Mauritius

Establishment of a company on Mauritius

Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean, located about 800 km (500 miles) east of Madagascar. It is an independent democratic republic by state structure. The legal system is based primarily on British common law, but also incorporates some principles of the French Napoleonic civil code. The licensing and regulatory authority for offshore companies is the Financial Services Commission.

Details of the tax system:

• NO withholding tax on dividends paid on profits from approved offshore activities
• NO withholding tax on interest
• NO tax on capital gains
• NO inheritance or estate tax payable on the inheritance of shares in an offshore entity
• NO exemption from stamp duty on any documents relating to the transactions of the offshore entity.

Mauritius is a sophisticated Offshore Financial Centre (OFC) with extremely flexible legislation. It is a signatory to 35 tax treaties.

Two of the best offshore tools we offer in Mauritius:

• A company that holds one category 1 global business license (GBC 1 – formerly an offshore company).
• A company that holds a category 2 worldwide business licence (GBC 2 – formerly an offshore company).

These companies are also referred to as Mauritius GBL1 and GBL2 respectively) These instruments have been successfully used by multinational corporations to trade and/or channel their investments in vast regions such as India, China and Pakistan.

FEE STRUCTURE OF MAURITIAN COMPANY GBC 1

I. BASIC SET OF SERVICES AND CHARTERS:

EUR 7,879

The package includes all relevant government fees, annual registered agent and registered office fees, the necessary legal acts, two executive directors-residents and a company secretary approved by the FSC if applicable, an extract from the commercial register, the memorandum and articles of association, the record of appointment of the first executive director, the company’s stamp, the tax residency certificate.

II. OPTIONAL SERVICES

Legalisation by apostille (recommended by most banks): EUR 225 per document
Note: Mauritius is a signatory to the Hague Convention of 25 October 1961 and therefore company deeds can be apostilled and automatically legalised in all countries party to the Convention. Therefore, there is no need to arrange for costly and time-consuming legalisation at consular services for opening bank accounts, setting up branches, purchasing real estate, etc.

FEE STRUCTURE OF THE MAURITIAN COMPANY GBC 2

(Category 2 Global Business Licence)

I. BASIC SET OF SERVICES AND DOCUMENTS:

EUR 1,500

The package includes the applicable fee to the FSC for the Category 2 Global Business License (US$235 covers the period from 1 July to 30 June), the fee to the Registrar of Companies in the year of incorporation (US$65), the fee to the registered agent and for the registered office, the main corporate documents, the record of appointment of the first managing director, share certificates, stamp.

DUE DILIGENCE REQUIREMENTS:

The following documents are required for all managing directors, shareholders and ultimate (beneficial) owners of the company:

• 1. Certified copy of passport (notarized by a public notary or bank)
• 2.Original bank certificate issued by a personal banker confirming the duration of the established account (minimum 2 years)
• 3. a brief curriculum vitae
• 4. Proof of address (utility bill/bank statement/credit card statement of recent date). All documents must be in English or French, or translated into English and certified by a court interpreter.

II. OPTIONAL SERVICES

Legalisation by apostille (recommended): EUR 225 per document (if ordered at the same time as the incorporation of the Mauritian company)
Note: Mauritius is a signatory to the Hague Convention of 25 October 1961 and therefore company deeds can be apostilled and automatically legalised in all countries party to the Convention. Therefore, there is no need to arrange for costly and time-consuming legalisation with consular services for opening bank accounts, setting up branches, purchasing real estate, etc.

Interested in setting up a company in Mauritius? Contact us.