Offshore · Company formation
Company formation in Mauritius
Cross-border holding and investment structures, particularly into Africa and India, that want treaty access and are willing to maintain and pay for genuine Mauritian substance.
At a glance
- Entity
- Global Business Company (GBC) — a private company limited by shares under the Companies Act 2001 holding a Global Business Licence from the Financial Services Commission (FSC). The pure-offshore alternative is the Authorised Company (non-resident, no treaty access).
- Corporate tax
- 15% headline (as of 2026). An 80% partial exemption on qualifying foreign-source income (foreign dividends, interest, certain leasing/services) cuts the effective rate on that income to ~3%, subject to substance conditions. A 2% Corporate Climate Responsibility levy applies to chargeable income where turnover exceeds MUR 50m. A GBC is Mauritius tax-resident and taxed on worldwide income; an Authorised Company is non-resident and taxed only on Mauritius-source income.
- Incorporation time
- ~3-6 weeks in practice; the FSC targets ~15 days once a complete application is filed, but licensed management company onboarding and KYC add time.
- Minimum capital
- No statutory minimum share capital under the Companies Act 2001; a GBC is commonly issued with nominal capital (e.g. USD 1+).
- Resident director
- Yes. A GBC must be managed and controlled from Mauritius and have at least two directors resident in Mauritius; it must at all times be administered by an FSC-licensed management company. Resident directors are typically provided by that management company.
- Audit
- Statutory audit is mandatory for a GBC regardless of size: audited financial statements (to internationally accepted standards) must be filed with the FSC within 6 months of financial year-end. The small-company audit exemption available to domestic private companies does not apply to a GBC.
- Remote set-up
- Yes — formed remotely through the mandatory licensed management company; no founder visit required. Certified/notarised (often apostilled) KYC is required for each beneficial owner and director: passport, proof of address, and bank/professional references.
- Government fee
- CBRD incorporation fee for a company limited by shares ~MUR 3,000 (as of 2026). FSC Global Business Licence: USD 500 application/processing fee plus USD 1,950 annual licence fee; Registrar of Companies annual fee ~USD 300. Licensed management company fees are separate and are the main recurring cost.
- Best for
- Cross-border holding and investment structures, particularly into Africa and India, that want treaty access and are willing to maintain and pay for genuine Mauritian substance.
The process
- Engage an FSC-licensed management company and complete KYC/due diligence on all beneficial owners and directors
- Reserve the company name and incorporate the company limited by shares with the CBRD (Registrar of Companies) under the Companies Act 2001
- Apply to the FSC for the Global Business Licence, appointing at least two Mauritius-resident directors and a registered office/company secretary
- On licence grant, open a bank account and put in place substance (local office, board meetings held in Mauritius) and ongoing audit/filing arrangements
What can go wrong
- Not a DIY jurisdiction: a licensed management company is mandatory and its recurring fees, plus two resident directors and a local registered office, make ongoing running costs meaningful.
- The ~3% effective rate and treaty benefits are conditional on real economic substance and a tax residence certificate; management-and-control and substance are actively scrutinised, and thin structures risk losing treaty relief.
- The 2% Corporate Climate Responsibility levy applies once turnover exceeds MUR 50m, on top of the 15% rate.
- The cheaper Authorised Company avoids Mauritius tax on foreign income but is non-resident and cannot use the treaty network — confirm which vehicle actually fits before incorporating.
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Form a company in Mauritius?
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