Company Formation in Mauritius
Set up a Mauritius company correctly and efficiently — from structure selection and FSC licensing to bank account opening and full ongoing compliance.
Mauritius is one of Africa's and the Indian Ocean's most accessible and respected jurisdictions for company formation. It offers a transparent regulatory framework underpinned by the Companies Act 2001, the Financial Services Act 2007 and a network of 46 active double taxation treaties, efficient registration processes managed through the Corporate and Business Registration Department (CBRD) and the Financial Services Commission (FSC), and a range of corporate structures suitable for trading, holding, investment management, fund administration and operational activities. The jurisdiction is OECD-whitelisted, a member of SADC and COMESA, and consistently ranks among the top three African jurisdictions in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business index.
Main company types in Mauritius
Global Business Company (GBC)
The most commonly used vehicle for international structuring, cross-border investment and fund management. A GBC is incorporated under the Companies Act 2001 and licensed by the FSC under the Financial Services Act 2007. It can access Mauritius's network of 46 double taxation agreements (covering Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East) and benefits from an effective corporate tax rate as low as 3% on eligible foreign-source income under the partial exemption regime. GBCs must demonstrate economic substance in Mauritius — at least two resident directors, adequate expenditure, qualified staff or outsourced management services, and core income-generating activities conducted in Mauritius.
Domestic Company
A company carrying on business primarily in Mauritius, incorporated under the Companies Act 2001 without an FSC licence. Subject to corporate income tax at 15% on worldwide income. Suitable for trading operations, retail, professional services, hospitality businesses and companies providing services to Mauritius-resident clients. Domestic companies are not restricted from having foreign shareholders or conducting some international activity, but they do not qualify for treaty benefits unless they also hold a GBC licence.
Authorised Company (AC)
A simplified structure for companies carrying on business exclusively outside Mauritius and with shareholders who are all non-residents. Authorised Companies are registered with the CBRD and notified to the FSC, but are not FSC-licensed. They have significantly lower compliance requirements than a GBC and a lower regulatory fee base. However, they are treated as non-resident for Mauritius tax purposes, do not access the treaty network and may not carry on banking, insurance, investment dealing or other regulated activities.
Private Trust Company (PTC)
A dedicated Mauritius company licensed by the FSC to act exclusively as trustee of a specified trust or family of trusts. Not a general-purpose trustee — it is established for a single family or group. Allows family members or their nominees to sit on the PTC board alongside professional directors, giving the family meaningful involvement in governance decisions while maintaining FSC oversight. Commonly incorporated as a GBC to access treaty benefits if the trust holds investment assets.
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)
A single-purpose entity established to hold a specific asset or execute a defined transaction — such as acquiring an African infrastructure project, holding a mezzanine loan or securitising a portfolio of receivables. SPVs in Mauritius can be structured as GBCs or domestic companies depending on the investor profile and treaty requirements. The SPV's constitution typically restricts its activities to the defined purpose, and its shares or notes are held by a parent holding company or trust.
The formation process
Structure selection & tax analysis
We assess your activity, shareholder profile, treaty requirements and substance capacity to recommend the optimal vehicle. For GBC applicants, we also model the available treaty benefits and the partial exemption calculation to confirm the effective tax rate your structure will achieve. Where the intended activity is regulated (fund management, insurance, capital markets), we identify the additional FSC licence categories required.
Prepare KYC documentation
We provide a detailed KYC checklist and collect certified documents for all shareholders, directors and beneficial owners. For corporate shareholders, this includes the full corporate ownership chain to the ultimate beneficial owner. Documents from outside Mauritius generally require notarisation and apostille. We review all documents before submission to minimise the risk of FSC query or rejection.
Name reservation & constitution drafting
We reserve the proposed company name with the CBRD and prepare the company constitution (articles of association), shareholders' agreement (if required) and any ancillary resolutions. For GBC applications, we also prepare the business plan, substance plan and the FSC application form (Form FS1 or the applicable product-specific form).
Submit to CBRD and FSC
We file the incorporation documents with the CBRD (which typically issues the certificate of incorporation within one to two business days for domestic companies and Authorised Companies) and, simultaneously, submit the GBC licence application to the FSC. The FSC review process for a standard GBC takes 5 to 15 business days for straightforward applications. Complex structures or novel activities may require additional time.
Receive corporate documents & set up substance
On approval, you receive your certificate of incorporation, FSC licence, memorandum and articles, share certificates and the company's statutory registers. We set up the registered office, appoint local directors (where required), open the corporate bank account file and implement the agreed substance arrangement — whether through our in-house management services or an outsourced solution.
Bank account opening
We prepare and submit the bank account opening application to one or more Mauritius banks — including Absa (Mauritius), AfrAsia Bank, Bank One, MauBank, MCB or SBM — on behalf of the newly incorporated entity. The bank conducts its own KYC review, which typically takes 3 to 8 weeks. We coordinate with the bank's compliance team, respond to queries and track the application through to account activation.
Key requirements
- Minimum one director for domestic companies; GBCs require at least two directors, both of whom must be resident in Mauritius and can be provided by a licensed Management Company.
- Registered office address in Mauritius — a physical address (not a PO box) operated by the licensed Management Company acting as registered agent.
- GBCs must demonstrate economic substance in Mauritius: adequate physical presence, qualified personnel or outsourced management services, and core income-generating activities conducted from Mauritius.
- A company secretary must be appointed within one month of incorporation; for GBCs, the secretary must be a licensed Management Company.
- Annual accounting records must be maintained and annual financial statements prepared; GBCs must have their accounts audited by an FSC-approved auditor.
- Annual FSC licence renewal fee of USD 335 (approx.) for a standard GBC, payable to the FSC by 20 January each year.
- Annual corporate tax return filed with the MRA within six months of financial year-end; advance payment of tax (APT) payable quarterly.
- Annual filing with the CBRD (annual return confirming registered office, directors, shareholders and share capital) — failure to file attracts penalties and may result in striking off.
- KYC documentation for all controllers and beneficial owners must be kept current; any change in UBO must be notified to the FSC within 14 days.
- CRS and FATCA self-certification required for all controlling persons; where the GBC is a Reporting Financial Institution, annual returns filed with the MRA.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| GBC incorporation & FSC licence application (one-off) | USD 2,500 – 5,000 |
| Domestic company incorporation (one-off) | USD 800 – 1,500 |
| Authorised Company registration (one-off) | USD 1,200 – 2,000 |
| Annual FSC licence fee (GBC) | USD 335 (government fee) |
| Annual registered office & corporate secretarial | USD 1,500 – 3,500 |
| Annual accounting & tax compliance | USD 1,500 – 4,000 |
| Resident director service (per director, per annum) | USD 2,000 – 5,000 |