Quick answer

A saved eSPARC draft is not yet a filed or approved SEC application. Resume it through the same eSECURE account—or, for a Regular Only application, through the SEC’s application-search facility—complete every required tab, verify the designated email addresses, review the system-generated documents, and click Submit Application or the equivalent final-submission button.

Watch the deadline shown in the portal. A OneSEC ZERO application must be completed within one day and may be automatically purged if it is not completed on time. Other applications follow the name-reservation expiry date or deadline displayed in eSPARC. After submission, the remaining steps may include SEC review, electronic authentication through eSAP, and payment through eSPAYSEC.

Saving, name verification, or even name reservation does not create the corporation. Under Section 18 of the Revised Corporation Code, corporate existence and juridical personality begin only when the SEC issues the Certificate of Incorporation.

First, identify your processing route

Your next steps and deadlines depend on the route selected when the draft was created.

Processing route	Usually covers	Important consequence after saving
OneSEC with ZERO Processing	Eligible domestic stock corporations, including eligible One Person Corporations and corporations with two to 15 incorporators	Complete the application within one day. The SEC’s terms state that an incomplete application, including a pre-approved name reservation, may be automatically purged. Payment must also be made within one day from issuance of the Payment Assessment Form.
Regular with ZERO Processing	Stock and specified non-stock corporations requiring regular SEC review but using electronic authentication	Follow the name-reservation expiry date displayed in eSPARC. After submission and SEC pre-approval, the required signatories authenticate the documents through eSAP before payment. No hard-copy submission is required under the current ZERO process.
Regular Only	Presently includes lending and financing companies, partnerships, foreign corporations, and specified non-stock corporations	Resume using the application reference number and the authorized representative’s email when applicable. After payment, the portal presently requires hard copies and proof of payment within 60 calendar days from the approval date stated in the certificate.

As of the current SEC portal notice, domestic stock corporations have generally been processed through SEC ZERO since April 7, 2025, except lending and financing companies. Confirm the available route on the current eSPARC processing page, because the company type and regulatory requirements may change which route is permitted.

How to resume the saved draft

1. Return through the official portal

Go directly to the SEC eSPARC portal and sign in using the same eSECURE account used to create the draft.

For a Regular Only application, the SEC also provides a Search Existing Application page. It requires:

The application reference number; and
The authorized representative’s email address exactly as entered in the application.

Do not create another application merely because the draft is not immediately visible. First check the original account, confirmation email, spam folder, and any application reference number previously issued. Duplicate drafts can create confusion over the active name reservation and applicable deadline.

2. Record the status and deadline before editing

Take a screenshot or save a PDF showing:

Application status;
Application or reference number;
Processing route;
Name-verification status;
Name-reservation expiry date, if any; and
Any compliance, payment, or submission deadline.

For OneSEC ZERO, act immediately. Its official terms provide for automatic purging if the application is not completed within one day. For Regular or Regular ZERO applications, rely on the specific expiry date displayed in the portal rather than assuming a standard reservation period.

3. Check the company-name result

A draft may show the name-verification status as ongoing, completed, or failed.

Ongoing: You may ordinarily continue completing the other tabs while waiting.
Completed: Continue, but remember that initial availability is not final approval of the registration.
Failed: Use the retry or correction option presented by the system. If the route permits a name appeal, follow the portal’s instructions and upload the required appeal document and supporting basis.
Reserved: Note the exact expiration date. Complete and submit before that date.

Do not spend heavily on signage, packaging, domains, or advertising based only on name availability. The SEC’s official guide states that verification does not itself approve the company’s registration. Corporate names remain subject to Section 18 of the Revised Corporation Code and SEC Memorandum Circular No. 13, series of 2019.

4. Complete every remaining tab

The exact screens vary by company type and route, but they commonly cover:

Company purpose and Philippine Standard Industrial Classification;
Principal-office and contact details;
Capital structure, share classifications, subscriptions, and payments;
Incorporators, directors or trustees, subscribers, and officers;
Beneficial-ownership declarations;
Supporting documents or endorsements, where required; and
Application review.

Click Save and Proceed after completing each tab. A page that still shows “Draft” means the final application has not yet been submitted.

The information should agree across all records. Check spelling, suffixes, dates, nationality, residence addresses, TIN or passport details, email addresses, share numbers, par value, subscription amounts, and amounts paid. The articles of incorporation must contain the information required by Section 13 of the Revised Corporation Code, and special laws may impose additional capital, nationality, endorsement, or licensing requirements.

5. Complete the required email and identity verification

Follow every verification link sent to the official and alternate email addresses identified in the application. Check spam, junk, and quarantined-mail folders.

For ZERO processing:

The authorized representative must have the required credentialed eSECURE account.
Incorporators, officers, or other signatories identified by the system must also have properly credentialed eSECURE accounts.
Names and identity details in eSECURE should match the draft.
Use each person’s own email address and mobile number where the eSECURE process requires unique contact details.

Never give another person your eSECURE password or OTP. A representative may coordinate the filing, but each required signatory should complete their own authentication.

6. Review the generated documents before submission

Open and download every system-generated document. Compare it with the intended agreement among the incorporators, including:

Exact corporate name;
Primary and secondary purposes;
Principal-office location;
Corporate term;
Capital and share structure;
Subscriptions and paid-in amounts;
Board composition and officers;
Nominee and alternate nominee details for an OPC, where applicable; and
Beneficial-ownership declarations.

Do not manually alter a system-generated ZERO form. The OneSEC terms state that alteration, erasure, modification, or revision of system-generated registration forms can result in revocation of the application. Correct the underlying entries in eSPARC and regenerate the documents instead.

If the draft cannot be corrected from the review screen, return through the permitted edit links. Once an application has been submitted, corrections may require a compliance response, petition for correction, amendment, cancellation, or a new application, depending on the error and its materiality.

7. Make the final submission

Read the certifications and terms, enter the required verification code, and click the final submission button. Do not stop after another Save and Proceed action.

Confirm that the portal displays a submitted or successfully submitted status. Preserve:

The submission confirmation;
Application reference number;
Submission date and time; and
Confirmation email.

What happens after submission

OneSEC with ZERO Processing

For an eligible OneSEC ZERO application:

The system prepares the documents for authentication.
Each required signatory receives a “Ready to sign” notice or eSAP signing request.
Each signatory logs in using their own eSECURE credentials, opens the pending documents, and authenticates them using the required OTP.
The applicant returns to eSPARC and checks or updates the signing status.
After all required authentications are complete, the applicant proceeds to eSPAYSEC.
Once payment is confirmed, the authenticated documents and digitally signed Certificate of Incorporation become available for download.

The OneSEC terms require completion within one day and payment within one day from issuance of the Payment Assessment Form. Do not wait until the end of the day to coordinate multiple signatories.

Regular with ZERO Processing

For Regular ZERO:

The SEC reviews the submitted application.
The authorized representative receives an email when it is pre-approved or when compliance is required.
After pre-approval, the required signatories authenticate the system-generated documents through eSAP.
Once all required documents show as signed, the applicant proceeds to online payment.
After payment confirmation, the digitally signed certificate and authenticated documents can be downloaded from eSPARC.

The current ZERO terms state that hard copies are not required. Do not send paper documents unless the SEC specifically directs otherwise for the particular application.

Regular Only

The current Regular Processing page states that the applicant will generally be advised of the review status through the application email within seven working days. A deficiency or disapproval notice must be answered through the correction or compliance method specified by the SEC.

Once qualified for payment, pay the amount stated in the Payment Assessment Form using an authorized channel. The current portal directs Regular Only applicants to submit proof of payment and two hard copies of the originally signed and authenticated or notarized documents through the prescribed two-way courier or registered-mail system within 60 calendar days from the approval date stated in the Certificate of Incorporation.

Follow the instructions attached to the specific application. Do not apply the Regular Only paper-submission rule to a ZERO application.

When the company legally exists

A saved draft, reserved name, submitted form, tentative assessment, pre-approval notice, or completed payment step should not be treated as the Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 18 of Republic Act No. 11232 provides that a private corporation begins its corporate existence and juridical personality on the date the SEC issues its Certificate of Incorporation under its official seal.

Until then:

Avoid representing that the corporation is already SEC-registered;
Do not use a draft or name-reservation notice as proof of incorporation; and
Document carefully who is entering any pre-incorporation contract and who will bear liability if registration does not proceed.

Information and evidence to preserve

Keep a secure registration file containing:

Screenshots of the draft status and deadlines;
Application reference number;
Name-verification and reservation notices;
All SEC and system emails;
Copies of the data supplied by each incorporator, subscriber, officer, and beneficial owner;
Supporting endorsements and uploaded documents;
Every version of the system-generated forms reviewed before submission;
eSAP signing-status confirmations;
Final Payment Assessment Form;
Payment confirmation and electronic official receipt;
“Registration Complete” notice; and
Certificate of Incorporation, bylaws, and authenticated registration documents.

Store personal data securely. Redact TINs, passport numbers, addresses, signatures, OTPs, and other sensitive information before sending screenshots to anyone who does not need the complete record.

Common mistakes to avoid

Treating Save and Proceed as final submission.
Missing the one-day OneSEC deadline or the displayed name-reservation expiry.
Starting a duplicate application instead of resuming the existing draft.
Using a proposed name publicly before registration takes effect.
Selecting OneSEC when the purpose, ownership, subscription, location, or required government endorsement falls outside OneSEC’s permitted scope.
Failing to verify both required email addresses.
Waiting until submission to create or credential the signatories’ eSECURE accounts.
Entering identity information that does not match eSECURE or official records.
Guessing who the beneficial owner is when ownership or control is indirect.
Altering downloaded system-generated forms.
Paying an amount or account number received through an unofficial message instead of following the payment link and assessment inside the SEC system.
Ignoring an SEC compliance notice because an application was previously “pre-approved.”
Assuming payment alone proves incorporation without downloading and checking the issued certificate.

The SEC’s ZERO terms warn that false information, misrepresentation, or fraud may lead to revocation or cancellation of the registration, forfeiture of filing fees, and possible criminal proceedings under the Revised Corporation Code and other laws.

When professional or SEC help is urgent

Seek help promptly if:

A OneSEC draft or Payment Assessment Form was issued today;
The name reservation expires soon;
The draft has disappeared or shows as purged;
You have lost access to the registered email address, mobile number, or eSECURE account;
An incorporator or required signatory cannot complete eSAP authentication;
The intended business requires an SEC or other government-agency endorsement;
The company will have foreign ownership, landholding, a regulated activity, or a special minimum-capital requirement;
Shares will be paid through property, services, debt conversion, or another non-cash arrangement;
There is uncertainty about indirect ownership, control, nominees, or beneficial owners;
The generated documents do not reflect the parties’ actual agreement; or
A material error is discovered after submission or certificate issuance.

For a technical or status problem, preserve a screenshot showing the exact error, date, time, browser, processing route, and application reference number. Contact the SEC through cprd_registration@sec.gov.ph or open a ticket through the official SEC iMessage help portal. Do not include passwords or OTPs.

Frequently asked questions

Does saving the draft reserve the company name?

Not necessarily. The portal separately displays the name-verification result and, where applicable, a button to reserve the name. A reservation is subject to the expiry date shown in eSPARC and is not approval of incorporation.

Can I close the browser after saving?

A properly saved draft may be resumed, but closing the browser does not stop any deadline. OneSEC applications remain subject to the one-day completion rule, while other routes follow the displayed reservation or compliance deadline.

Can I edit a saved draft?

Generally, yes, while the application remains in draft status and the relevant fields remain open. Use the portal’s edit, retry, or step-navigation controls. Review the regenerated forms after every material change.

What if OneSEC no longer fits the application?

The OneSEC terms direct applicants to cancel the application and proceed through Regular with ZERO Processing when required data or circumstances fall outside OneSEC’s permitted scope. Examples include a non-predetermined purpose, a name appeal, certain regulated activities, required government endorsements, an economic-zone location, or non-cash subscription payments.

How much should I pay?

Pay only the amount in the official Payment Assessment Form generated for the application. Registration fees depend on the entity type, capital structure, and other applicable charges; bank or payment-gateway fees may be additional.

Is notarization still required?

ZERO processing uses electronic authentication through eSAP and, under the current SEC system, does not require physical signing, notarization, or hard-copy submission. Regular Only applications follow a different process and presently require originally signed and authenticated or notarized paper documents after payment.

How do I know registration is complete?

Look for the “Registration Complete” notice and download the SEC-issued Certificate of Incorporation and authenticated documents. Verify that the corporate name and other details match the approved application.

Official references

This article provides general legal information, not legal advice for a particular company or transaction. Requirements may depend on the entity type, ownership, business activity, documents, and instructions issued in the individual application. Official sources and live SEC procedures were checked on July 20, 2026.