Territorial Principle of Taxation
Companies without income from local sources are exempt from taxes, including business tax and capital gains tax.
Compliance with International Standards
Seychelles is excluded from the EU blacklist of non-cooperative jurisdictions. The jurisdiction complies with all current FATF and OECD requirements.
Strictly Confidential Registers
The register of beneficial owners is submitted through the registered agent to a secure database. The data is not public. The registers of directors and members are also closed to the general public.
Hybrid Legal System
Corporate legislation is based on the principles of the English common law. This guarantees flexibility in structuring transactions and judicial protection.
Fast and Inexpensive Registration
The standard incorporation procedure takes 1-3 days. There are no minimum share capital requirements.
Legal Status of Crypto Business
The Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Act is in force in Seychelles. The VASP regime allows for the official licensing of cryptocurrency activities.
Rigid Record-Keeping Mandates
Companies are required to maintain proper accounting records, preserve all supporting financial documents, and regularly transfer them to their local registered agent. Additionally, entities must prepare and lodge an annual Financial Summary.
Stringent Banking Compliance
Despite significant regulatory improvements in the Seychelles, many international banks and payment systems continue to classify Seychelles structures as high-risk. Financial institutions routinely enforce enhanced due diligence (EDD) protocols and request comprehensive supporting corporate documentation.
Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI / CRS)
The Seychelles actively participates in the global Common Reporting Standard system. Corporate bank account data is automatically transmitted to the tax authorities of the beneficial owners’ home jurisdictions.
Governed by the Trusts Act, 2021. Used for asset protection and family wealth management.
Governed by the Foundations Act, 2009 – 2021. Designed for asset structuring, estate planning, and asset protection.
Governed by the Protected Cell Companies Act, 2003. Allows the legal ring-fencing of assets and liabilities of various “cells” within a single legal entity and is used primarily in insurance, collective investments, and structured financial products.
A domestic company registered under the Companies (Special Licences) Act, 2003. Designed for specific types of international business activities and, subject to meeting prescribed requirements, may benefit from double taxation avoidance agreements.
Under the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment
The Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) is the regulatory body acting as the registrar of companies in Seychelles and responsible for company formation, maintaining the register of international business companies, trusts, and partnerships, as well as issuing licences. Interaction with the Registrar is carried out through licensed registered agents.
You can check the uniqueness of a name for free through the official Company Register system. The search will return results for existing entities matching the requested name.
One or more directors
Individuals or legal entities
Residents or non-residents
! May also be a member
The register of directors is filed with the regulator but is not public
Mandatory for all companies
Must hold a licence in Seychelles
Provides a registered office address
One or more members
Individuals or legal entities
Residents or non-residents
! May also be a director
The register of members is kept at the registered agent’s office
The company is required to maintain a register.
The registered agent submits the register to the FIU database.
The register is not publicly accessible
Only an individual can be a beneficial owner, being the person who ultimately owns or exercises effective control over a legal entity, whether directly or indirectly. Under the Beneficial Ownership Regulations, 2020, beneficial owners include:
If no such persons can be identified, senior managing officials are recognized as the beneficial owners.
The register includes the following details for each beneficial owner:
The retention period for this information is at least 7 years from the date the person ceased to be a beneficial owner or from the date the company was dissolved.
If ownership is held through a nominee holder, the register must also include details of the nominee, the person on whose behalf he/she acts, and the rights attached to his/her holding.
| Failure to maintain the register or submit updated information | SCR 150 000
(the fine is imposed on the company and on each director individually) |
| Willful provision of false information to the centralized database by the registered agent | Criminal liability resulting in imprisonment for up to 2 years and/or a fine of up to SCR 100,000 |
The decision to issue shares is made by the directors following the incorporation of the company. Upon the issuance of shares, the following must be determined:
No bearer shares are permitted.
Following the issuance of shares, details of the members are entered into the register of members, and share certificates may be issued to members if provided for by the constitutional documents or by a resolution of the directors.
The Register of Members includes the following information:
Entry of a person into the register constitutes recognition of that person as a member of the company and enables the exercise of rights attached to his/her shares.
The register is kept at the registered office of the company or at such other place as determined by the directors.
Every company is required to maintain a register of directors, including the following details for each director:
The company must notify the Registrar of Companies of any appointment, cessation of office, or changes to the directors’ details within 30 days. Failure to comply with this requirement is punishable by a fine of USD 5,000 (imposed on both the company and the director individually).
The register of directors is maintained by the company and kept at the registered office or at such other place as determined by the directors.
Details of directors are not fully public; however, they are accessible to competent state authorities in cases provided for by law.
Prior to company formation, the corporate structure, authorized share capital amount, and composition of members and directors are determined.
Documents required for incorporation:
Following the verification of the submitted incorporation package, the Registrar of Companies:
The company acquires legal personality from the date of incorporation.
If the corporate documents are intended for use outside the Seychelles, they must be legalized via an Apostille in accordance with the Hague Convention of 1961.
The standard apostilled corporate kit typically includes the Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum and Articles of Association, first director appointment resolutions, and statutory corporate registers, if needed.
If the company intends to engage in regulated corporate activities, such as banking, insurance, investment services, or digital asset operations (VASP), it must secure a specific license from the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA).
To open an account with a bank or payment institution, the following will be required:
Upon completion of setup procedures and account opening, the company is entitled to conduct business activities within the scope permitted by law and its constitutional documents.
The Seychelles legal system combines elements of English common law and civil law based on the French legal tradition.
Corporate legislation is built upon the principles of English common law.
The principal legislative act governing companies is the International Business Companies Act, 2016 – 2025.
For the vast majority of standard International Business Companies (IBCs), there are no statutory mandates to establish real economic substance within the Seychelles. These entities are legally prohibited from conducting local commercial activities inside the territory. To maintain good standing, it is entirely sufficient to retain a registered office address and a licensed local registered agent.
Economic substance obligations arise exclusively under tax regulations pursuant to the Business Tax Act for entities classified as Covered Companies.
This framework applies to companies that simultaneously fulfill two criteria:
Pure Equity Holding Companies
If a Covered Company functions strictly as a pure equity holding vehicle, it is subject to reduced substance mandates. No physical personnel are required locally; compliance is satisfied by ensuring timely statutory filings and corporate administration through the local registered agent.
Intellectual Property (IP) Income
If a multinational group company derives income from licensing or patents, it faces the highest tier of substance requirements. The entity must definitively prove that all Core Income-Generating Activities (CIGA) related to managing and developing these IP assets are physically executed within the Seychelles.
Infinity Group (Seychelles) Ltd. is a member of the GSL group of companies and an official registered agent in the Seychelles.
Office Address: Suite 21/22, Oliaji Trade Centre, Rue De Possession, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles.
The FSA license imposes strict legal and financial obligations on our Seychelles entity:
Scope of our liability:
The total cost of incorporation consists of registration fees, annual maintenance fees (payable one year in advance at the time of registration), legalized corporate documents package, and courier delivery to the destination.
for 1 year, Power of Attorney not included
Resolution to issue a Power of Attorney
Nominee Director’s Consent Letter
Director Resignation Letter (undated)
Nominee Director’s Declaration of nominee services
For 1 year
Deed of Trust
Instrument of Transfer (undated)
Payable in cases of: company registration, company renewal, company liquidation, transfer to a new agent, issuance of a Power of Attorney to a new attorney, change of director / shareholder / beneficial owner (except for changes to a nominee director / shareholder), signing of documents
Confirms the authenticity of corporate documents for their use outside the Republic of Seychelles.
The copy is certified by a notary public, whose signature is verified by the Supreme Court of Seychelles through the affixing of an apostille.
Legalization of documents for use outside the territory of the Seychelles in accordance with the Hague Convention of 1961.
Affixed by the Supreme Court of Seychelles.
Confirms the registration of the company.
Issued by the Seychelles Financial services Commission (FSA).
Defines the structure of the company, the rights and obligations of directors and shareholders, as well as the procedure for making corporate decisions.
Signed by the incorporator (registered agent) and submitted to the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
Confirms the status of tax resident / non-resident.
Issued by the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC).
Confirms the shareholder’s right to the specified number of shares.
Issued by the company and signed by the directors or authorized individuals.
Particulars of directors are submitted to the registered agent.
The registered agent maintains the register and updates the data.
Confirms that the company is on the registry, compliant with statutory requirements, and there are no outstanding government fees.
Issued by the Seychelles Financial services Commission (FSA).
Seychelles IBCs are perfectly designed for conducting cross-border trading operations and e-commerce business models. The territorial tax framework fully exempts commercial trading profits from local taxation, provided that contracts, transactions, and cargo shipments are executed entirely outside the Seychelles.
The Seychelles is extensively utilized to establish corporate holding vehicles that own shares in foreign operational subsidiaries, real estate portfolios, or maritime vessels. The availability of Protected Cell Companies (PCC) structures enables investors to segregate liabilities and financial risks of different investment projects within a single legal entity.
For consolidating and subsequently licensing intangible assets, including patents, trademarks, software code, and copyrights. This setup allows for the tax-efficient structuring of inbound royalties and licensing fees from international users.
Following the enactment of the Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Act, the Seychelles has emerged as a premier regulated hub for launching cryptocurrency exchanges, custodial wallets, and digital asset funds.
Regulator: Financial Services Authority (FSA).
Statutory Basis: Securities Act 2007.
Operational Scope: The license enables the setup of a fully operational global Forex brokerage, alongside trading equities, commodities, and derivatives worldwide with a preferential corporate tax rate capped at just 1.5%.
License Pricing: From $25,500 USD.
Processing Timeframe: 4 to 6 months.
Opening a corporate account with a local bank in the Seychelles is possible only if the company demonstrates real economic substance, including a dedicated physical office and local staff.
For international operations, a corporate account can be successfully opened within global payment systems (EMIs). The selection of the platform directly depends on the specific business model, the citizenship of the beneficial owners, and the target jurisdictions of operation.
A private or corporate savings account can also be opened with certain premium European banks (e.g., in Liechtenstein), subject to meeting the strict capital and onboarding criteria established by the financial institution.
A foreign company incorporated in another jurisdiction can migrate and become a Seychelles International Business Company (IBC), provided that the laws of its home country and its articles of assocition do not prohibit redomiciliaton.
The application package must be submitted to the Registrar of Companies in the Seychelles as follows:
Upon successful review, the FSA issues a Certificate of Continuation. The company receives a new Seychelles registration number, while its original date of incorporation remains the same.
A Seychelles IBC may transfer its corporate domicile to an alternative foreign jurisdiction. The company must maintain an active Good Standing status, with all annual government levies paid and zero outstanding penalties, and must adopt a unanimous shareholder resolution approving the migration.
The target receiving jurisdiction must legally recognize and support the corporate continuation procedure within its domestic framework.
The local registered agent in the Seychelles lodges an application with the Registrar of Companies, providing verified proof that the foreign jurisdiction is ready to accept the migrating entity. Following administrative approval, the Registrar issues a Certificate of Discontinuance and removes the company from the Seychelles registry.
All pre-existing debts, statutory obligations, and active lawsuits automatically follow the company into its new country of domicile.
The only official way to dissolve a company while ensuring full protection for its former owners and directors against future claims from state authorities or third-party creditors.
To qualify, the company must be fully solvent, possess zero outstanding debts, have no unliquidated liabilities, and not be involved in any active commercial litigation.
The voluntary dissolution workflow:
The Registrar issues the official Certificate of Dissolution, formally terminating the company’s legal existence.
Even after formal dissolution, the company must ensure that all accounting records for the preceding 7 years are securely archived and maintained.
An administrative action triggered automatically if a company violates the compliance mandates, such as failing to pay annual government levies or local registered agent fees.
Legal and financial consequences of a Strike Off:
If a company was removed from the register via an administrative strike-off, it can be formally reinstated within a statutory window of 5 years from the dissolution date.
To initiate the restoration process, the applicant must fully settle all government fees and accrued late penalties.
The local registered agent must receive all missing registers of directors, shareholders, and ultimate beneficial owners, alongside the primary accounting source documents covering the unfiled years.
Once the restoration is approved and registered, the company is treated as having continuously existed from its original incorporation date.
Companies with Special License (CSL) are regulated under the Companies (Special Licenses) Act and are authorized to engage in permitted business activities both within and outside the Seychelles. A CSL can be efficiently utilized as an international holding structure, franchise, marketing vehicle, investment entity, or intellectual property holding company.
CSLs are granted fiscal incentives, including full access to the Seychelles network of Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs).
Incorporation requires a minimum of two shareholders, who may be non-residents. However, appointing a resident Company Secretary and the annual submission of an annual return alongside audited financial statements are strictly mandatory.
A Limited Partnership framework provides substantial tax advantages, enabling the accumulation of profits outside the Seychelles and the distribution of these funds among foreign partners with zero tax liability in the Seychelles.
A Limited Partnership (LP) must consist of one or more general partners who manage operations and bear unlimited liability for partnership debts, and one or more limited partners whose liability is strictly capped at their capital contribution. At least one of the general partners must be a Seychelles corporate resident or local individual.
The partnership must maintain a registered office address in the Seychelles. It is legally barred from conducting local commercial activities, except for operations necessary to support its international business outside the Republic of Seychelles.
Submitting an annual return is mandatory to verify ongoing statutory compliance with the law.
A Protected Cell Company (PCC) is incorporated under the Protected Cell Companies Act specifically to achieve asset segregation and protection. Each individual cell within a PCC is identified and holds its own distinct pool of assets and liabilities, though cells do not constitute separate legal corporate entities.
The assets of a specific cell are kept legally segregated from the assets of other cells and the core company. Liabilities incurred by one cell cannot attach to or be recovered from the assets of another cell. This specialized structure is primarily utilized in reinsurance operations and collective investment schemes.
A trust in the Seychelles is regulated under the Trusts Act and serves as a premier vehicle for international asset protection and estate planning.
The trust structure is fully exempt from local taxation, and all records regarding the settlor and beneficiaries are completely confidential and closed to public disclosure. A key advantage of the Seychelles trust legislation is its explicit protection against forced heirship rules and foreign debt recovery claims.
Under the statutory asset protection rule, lawsuits brought by foreign creditors against trust assets are barred if more than 2 years have elapsed since the date the assets were legally transferred into the trust.
Seychelles Foundations, regulated under the Foundations Act, function as a specialized hybrid vehicle combining the core structural benefits of a company and a trust. Unlike a traditional trust arrangement, a foundation possesses separate legal personality and can hold and manage assets directly in its own corporate name.
The Seychelles foundation framework is fully exempt from all local taxes and does not utilize a shareholder structure, being managed exclusively by a Foundation Council in strict accordance with its charter. The structure guarantees absolute confidentiality for both the founder and beneficiaries, backed by a asset protection framework.
Seychelles IBCs are exempt from statutory audits and are not required to submit financial statements to state authorities.
However, the company remains obligated to maintain proper accounting records and submit an annual Financial Summary to its local registered agent, unless a statutory exemption applies.
To ensure interaction with international banks, secure global investments, or fulfill Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC) compliance mandates in foreign jurisdictions, companies may require a full set of financial statements prepared under IFRS with an independent auditor’s report.
The Seychelles enforces a territorial principle of taxation, under which IBCs are fully exempt from local taxes, provided their corporate income is derived entirely outside the jurisdiction.
The only exceptions apply to specific cross-border revenue generated within multinational corporate groups under conditional economic substance rules. Concurrently, the Seychelles operates in full compliance with OECD international transparency standards and actively participates in the automatic exchange of financial information (CRS).
The turnkey incorporation packages start from $1,390 USD, covering full entity setup, a one-year registered office address, corporate secretarial services, and all statutory government registration fees. The total price varies depending on additional services such as document legalization via Apostille or nominee arrangements.
An entity’s active status and compliance are officially verified via a Certificate of Good Standing issued directly by the Registrar of Companies. This certificate is available only after all annual government license fees are fully settled and statutory corporate filings are up to date.
Seychelles legislation strictly distinguishes between local commercial trading (which is prohibited for IBCs) and administrative corporate management. An IBC retains the legal right to maintain a physical office, employ local staff, and hold board meetings to manage international assets.
Economic substance mandates apply exclusively to multinational enterprise (MNE) group companies deriving specific foreign-sourced passive income.
The annual renewal deadline is strictly tied to the company’s incorporation anniversary (Date of Anniversary). Fees must be settled before this date to cover the flat government levy, registered agent, and office services for the upcoming 12 months.
Late renewals incur automatic statutory fines ranging from 10% to 50% starting the day after the anniversary, leading to a mandatory Strike Off by the FSA if unpaid for 180 days.
