How to Set Up a Company in Mauritius as a Foreigner (2026)

Why Mauritius — the India and Africa gateway

Mauritius's primary commercial value is its treaty network and the preferential tax treatment for holding and investment structures:

• GBC (Global Business Corporation) — effective 3% CT rate:
• Standard CT rate: 15%
• Partial Exemption: 80% exemption on foreign-source income (dividends, interest, royalties, capital gains from investments, income from financial services, leasing income, income from collective investment schemes)
• Effective rate on qualifying foreign-source income: 15% × 20% = 3%

• Treaty network: 45+ bilateral double tax treaties, including critically:
• India: Mauritius-India DTAA — historically used for FDI into India via Mauritius; rates revised (capital gains on shares now taxable in India from April 2017, but Mauritius still used for debt instruments and older structures)
• South Africa: Key for Southern African holding
• UK, France, Germany: European holding options
• Multiple African nations (Kenya, Rwanda, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, etc.)

No CGT: Mauritius has no capital gains tax.

No withholding on dividends: 0% WHT on dividends paid by Mauritian companies to non-residents.

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Step 1: Choose your structure

GBC (Global Business Corporation): For companies conducting primarily international business. Requires substance in Mauritius (see below). Eligible for treaty benefits. 3% effective CT rate on qualifying foreign-source income.

Domestic Company: For companies operating primarily within Mauritius. Standard 15% CT. Not eligible for treaty benefits in the same way.

Authorised Company: Previously a popular offshore vehicle; reforms have reduced its use — largely replaced by the GBC for legitimate structures.

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Step 2: Apply via a Management Company

A Mauritius GBC must be managed by a licensed Management Company (MC) — a firm licensed by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius. The MC serves as the company's registered agent and often provides nominee directors and secretarial services.

Finding a Management Company: Major MCs include Intercontinental Trust, Multiconsult, IBL Management, Cim Financial Services, and numerous others. The FSC maintains a list at fscmauritius.org.

• The MC handles:
• FSC application for GBC licence
• Registration with Registrar of Companies
• Provision of registered office
• Provision of nominee directors (2 Mauritian-resident directors required for substance)
• Secretarial services
• Annual FSC returns

Cost of MC services: USD 3,000–8,000/year depending on the scope of services.

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Step 3: GBC licence application (FSC)

• The FSC issues the GBC licence after reviewing:
• Application form
• Identity and source of funds documentation for all shareholders, directors, and UBOs
• Business plan (what the GBC will do, why Mauritius, proposed activities)
• Structure chart
• Due diligence documents on parent/related entities

Timeline: 10–20 business days for routine applications

FSC annual fee: USD 1,950 (verify current fee schedule at fscmauritius.org)

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Substance requirements for GBC

• A GBC must demonstrate adequate substance in Mauritius:
• At least 2 Mauritian-resident directors with appropriate qualifications (the MC provides these)
• Core Income-Generating Activities (CIGAs) conducted in Mauritius
• Adequate premises and employees (proportionate to business scale)
• Management and control exercised from Mauritius (board meetings in Mauritius)

For a holding GBC, the minimum substance (2 resident directors, MC office) is generally sufficient. For more active GBCs (treasury, fund management), more substantive local presence may be required.

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Real cost (Year 1)