Significant quantities of investment and lending into Africa go via Mauritius and many foreign clients need to register a company in Mauritius. This is due to a number of reasons. The tax and other fiscal incentives of setting up in Mauritius due to the offshore company regime compares favourably to any other jurisdiction, and the bilateral and regional treaties giving African market-access, low withholding tax, and protection for investments, all combine to make Mauritius the best access point for investment into Africa.
If you are looking to set up your company in Mauritius and register your business, that for example trades locally, buys a local property, or otherwise fits into a category that allows foreigners to set up a domestic company, then you have a lot of options. However, if the company will be majority owned by non-Mauritians, and the majority of the income will come from outside Mauritius, then you will need an FSC-licensed management company to set up an offshore company for you. Equally if you are setting up a company in the financial services industry you will need a special licence which again requires a management company to do this for you.
We have answered below many of the questions that we have been asked over the years.
How much does it cost to register a company in Mauritius?
If you want to set up a domestic, Mauritian company and register a business, you can do this yourself online. Register with MNS online on CBRD website, https://portalmns.mu/cbris/. Here you can register your company in Mauritius. You will be able to make a payment online and fill out the forms they provide and upload them. Bear in mind that if you are abroad, you will need a local director, a local registered office, and a local company secretary. Normally we advise to use a local firm to register your business in Mauritius. If the company you are looking to set up is a Global Business Company or an Authorised Company, then you will need to use a management company. Local accounting firms are cheaper to set up domestic companies and we can help you to find a reliable one.
Can a foreigner start a business in Mauritius?
A foreigner can start a business in Mauritius. A Mauritian company can be wholly owned by a foreigner and there is no need for local shareholding. For a domestic company you will need one resident director, and for a GBC you will need two local directors. If a foreigner starts a business in Mauritius and becomes resident here, then they can be one of the resident directors. For our Russian-speaking clients, go this page to learn about starting a business as a foreigner in Mauritius.
Can I register a Mauritian company without coming to Mauritius?
Yes, you can set up a Mauritian company remotely. You will still have to do all the necessary KYC and compliance checks. You can not only set up the company without coming to Mauritius, but you can also set up the bank account remotely. You can send scanned copies of documents to set up a Mauritian company without coming to Mauritius although the banks will later require certain originals to be couriered.
What documents do I need to open a company?
Disclaimer
While every effort has been made to ensure that the information given is accurate, the information on this site does not contain legal, tax or any other professional advice. We accept no responsibility or liability due to any information or representation, whether accurate or not, relied upon in the contents. It is information to provide the reader with a useful, general, but basic understanding of the different considerations. You must seek local legal, tax or other professional advice before relying on the contents of this site.
