Seychelles is moving forward with amendments to the International Business Companies Act, 2016. The changes are aimed at strengthening corporate transparency and aligning the jurisdiction more closely with international AML/CFT standards.
The proposed amendments are set out in the official International Business Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2026, published by the Seychelles Official Gazette.
For owners of Seychelles IBCs, the reform may be a good moment to review the current structure, privacy expectations, director arrangements, and long-term plans for international operations.
What is expected to change?
The amendments focus on three main areas.
1. Public access to current directors’ information
Information on the current directors of Seychelles IBCs is expected to become publicly accessible. According to the Bill, this may include the name and date of appointment of each company’s current directors.
This is one of the most important changes for clients who originally chose Seychelles because of its privacy profile.
2. The first directors must be appointed faster
The current timeframe for appointing the first directors is expected to be reduced from nine months to 30 days from incorporation.
This means that newly incorporated Seychelles IBCs will need to complete their initial director appointment much sooner than before.
3. Nominee director disclosure requirements
The Bill also introduces additional disclosure requirements for nominee directors and alternate directors. If a director acts as a nominee, the company may need to record the nominee status and identify the nominator.
Existing Seychelles IBCs using nominee director arrangements should review whether their records and internal documents will need to be updated during the transition period.
Why is Seychelles changing the rules?
The amendments are linked to Seychelles’ efforts to strengthen transparency and improve compliance with international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards.
The official explanatory statement refers to FATF Recommendation 24, which deals with the transparency and beneficial ownership of legal persons. The reform also comes ahead of Seychelles’ next ESAAMLG mutual evaluation.
In practical terms, Seychelles remains a viable jurisdiction for many international companies. However, companies that rely heavily on director privacy or nominee director arrangements may want to reassess whether Seychelles still meets their long-term expectations.
What should Seychelles IBC owners do now?
If you already own a Seychelles IBC, you do not necessarily need to close it or make an immediate decision. However, it is worth reviewing the structure before the new requirements become fully operational.
You may need to check:
- who is currently appointed as director;
- whether nominee director arrangements are used;
- whether the company records are complete;
- whether the structure still meets your privacy requirements;
- whether the company is suitable for your banking, tax, and operational plans.
For some clients, staying in Seychelles will still be appropriate. For others, especially those who prefer a jurisdiction without a public register of directors or members, redomiciliation may be worth considering.
Redomiciliation to the Marshall Islands as an option
One possible solution is redomiciliation of a Seychelles IBC to the Marshall Islands.
Redomiciliation allows a company to move from one jurisdiction to another without liquidation and without creating a completely new company. According to the Marshall Islands Registry, when a foreign entity redomiciles to the RMI, it changes its corporate jurisdiction, while the company name and date of existence remain unchanged.
This can be important if the company already has contracts, banking history, assets, counterparties, or a clean corporate record that the owner wants to preserve.
Why consider the Marshall Islands?
The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a modern corporate jurisdiction used for international business structures. Its Associations Law is modeled on Delaware corporate law, and the jurisdiction permits redomiciliation both into and out of the RMI.
For many business owners, the Marshall Islands may be attractive because:
- redomiciliation can preserve the company’s continuity;
- the company does not need to be liquidated and recreated;
- RMI law does not require directors, officers, or shareholders to be filed in a public registry;
- the jurisdiction is familiar to international corporate service providers;
- the structure can be reviewed and adjusted during the migration process.
There is also a practical cost factor: the RMI Registry is currently offering free redomiciliation at the registry-fee level for inbound migrations. This may reduce the overall cost of moving the company, although document preparation, Seychelles exit procedures, due diligence, professional support, and other related costs may still apply.
Offshore Pro Group can assist with redomiciliation
Our team can help Seychelles IBC owners assess whether redomiciliation to the Marshall Islands is available and suitable for their structure.
Our team can assist with:
- preliminary review of the Seychelles IBC;
- assessment of redomiciliation requirements in both jurisdictions;
- preparation of the required corporate documents;
- coordination with the registered agent and registry;
- support with updating the corporate structure after migration;
- guidance on banking, compliance, and maintenance after redomiciliation.
If your Seychelles IBC may be affected by the upcoming transparency changes, now is the right time to review your options.
Contact Offshore Pro Group to discuss redomiciliation of your Seychelles IBC to the Marshall Islands and check whether your company can benefit from the current free redomiciliation opportunity.
The possibility of redomiciliation depends on the company’s structure, good standing, documents, and the requirements of both jurisdictions. Tax, legal, and banking consequences should be reviewed separately based on the company’s activity and the owner’s country of tax residence.
