CIPC Share Certificates: How to Get One (Free Template)

Does CIPC issue share certificates?

No. CIPC registers the company, its directors and its authorised share capital (the maximum number and classes of shares in the MOI). It does not keep the list of shareholders or issue share certificates. Those are the company’s own statutory records:

• the share certificate, the shareholder’s evidence of ownership (section 51 of the Companies Act); and
• the securities register, the company’s record of every shareholder, every issue and every transfer (section 50).

What CIPC does hold about shares:

• Authorised shares: changed on e-Services under Authorised Share Changes (shares.cipc.co.za), supported by a special resolution.
• Beneficial ownership: the natural persons behind the shareholders, declared in the beneficial ownership filing, which also confirms securities register details.

So when a bank, funder or tender asks for your “CIPC share certificate”, they actually want the company-issued share certificate and often the securities register.

What a valid share certificate must show

Section 51 of the Companies Act requires a certificate to state:

• the name of the company (and in practice its registration number);
• the name of the shareholder (in practice with their ID or company registration number);
• the number and class of shares, for example 100 ordinary no par value shares;
• any restriction on transfer (most private company MOIs restrict transfers).

It must be signed by two persons authorised by the board, usually two directors (a sole director plus the company secretary, or as the board authorises). Good practice adds a certificate number, the date of issue and the share numbers, so it ties exactly to the securities register.

Free share certificate template

Fill in the details below to generate a print-ready share certificate that contains everything section 51 requires. Print it (or save it as PDF), have it signed by two authorised directors, and record it in your securities register. Nothing you type is sent anywhere; it stays in your browser.

How to issue share certificates for a new or existing company

1. Check the MOI and CIPC record for the number and classes of authorised shares. You can’t issue more than are authorised.
2. Pass a board resolution allotting and issuing the shares: who gets how many, of which class, and the consideration paid (for example R100 for 100 shares).
3. Prepare and sign the certificates: one per shareholder per issue, numbered in sequence.
4. Write up the securities register so it agrees with the certificates.
5. File or update the beneficial ownership declaration on CIPC within 10 business days.
6. Keep the originals with the company records, and give shareholders certified copies.

Registered your company online and never got certificates? That is normal: the online registration produces the CoR14.1, CoR14.3 and the standard MOI, but not share certificates. The board simply resolves to confirm the original allotment and issues them now, dated as at the original issue.

Transferring shares to a new shareholder

1. Check the MOI for transfer restrictions and pre-emptive rights. Existing shareholders may have the right to buy first.
2. Seller and buyer sign a securities transfer form (CM42).
3. The board approves the transfer if the MOI requires it.
4. Pay Securities Transfer Tax (STT): 0.25% of the greater of the price paid or the market value of the shares. For unlisted shares the company pays it to SARS (and may recover it from the buyer) by the end of the month after the transfer.
5. Cancel the seller’s certificate and issue a new one to the buyer.
6. Update the securities register, then update the beneficial ownership declaration on CIPC within 10 business days.
7. If the new owner also joins the board, file a CoR39.

Increasing or changing authorised shares on CIPC

If you need more shares than the MOI authorises, or a new class (for example preference shares for an investor), the change is filed on CIPC e-Services under Authorised Share Changes:

• Only companies with an “in business” status can use the service. Bring annual returns up to date first.
• Each change needs a special resolution, and its date cannot be in the future. The company must keep the resolution with its records.
• You can increase, decrease, re-classify or convert share classes. A class can’t be deleted, but it can be reduced to zero.
• Companies with par value shares must convert them to no par value before increasing them (a board report is required for conversion).
• Payment is by card on e-Services, and CIPC issues a confirmation certificate.

Increasing authorised shares doesn’t issue them. You still need a board resolution, new certificates and a securities register entry.

Lost or damaged share certificate

The company can issue a replacement:

1. The shareholder signs an affidavit confirming the loss and an indemnity in favour of the company.
2. The board resolves to cancel the original certificate and issue a duplicate.
3. The securities register records the cancellation and the new certificate number.

Our share certificate service

From R500 we prepare the board resolution, the share certificates and an up-to-date securities register, and make sure they agree with your MOI and your CIPC beneficial ownership filing. Share transfers (including STT) and authorised share changes are quoted separately.