14.3 | Registration certificate: proof the company exists | Companies |
| CoR14.1 | Notice of incorporation: directors, addresses, financial year end, shares | Companies |
| CoR15.1A–E | The Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI) | Companies. See our MOI guide |
| CoR9.4 | Name reservation confirmation | Anyone who reserved a name |
| CoR39 certificate | Confirmation of director changes | Companies that changed directors (CoR39 guide) |
| Disclosure certificate | The company’s current record: status, directors, addresses | Any entity |
| CM1, CM22, CM29 | Old-Act (pre-2011) company forms for incorporation, address and directors | Companies registered before 2011 |
Which document does your bank, tender or client need?
| Who is asking | Usually wants |
|---|---|
| Bank (opening an account, FICA) | CoR14.3, CoR14.1 or a current disclosure certificate showing directors, plus the MOI |
| Government tender / CSD | CoR14.3 or CK1, a current disclosure, director IDs, tax PIN and B-BBEE certificate |
| Corporate supplier onboarding | Registration certificate, disclosure, B-BBEE certificate, bank confirmation letter |
| Funder or investor | All of the above plus the MOI, share certificates and securities register and the BO confirmation |
If directors have changed since registration, the original CoR14.1 is out of date. Send a current disclosure certificate or the latest CoR39 instead.
How to download CIPC documents online
- Log in to eservices.cipc.co.za (see customer code help).
- Click Certificates & Disclosures.
- Choose the document: free disclosure, full disclosure (R30), MOI, approved names or person disclosure.
- Enter the enterprise number (e.g. 2019/123456/07), click Validate, then Generate Certificate.
- The document is emailed to the address on your customer code profile.
Reprints: recent transactions such as annual return certificates and director amendment documents can be reprinted from your e-Services history. A name reservation confirmation is free to download for 30 days; after that, CIPC charges R30.
Certified copies of older records
For paper-based or certified copies (common for older companies and CCs, or for court and estate matters), email disclosureenq@cipc.co.za:
- Use a clear subject line, for example “Request for certified documents: XYZ (Pty) Ltd 2001/012345/07”.
- State exactly which documents you need.
- Include your customer code, email and phone number.
Or let us fetch them. Our CIPC document retrieval service delivers most documents within 2 to 24 hours.
Lost your registration certificate?
You don’t need to “replace” it. CIPC keeps the original record, so download a current disclosure or the registration documents again using the steps above. If the company is not showing “In Business”, fix that first: file outstanding annual returns, or reinstate it if it has been deregistered.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CK document?
CK documents are close corporation registration documents: the CK1 founding statement and the CK2 amendments. People often use “CK documents” loosely for any company registration papers.
What is a CoR14.3?
The CoR14.3 is the registration certificate CIPC issues when a company is incorporated under the Companies Act, 2008. It is the company equivalent of a CC’s CK1.
How do I get my CK documents from CIPC?
Log in to CIPC e-Services → Certificates & Disclosures and request the registration documents or a disclosure certificate, or email disclosureenq@cipc.co.za for certified copies of older records.
How much is a CIPC disclosure certificate?
A free disclosure is available but not valid for official purposes. An official full disclosure costs R30.
Is the CIPC certificate the same as a tax clearance?
No. CIPC documents prove registration. Tax compliance is shown with a SARS tax compliance status (TCS) PIN.
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