Promote:
Invest in Timor-Leste
A short guide for companies expanding into Timor-Leste: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Timor-Leste at a glance
PopulationEstimate
1.42 million
The World Bank reports a population of 1,418,517 in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Timor-Leste population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDPEstimate
US$1.9 billion
The World Bank reports GDP of US$1,902,180,258 in current dollars for 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Timor-Leste GDP in current dollars, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per personEstimate
US$1,341
The World Bank reports GDP per person of US$1,340.96 in current dollars for 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Timor-Leste GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growthEstimate
7.0%
The World Bank reports real GDP growth of 6.98 percent for 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Timor-Leste real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
−0.1%
Annual consumer price inflation was -0.1 percent in September 2026, the National Institute of Statistics reports.
Source: INETL, Timor-Leste Consumer Price Index, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$253.2 million
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$253.24 million in 2025, per UNCTADstat.
Source: UNCTADstat, Timor-Leste FDI inflows, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the United States dollar.
Source: World Bank, WDI country metadata, Timor-Leste, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
TradeInvest Timor-Leste, I.P., is the investment and export promotion agency; it describes itself as a one-stop shop that promotes, facilitates, monitors and advocates for private investment and exports.
Source: TradeInvest Timor-Leste, home page, read 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
TradeInvest calls itself the one-stop shop for private investment and says it gives access to authorizations, visas, permits and business registration acts.
Source: TradeInvest Timor-Leste, Investment Guide, 2023 edition (opens in a new tab) · as of 2023
TradeInvest published its Negative List of Activities and Sectors Excluded from Private Investment on August 19, 2022, with five forbidden activities and five with limits on foreign shares.
Source: TradeInvest Timor-Leste, Negative List, August 19, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 19, 2022
Law No. 18/2023 removed the special zone of social market economy of Oe-Cusse Ambeno and Ataúro from Law No. 3/2014, from December 1, 2023.
Source: Jornal da República, Law 18/2023, November 2023 (in Portuguese) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 30, 2023
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Timor-Leste
- Check the proposed business name on RegiNet, deliver the application to a SERVE office, then collect the registration certificate.Business Registration and Verification Service, Public Institute (SERVE, I.P.)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: SERVE, I.P., RegiNet business registration portal (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Get the tax identification number: SERVE issues a company number at registration, and the Tax Authority issues one where it is missing.Autoridade Tributária Timor-LesteOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: TradeInvest Timor-Leste, Exporter Guide, start the export process (opens in a new tab) · as of 2022
- Apply to TradeInvest for a Declaration of Benefits or a Special Investment Agreement if the investment meets the minimum value.TradeInvest Timor-Leste, I.P.Minimum US$500,000 for a foreign investorOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Timor-Leste, Government Decree 2/2018 on investment procedures, English copy (opens in a new tab) · as of February 21, 2018
- Check the negative list for the sector, then get or renew the authorization to conduct business activities from SERVE.Business Registration and Verification Service, Public Institute (SERVE, I.P.)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Timor-Leste Customs Authority, other agencies page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 2 more set-up steps
- Apply to the Migration Service for a business visa, or a work or residence visa for staff.Migration Service of Timor-LesteUS$100 for Class 1; US$150 for Class 2Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Migration Service of Timor-Leste, business visa page (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
- Lease land from the state through the land and property office, because foreign citizens and companies cannot buy land.National Directorate of Land, Property and Cadastral ServicesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: TradeInvest Timor-Leste, land factsheet (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with Customs Authority. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Meet requirements
Business registry and licensing service
SERVE
Business Registration and Verification Service, Public Institute (SERVE, I.P.)
Registers companies and sole traders, issues the registration certificate and company number, and issues and renews the authorization to conduct business activities.
Visit SERVE (opens in a new tab)Source: Timor-Leste Customs Authority, other agencies page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Central bank
BCTL
Banco Central de Timor-Leste
Supervises banks and payment systems, and publishes inflation, balance of payments and other economic statistics for the dollarized economy.
Visit BCTL (opens in a new tab)Source: Banco Central de Timor-Leste, home page, read 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 5, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Get advice
Small business support institute
IADE
Instituto de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Empresarial
Trains and advises small businesses, supports start-up proposals and offers a business incubation facility.
Visit IADE (opens in a new tab)Source: IADE, home page with 2025 news (opens in a new tab) · as of July 4, 2025
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
Customs Authority
Timor-Leste Customs Authority
Processes export declarations electronically in ASYCUDA World, licenses customs brokers, runs the National Single Window and answers trade questions through an enquiry point.
Visit Customs Authority (opens in a new tab)Source: Timor-Leste Customs Authority, home page, read 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
ATTL
Autoridade Tributária Timor-Leste
Issues tax identification numbers and debt certificates, takes tax returns through the e-Tax platform and publishes domestic tax laws and forms.
Visit ATTL (opens in a new tab)Source: Autoridade Tributária, home page with August 2026 notice (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
National chamber of commerce
CCI-TL
Timor-Leste Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Represents private businesses, offers training and advocacy, and has networks in all 13 municipalities.
Visit CCI-TL (opens in a new tab)Source: Timor-Leste Customs Authority, trade organizations page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
5. Worth knowing
End of Bayu-Undan production
The Central Bank says the end of Bayu-Undan production has materially altered the fiscal and external environment, and petroleum was 67.4 percent of 2023 exports.
What to do: Look at non-oil goods separately when you size exports or a local market.
Sources: Banco Central de Timor-Leste, Mid Term Economic Review, 2026 (opens in a new tab); UN Comtrade, Timor-Leste exports by destination, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
ASEAN tariff schedule
The Council of Ministers approved Timor-Leste’s final ATIGA commitment schedule on February 20, 2026; no Parliament approval appears in the gazette to October 31, 2026.
What to do: Confirm the duty rate in force with the Customs Authority before you price a shipment.
Sources: Government of Timor-Leste, Council of Ministers, February 20, 2026 (opens in a new tab); Government of Timor-Leste, Council of Ministers, September 25, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Currency and settlement
The Central Bank calls the economy fully dollarized and warns that high import dependence passes external price shocks into domestic prices.
What to do: Price and settle in United States dollars and watch import costs in your margins.
Sources: Banco Central de Timor-Leste, Mid Term Economic Review, 2026 (opens in a new tab); World Bank, WDI country metadata, Timor-Leste, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Reserved sectors
The 2022 negative list forbids five activities, including postal and courier services, and limits foreign shares in five others, such as a 30 percent cap on media.
What to do: Check the current negative list with TradeInvest before you decide on foreign ownership.
Sources: TradeInvest Timor-Leste, Negative List, August 19, 2022 (opens in a new tab); TradeInvest Timor-Leste, Investment Guide, 2023 edition (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 2 more
Land: lease, not ownership
Foreign citizens and companies cannot buy land; benefit holders can lease state property for up to 50 years, renewable to 100 years.
What to do: Expect a lease and confirm its terms with TradeInvest and the land office.
Sources: TradeInvest Timor-Leste, land factsheet (opens in a new tab); Timor-Leste, Private Investment Law 15/2017, English copy (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Value added tax planned
Government members reviewed the Tax Authority’s draft value added tax law on September 23, 2026; no law or start date appears in the gazette.
What to do: Check Tax Authority notices for the start date before you set long-term prices.
Sources: Government of Timor-Leste, draft value added tax law, September 2026 (opens in a new tab); Autoridade Tributária, home page with August 2026 notice (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Timor-Leste with other countriesSet Timor-Leste beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:Timor-Leste is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 1, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.