No. An annual shareholders' meeting does not usually have to be held in person.
Depending on applicable law and company documents, a meeting may be held using a technological means that allows participants to communicate effectively with each other, and is then considered a remote meeting. The conditions to be met may vary depending on the company's legal structure.
However, a distinction must be made between a meeting held remotely and a written resolution that serves as a meeting.
In the first case, a formal meeting takes place, but shareholders participate through a technological process rather than being physically present in the same location. The rules applicable to convening, participating, and voting must then be followed.
In the second case, no meeting is held, either in person or remotely. When the conditions stipulated by law are met, a written resolution signed by all shareholders entitled to vote on the matters addressed therein can generally serve as a meeting.
This latter procedure is particularly practical in SMEs with only one shareholder or a limited number of shareholders.
Regardless of the method used, the decisions taken must be properly documented and kept in your company's minutes book.
In summary , an annual shareholders' meeting does not generally have to be held in person. Depending on the applicable rules, it may be held remotely or not held at all when a valid written resolution of the shareholders entitled to vote on said resolution serves as a substitute.