diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/accounts/companyProfileForm/schema.ts b/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/accounts/companyProfileForm/schema.ts
index f84783607..275b8a4fa 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/accounts/companyProfileForm/schema.ts
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-web/portal/src/pages/accounts/companyProfileForm/schema.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,16 @@ export const onboardingSchema = z.object({
   // fields above are read-only confirmations pulled from eTrade).
   // Region is a closed set; zone/woreda/kebele stay free text until the platform
   // has an authoritative dataset of Ethiopian zones/woredas/kebeles.
-  region: z.enum(ETHIOPIAN_REGIONS, { message: "Region is required" }),
+  //
+  // Deliberately `.refine` over `z.enum`: the form needs "" as its unselected
+  // sentinel (default value, and legacy rows whose region isn't in the list). A
+  // literal union makes "" untypable, which also splits the resolver's
+  // input/output types and breaks useForm's inference for every other field.
+  region: z
+    .string()
+    .refine((v) => (ETHIOPIAN_REGIONS as readonly string[]).includes(v), {
+      message: "Region is required",
+    }),
   zone: z.string().min(1, "Zone is required"),
   woreda: z.string().min(1, "Woreda is required"),
   kebele: z.string().min(1, "Kebele is required"),