Last updated: 31 August 2026
Irish companies are required to have a common seal. The requirement comes from section 43 of the Companies Act 2014, and the company’s constitution and the Act govern how it is used.
What is an Irish company seal?
A company seal is used to emboss or otherwise apply the company’s name to documents executed under seal. It is a formal company instrument rather than something that has to be applied to every contract or routine company document.
When is the seal used?
Whether a document needs to be executed under seal depends on the document, the transaction and the applicable legal requirements. It can arise with deeds and other formal instruments, but ordinary contracts, board minutes and share certificates do not automatically require sealing simply because they are company documents.
If there is uncertainty about whether a particular transaction must be executed under seal, legal advice should be taken.
Who can authorise use of the seal?
The seal may only be used with the authority required by the Companies Act and the company’s constitution. A document executed under seal must also be signed in the manner required by the applicable rules, which can involve a director together with the company secretary, another director or another authorised person.
Ordering a company seal
We supply company seals as part of our company products. Contact our Belfast team with the company name and registration details and we can confirm the current price and ordering process.
This article is for general information only and reflects the position at the date it was last updated. It does not constitute legal, tax, accounting or other professional advice and should not be relied upon as such. Fees, rules and deadlines may change. You should seek advice from a suitably qualified professional before acting on anything covered here.