Mauritius company incorporation
Brunel Advisory supports founders, investors, and international businesses with practical guidance on Mauritius company formation, structuring considerations, documentation readiness, and the steps required before approaching banks or EMIs.
How we help
A Mauritius company may be attractive for international business, investment holding, regional operations, trading, advisory, or family office activity. The right route depends on the ownership profile, business model, tax and substance considerations, licensing position, and banking requirements.
Documents
Final requirements depend on the service provider, structure, regulator, and bank. Preparing early reduces avoidable delays.
Structure fit
A structure that is easy to form may still fail if it cannot explain its activity, ownership, source of funds, or operating account need.
| Question | Why it matters | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| What will the company do? | Banks and providers assess commercial logic before onboarding. | Business plan, counterparties, contracts, website, and revenue model. |
| Who controls it? | Beneficial ownership clarity is central to KYC. | Ownership chart, passports, addresses, CVs, and source-of-wealth evidence. |
| Where will funds move? | Countries, currencies, and corridors drive risk review. | Transaction-flow forecast and explanation of payment purpose. |
GBC vs Authorised Company
Mauritius offers two main routes for international business: the Global Business Company (GBC) and the Authorised Company. They look similar on paper but serve different profiles, regulators, and banking expectations.
| Dimension | Global Business Company (GBC) | Authorised Company |
|---|---|---|
| Typical user | International investors, fund managers, holding structures, regulated activities, regional headquarters, and businesses that want treaty access. | Founders or holding vehicles whose activity is entirely outside Mauritius and who do not need treaty access or a Mauritius operating presence. |
| Tax residence | Resident in Mauritius; eligible for the Mauritius tax regime, including a partial exemption on certain foreign-source income, subject to substance. | Non-resident in Mauritius for tax purposes; management and control must be outside Mauritius. |
| Substance | Must meet FSC substance conditions: typically two Mauritius-resident directors, a local office, and operating expenditure consistent with the activity. | No local substance required; uses a licensed management company as registered agent. |
| Regulator | Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius. | Registrar of Companies, with the FSC supervising the licensed management company. |
| Banking perception | Generally well understood by Mauritius and regional banks; substance and audited accounts support the file. | Banking is possible but typically requires a stronger commercial narrative, clear UBO chain, and source-of-funds evidence. |
| Activity in Mauritius | Allowed, subject to any sector licensing. | Cannot conduct business in Mauritius. |
| Annual obligations | Audited financial statements, FSC reporting, tax filing, and substance review. | Annual return and financial summary through the management company. |
This comparison is general guidance and not legal, tax, or regulatory advice. Final classification, licensing, and tax outcomes depend on the specific facts and should be confirmed with qualified Mauritius advisers.
Incorporation timeline
Indicative timelines, subject to document completeness, regulator queries, and bank onboarding sequencing.
| Stage | Authorised Company | GBC |
|---|---|---|
| KYC pack and structure design | 1–2 weeks | 1–3 weeks |
| Submission to management company and regulator | 1–2 weeks | 2–4 weeks (FSC review) |
| Incorporation and constitutive documents | A few business days after approval | A few business days after FSC licence |
| Bank or EMI onboarding | 2–8 weeks, depending on profile and institution | 2–8 weeks, depending on profile and institution |
What usually delays incorporation
Banking readiness
Incorporation is fast compared to onboarding. The earlier the banking file is shaped, the lower the risk of an operational gap between formation and a working account.
Bank account opening is always subject to the institution’s internal review. Brunel Advisory helps prepare and coordinate the file; approval remains with the bank or EMI.
FAQ
Short answers to the questions clients raise most often about GBCs, Authorised Companies, and Mauritius incorporation in general.
A Global Business Company (GBC) is regulated by the Financial Services Commission, is treated as tax-resident in Mauritius, must demonstrate substance (such as local management, qualified employees, and operating expenditure proportionate to its activity), and is generally chosen when treaty access, regulated activity, or institutional banking credibility matters. An Authorised Company is incorporated in Mauritius but treated as non-resident for tax purposes, must be managed and controlled from outside Mauritius, cannot conduct business in Mauritius, and is typically considered for purely external activities such as international trading, investment holding, or advisory where treaty access is not required.
There is no universal answer. A GBC often presents a stronger profile to Mauritius and regional banks because of its regulated status, substance requirements, and audited reporting. An Authorised Company can still bank, but the file typically needs a clear explanation of activity, owners, source of funds, and counterparties, and may face more questions where substance is limited. The right choice depends on the activity, jurisdictions involved, and intended banking partners.
Once a complete KYC and supporting documentation pack is submitted through a licensed management company, an Authorised Company can typically be incorporated in around two to three weeks, and a GBC in around three to six weeks, subject to FSC review. Real-world timelines are driven by document completeness, regulator queries, complexity of the ownership chain, and the availability of certified documents.
At a minimum: certified passport copies and recent proof of address for each director, shareholder, and ultimate beneficial owner; professional CV or background; a clear description of the proposed business activity; source-of-funds and source-of-wealth evidence; an ownership and control chart; and supporting commercial information such as a business plan, contracts, website, or pricing. Final requirements depend on the management company, regulator, and intended bank.
In most international business structures, full foreign ownership is permitted, subject to KYC, beneficial ownership disclosure, and any sector-specific rules. Certain regulated activities require additional licensing and may impose ownership, local director, or substance conditions.
A GBC must demonstrate substance, which usually involves at least two Mauritius-resident directors with the relevant competence, a registered office, and operating expenditure consistent with the activity. An Authorised Company must be managed and controlled outside Mauritius and uses a licensed management company as its registered agent. Final requirements depend on the structure and any applicable licence.
Mauritius operates a corporate income tax regime with a partial exemption available to GBCs on certain qualifying foreign-source income, subject to meeting substance requirements. Treaty access also depends on substance, management and control, and certificate of tax residence eligibility. Tax outcomes are case-specific and should be confirmed with a qualified Mauritius tax adviser.
Free checklist
A practical preparation checklist for clients considering a Mauritius company, corporate bank account, EMI onboarding, Seychelles structure, or relocation to Mauritius.