Form a Mauritius company remotely and use one of Africa’s leading financial hubs as a base for international business. You can choose between a Global Business Company (GBC), a tax-resident vehicle that can access Mauritius’ double tax treaties, or a non-resident Authorized Company (AC) for simpler offshore holding and trading.
Excellent 4,5 out of 5
Mauritius positions itself as a compliant, business-friendly gateway between Africa, Asia, and Europe. Its tax system is designed to stay competitive while still meeting OECD transparency and substance standards, making it attractive for holding, investment, and international trading structures.
The standard corporate income tax rate is 15%, but qualifying categories of income can benefit from an 80% partial exemption, reducing the effective rate to around 3% if substance conditions are met. There is no capital gains tax, and dividends paid by a Mauritius company are generally free of withholding tax at the source.
Mauritius has signed around 46 double taxation agreements, allowing reduced or zero withholding tax rates on dividends, interest, and royalties from treaty partners—one of the key reasons it is used for holding and investment structures.
The Republic of Mauritius is regarded as one of the most stable democracies in Africa, consistently ranking at the top of African economic-freedom and ease-of-doing-business indices, with predictable regulation and strong protection of property rights.
Mauritius hosts a developed banking sector (including international banks), a regulated financial-services industry, and a mature ecosystem of management companies, lawyers, and auditors working to international standards.
There are no general exchange-control restrictions. Companies can freely move funds in and out, hold multi-currency accounts, and make cross-border payments, subject only to standard banking compliance checks.
Mauritius participates in the CRS automatic exchange of tax information and requires beneficial-owner details to be available to regulators and banks, but beneficial ownership is not published in open public registers, which helps balance transparency and privacy.
A Global Business Company is a Mauritius tax-resident entity supervised by the Financial Services Commission (FSC). It is used for cross-border investment, holding, financing, and trading where treaty access, reputation, and clear substance are important.
Tax-resident company subject to 15% corporate tax, with the possibility to apply the 80% partial exemption regime (PER) on specified categories of income, reducing the effective rate to about 3% if conditions are met.
Access to Mauritius DTAs with ~46 countries for reduced withholding on dividends, interest, and royalties.
No capital gains tax on most disposals; dividends distributed to foreign shareholders are not taxed at source in Mauritius.
Recognized, well-regulated jurisdiction with a strong reputation compared to classic “tax havens.”
Suitable for holding companies, investment vehicles, IP licensing, financing structures, and international trading.
Best suited for investors who need treaty access, real substance in Mauritius, and a bank-friendly structure for long-term cross-border holdings and financing.
Tax residence: Mauritius tax resident, confirmed via Certificate of Tax Residence (CTR) when substance conditions are met.
Regulator: Licensed and supervised by the FSC, always administered through a licensed management company.
Directors: Typically, at least two resident directors in Mauritius are actively involved in decision-making to support substance.
Shareholders: Minimum one shareholder (individual or corporate, can be non-resident).
Company secretary: Mandatory local corporate secretary (usually the management company).
Registered office: Must maintain a registered address in Mauritius; often provided by the management company.
Economic substance: Must carry out Core Income Generating Activities (CIGA) in Mauritius, with appropriate staff, decision-making, and infrastructure relative to the scale of activities.
Accounting & audit: IFRS-based accounting and mandatory annual audit, with audited financials filed with regulators and the tax authority.
An Authorized Company is a non-resident structure designed for offshore ownership and operations outside Mauritius. It effectively replaced the former GBC2 regime.
Generally not taxed in Mauritius on foreign-source income, provided it does not derive local Mauritius-source income.
Lighter regulatory and substance requirements than a GBC; no FSC license and no economic-substance test under current rules.
Flexible structure for asset holding, simple international trading, and wealth-planning vehicles where DTA access is not required.
Simpler setup via the Companies and Business Registration Department (CBRD) through a licensed management company.
Ideal for non-resident owners who want a zero-tax, non-treaty vehicle to hold foreign assets or run simple offshore trading without Mauritius substance requirements.
Tax residence: Not regarded as a Mauritius tax resident; cannot claim DTAs.
Directors: At least one director (may be non-resident).
Shareholders: Minimum one shareholder (no residency requirements).
Management company: Must be administered via a licensed management company/registered agent.
Company secretary: Not strictly mandatory under current rules (often handled by the management company).
Registered office: Can use the management company’s address as the legal address.
Accounting & audit: No obligation to file audited financial statements in Mauritius; accounting may follow the rules of the place of effective management or the beneficial owner’s jurisdiction.
All formations are handled via licensed management companies that interact with CBRD and FSC, bundle official fees, and provide ongoing corporate administration.
Processing time: up to 3 weeks
Chosen when you need a non-resident Mauritius company for offshore activities, pre-licensing preparation, or corporate structuring with limited initial payment flows.
Package includes:
Government registration fees
Corporate secretarial functions
Maintenance and custody of statutory registers
Provision of registered office address
Compliance support and due-diligence handling
Preparation and issue of corporate documents
Regulatory liaison and basic guidance
Processing time: up to 4 weeks
For projects that need an AC plus a working corporate account to start cross-border transactions.
Package includes:
Government registration fees
Corporate secretarial functions
Maintenance and custody of statutory registers
Provision of registered office address
Compliance and due-diligence support
Corporate documents and regulatory support
Opening of a corporate bank account (local or international, subject to profile)
Processing time: typically 1–3 days after FSC approval
Designed for investment, holding, financial, and trading structures where tax residence, resident directors, and full regulatory oversight are required, and long-term banking is a priority.
Package includes:
Government and fees
Corporate secretarial services
Maintenance and custody of statutory registers
Provision of registered office address
Appointment of two resident directors
Compliance support and due-diligence coordination
Preparation of corporate documents
Regulatory liaison with FSC and other authorities
Our team manages the whole process, from structuring to the delivery of documents and account opening.
We analyze your goals (holding, investment, trading, IP, real estate, estate planning) and advise whether a GBC or AC is more appropriate. We then propose and check several company-name options with CBRD and reserve the chosen name for incorporation.
We gather KYC information for founders, directors, and beneficial owners, conduct due diligence, and prepare the incorporation application and constitution (where used), forms with details of directors, shareholders, and beneficial owners, and for GBCs a business plan, activity description, and substance outline for FSC. After internal checks, we file the application via the management company.
For ACs, CBRD reviews the file and compliance checks are performed by the management company; the process can take up to three weeks. For GBCs, FSC reviews the application, ownership structure, and substance plans; once approved, the GBC license and incorporation are usually issued within a few working days.
Once approved, you receive the Certificate of Incorporation, Constitution (if adopted), registers and corporate resolutions, and for GBCs formal confirmation of Global Business License/tax-resident status. We then assist with opening a corporate bank account, setting up accounting/audit providers, and drafting standard resolutions and contracts needed to start operations.
Exact requirements depend on the structure and your profile but typically include:
For Individual Founders, Directors, and Beneficial Owners
Notarized copy of a valid passport
Certified Proof of residential address (utility bill, bank statement, or government letter, usually not older than 3 months)
CV or professional profile (especially for GBC directors)
Source-of-funds/wealth documentation
Where required: police clearance or signed declaration confirming no serious criminal record
Bank Reference Letter (not older than 3 months)
An apostille is needed in some cases, depending on the country of issue and the policies of the management company or bank.
For Corporate Shareholders
Certificate of incorporation
Register of members, directors
Proof of registered address
Memorandum & Article of Association
Latest audited financial statements
Group Structure
Additional Documents for GBC
Detailed business plan (activities, markets, projected turnover, staffing)
Evidence of substance plans (office arrangements, staff, services from substance providers)
CVs of resident directors and key officers
Engagement letter with the licensed management company
Thorough preparation of the package reduces regulator queries and speeds up approval.
Standard corporate income tax rate: 15%. Partial Exemption Regime (PER): for qualifying income (for example, certain foreign dividends, interest, and specified financial activities), 80% of that income can be exempt, bringing the effective rate to around 3%, provided substance criteria and other conditions are met. No capital gains tax under current rules. No withholding tax on dividends paid by a Mauritius company; interest and royalties may be subject to local rules but often benefit from treaty reductions.As tax residents, GBCs may claim DTA benefits using their Certificate of Tax Residence.Authorized Companies are generally not taxed in Mauritius on foreign-source income and are not considered tax residents. Corporate income is usually taxed (if at all) in the jurisdiction where the company is regarded as resident, while in Mauritius, the AC is mainly tax-exempt on foreign-source income but may still be required to file a nil tax return.ACs cannot use Mauritius DTAs.For both structures, shareholders must consider home-country CFC rules, personal income tax, and reporting (e.g., foreign-company disclosure).
Maintain bookkeeping in line with IFRS. Prepare annual financial statements.Mandatory annual audit by a Mauritius-approved auditor; file audited accounts with regulators. File an annual corporate tax return and pay any tax due.File an annual substance declaration confirming that CIGA is carried out in Mauritius. Hold at least one board meeting per year in Mauritius and keep minutes.Keep registers of directors, shareholders, and beneficial owners up to date.File an Annual Return with CBRD by the statutory deadline, confirming key company data.Maintain basic internal accounts and corporate records (registers of directors and shareholders) via the management company.No mandatory audit in Mauritius. However, an Authorized Company will normally file a basic income tax return and/or financial summary with the Mauritius Revenue Authority, even if no corporate tax is payable on its foreign-source income.Failure to meet obligations can lead to penalties or striking-off, so ongoing administration through a reliable management company is essential.
A corporate bank account is usually needed for operations. Because of strict AML/KYC rules, account opening is a separate, fairly intensive process.
Typical Steps
Bank selection—we compare local and international banks that work with Mauritius entities, review minimum balance requirements (commonly USD 5,000–25,000 initial deposit range), available currencies, online banking, and geographic reach.Document preparation—provide incorporation documents, board resolution to open the account, KYC for directors and beneficial owners, and business documentation (plan, expected flows, sample contracts).Compliance review—the bank’s compliance team assesses structure, source of funds, business model, and sanctions risk.Interview/KYC meeting—often at least one director or UBO must attend an in-person or remote interview.Account activation—after approval and initial deposit, the account goes live with access to e-banking.Timelines vary but are often 1–2+ weeks once a complete file is submitted, and the bank is comfortable with the profile.
Choosing the right structure on Mauritius is only half of the equation—the other half is making sure it actually works for tax, banking, and compliance in the real world. Offshore Pro Group combines local expertise, regulatory know-how, and practical banking experience to guide you through the whole lifecycle of your Mauritius company.
We start from your goals, revenue sources, tax residence, and banking needs to decide between GBC and AC, or to suggest an alternative jurisdiction.
From entity choice and substance planning to incorporation, bank selection, and annual compliance, you work with a single coordinated team.
Package costs and annual fees are clear from the outset; you know exactly what is included and what may be extra.
We design structures that work with Mauritian law, global AML/CFT, and substance rules, helping you avoid regulatory or banking surprises later.
Setting up a company in Mauritius provides you with access to a competitive tax regime, a high-reputation financial center, and a flexible toolkit of GBC and Authorized Company structures. With the right planning, you can align tax, substance, and banking in a way that actually works in practice.
Yes. Both GBCs and ACs can be incorporated without your physical presence. All interaction with the Companies and Business Registration Department (CBRD) and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) goes through a licensed management company. Some banks may still ask for an in-person or video KYC.
Yes. There are no restrictions on foreign ownership for either GBCs or ACs. Shareholders and directors can be non-Mauritian, subject to the specific requirement that a GBC must have enough resident directors to support tax residence and substance.
A GBC will normally have at least two resident directors plus any additional non-resident directors you need; an AC can operate with a single director of any residency. Both structures can have just one shareholder (individual or corporate).
A GBC must be administered through a licensed management company, which also provides the corporate secretary function and registered office. An AC is also handled via a licensed management company/registered agent, but a separate “secretary” role is not mandatory under current rules.
In practice, restructuring is possible, but it has to be planned. Often this is done by setting up the new vehicle (e.g., a GBC), transferring assets and contracts, and then winding down or reclassifying the old structure. Tax, licensing, and regulatory implications must be checked on a case-by-case basis.
Continuation into Mauritius may be available for some foreign entities if their home law allows it and Mauritius accepts the migration. Your management company will check the feasibility for your specific jurisdiction and structure.
A GBC is subject to 15% corporate income tax, but qualifying income (for example, certain foreign dividends, interest, and capital gains) may enjoy an 80% partial exemption, bringing the effective rate down to about 3% if requirements are met. An AC is generally not taxed in Mauritius on foreign-source income.
Only a GBC that is treated as tax-resident in Mauritius can claim treaty benefits. An AC is explicitly non-resident for Mauritius tax purposes and cannot rely on Mauritius DTAs.
If the GBC does not meet economic-substance conditions, it risks losing access to the partial exemption regime and being taxed at the full 15% rate. Its Mauritius tax-resident status and use of DTAs may also be challenged by Mauritius or by the treaty partner’s authorities.
Dividends paid by a Mauritius company are generally not subject to withholding tax at the source. Certain payments of interest and royalties may be taxable depending on the structure and applicable treaty, so the exact position should be checked at the planning stage.
Not automatically. Many countries have CFC rules and tax residents on worldwide income. Even if your GBC or AC pays little or no tax in Mauritius, you may still have reporting and tax obligations where you are personally tax-resident.
An AC is not a resident of Mauritius. However, it may be treated as tax-resident in another jurisdiction based on “place of effective management,” directors’ location, or local CFC rules. That’s why cross-border tax analysis remains necessary.
Share capital can typically be denominated in any major currency (EUR, USD, GBP, etc.), subject to the management company’s policy. Corporate bank accounts are usually multi-currency and can hold USD, EUR, and other freely convertible currencies.
Banks will assess business logic, substance, and the owners’ profiles. For GBCs, they expect clear links to Mauritius (resident directors, office, staff, or services). For ACs, they focus on cross-border risks and the owners’ home countries. A well-prepared file usually takes 1–3 weeks to review but can take longer in complex cases.
No. Many GBCs and ACs use a combination of local banks and international banks or EMIs outside Mauritius. However, for substance and DTA purposes, at least one Mauritian banking or payment relationship is often recommended for GBCs.
There is no statutory minimum share capital for most standard GBCs and ACs; many structures start from a nominal amount, such as 1 EUR or its equivalent. Certain regulated activities or licenses may require higher capital.
Yes. In fact, for a GBC, this is often part of meeting substance requirements. You can lease dedicated office space, use serviced offices, or rely on substance-provider solutions, depending on the scale of your operations.
A GBC must maintain IFRS-compliant accounts, undergo an annual audit, file tax returns, report on substance (CIGA), and keep corporate registers and beneficial-owner information up to date through its management company.
An AC files an Annual Return with the CBRD, keeps basic registers of shareholders and directors via the management company, and updates KYC information. There is no mandatory audit or tax filing in Mauritius if it has no Mauritius-source income, though banks or counterparties may still request accounts.
For a GBC, annual running costs usually include management-company fees, registered office and secretary, license and regulator fees, accounting and audit, and substance-related costs (directors, office, staff, or outsourced solutions). For an AC, annual fees are lower and mainly cover management-company services and basic administration.
The Certificate of Incorporation remains valid as long as the company is in good standing—i.e., annual fees are paid, filings are up to date, and there is no regulatory action leading to strike-off. There is no automatic expiry date.
Failure to pay annual fees, file required returns, or respond to substance and KYC requests can lead to penalties, loss of good-standing status, and ultimately strike-off from the register. Reinstatement is possible in some cases but can be time-consuming and expensive.
Yes. You can voluntarily wind up the company or apply for strike-off, subject to settling debts, notifying the management company, and satisfying the regulator that all obligations (including tax and reporting) have been met.
Alongside Mauritius structures, we can help you set up companies in a range of complementary offshore and onshore hubs so you can combine Mauritius with holding, trading, or asset-protection entities in other key jurisdictions.
