Seychelles offshore company formation is a popular choice for international trade, asset ownership, holding structures, and wealth protection. The jurisdiction’s main corporate product is the International Business Company (IBC), with a flexible structure, confidentiality, and territorial taxation. We will help you choose the right form, register a new company or source a ready-made one, and support account opening and ongoing administration.
Seychelles as an Offshore Jurisdiction
Seychelles is regarded as one of the key international financial centres of the East African region: the jurisdiction is known for its modern corporate legislation and favourable tax regime, which keeps Seychelles company formation in steady demand among international businesses. The key facts about the country and its corporate regime are set out below, while a comprehensive guide to the Seychelles jurisdiction is available as a separate publication.
- Geographical location: The Seychelles is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Africa; the largest island is Mahé. The Republic of Seychelles has been an independent state since 1976 and is a member of the Commonwealth. The capital is Victoria. The official languages are French, Seychellois Creole and English. The national currency is the Seychellois rupee (SCR).
- Legal system: combines elements of English common law and French civil law; the Constitution of 1993 is in force.
- Main economic sectors: international tourism (with regular air connections to the UAE and South Africa) and commercial fishing; international corporate services and the financial sector also account for a significant share.
- State regulator: the Financial Services Authority (FSA) – maintains the Register of Companies and licenses registered agents.
- Registry statistics: by mid-2025, more than 246,000 IBC companies were incorporated in Seychelles, not counting foundations, trusts and partnerships – one of the most popular offshore jurisdictions in the world.
Seychelles offshore companies are used for international trade and services and for holding shares in foreign companies, vessels and other assets.
Types of Companies in Seychelles
Before registering a company in Seychelles, you need to choose the legal form. The choice depends on your objectives: international operations, asset holding, family wealth protection or doing business in the domestic market.
Seychelles Offshore Companies (IBC): Key Features
A Seychelles offshore company usually means an International Business Company (IBC). Most international business needs are met by Seychelles IBC registration – the structural requirements are minimal, and the procedure takes only a few days. Key parameters:
| Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Legal framework | International Business Companies Act 2016 |
| Company name | Unique, ending with Limited, Ltd., Corporation, Corp., Incorporated or Inc.; certain words (Bank, Insurance, Fund and others) require the Registrar’s approval |
| Shareholders | Minimum one, an individual or a legal entity, with no residency restrictions |
| Directors | Minimum one, may be the same person as the sole shareholder; the first director must be appointed within 9 months of incorporation |
| Share capital | No minimum paid-up capital requirements; the usual authorised capital is 100,000 USD, and one issued share is sufficient |
| Registered office and agent | Mandatory in Seychelles; the agent is a provider licensed by the FSA |
| Permitted activities | Any lawful activity except those requiring a licence (banking, insurance, securities dealing and others) |
An IBC may operate both outside Seychelles and within its territory; however, earning local income triggers tax obligations.
Foundations, Trusts and Domestic Companies
- Foundations. Registering a foundation in Seychelles suits succession planning and asset protection: a foundation is a legal entity without shareholders, and assets transferred to it are separated from the founder’s personal property.
- International trusts. Seychelles trusts are used for fiduciary management of assets: a trust is not a legal entity, and the assets are transferred to a trustee for the benefit of the beneficiaries.
- Domestic companies. Incorporated under the general companies legislation for doing business in the local market or for licensed activities; usually excessive for international operations.
- Redomiciliation. An existing foreign company can be transferred to Seychelles without liquidation: redomiciliation of a company to Seychelles preserves the company name, contracts and assets, which is convenient where unfavourable changes occur in the original jurisdiction.
Ready-Made Shelf Companies
A ready-made (shelf) company is an IBC incorporated in advance that has had no activity since its formation. This option makes sense where a legal entity is needed within one or two days – for example, to sign a contract – and standard Seychelles company registration cannot meet the deal timeline.
When a ready-made company is transferred, the buyer goes through the same checks as for a new incorporation. We keep the list of ready-made offshore companies up to date, with incorporation dates and jurisdictions.
Seychelles Company Formation: Step by Step
Seychelles company formation is handled entirely remotely. Documents cannot be filed with the Registrar directly – all applications are submitted through a licensed registered agent.
Consultation and structure planning.
The company form, the composition of shareholders and directors, and the amount and distribution of share capital are determined.
Company name check.
The client proposes at least 2–3 name options; the agent checks them for uniqueness and compliance with the requirements of the Registrar of Companies.
Client due diligence (KYC).
Shareholders, directors and beneficial owners provide identification documents, proof of address and other required documents.
Preparation of constitutional documents.
The Memorandum and Articles of Association and the forms for the Registrar
Incorporation.
The Registrar enters the company in the register and issues the Certificate of Incorporation.
Post-registration steps.
Registers and share certificates are issued, the director is appointed and, where required, an apostille is arranged and a bank account is opened.
Typical causes of delays are an unapproved company name and an incomplete set of KYC documents.
Documents Required for Seychelles Company Incorporation
To incorporate a company in Seychelles, the registered agent will require the following set of documents:
- scanned copies of passports or other similar identification documents;
- a document confirming the address (a utility bill or a bank reference letter) issued within the last three months;
- a free-form CV outlining education and work experience;
- a bank reference letter for the beneficial owner (confirming that an account is held);
- for the beneficial owner – documentary confirmation of the taxpayer identification number (TIN) in the country of residence and, where available, the national identification number (NIN).
Personal documents are provided for each shareholder, director and beneficial owner. A brief description of the company’s intended activities is also required. Depending on the company’s structure and the nature of its business, the agent may request additional information.
Registration Timeframes and Costs
Seychelles company registration takes from 2 business days once the name is approved and client checks are complete; the transfer of a ready-made company is faster. The cost of services in Seychelles comprises the government fee, the registered agent’s remuneration and the registered office fee. Each year the company pays for the renewal of the same items – the cost of maintaining an offshore company is fixed and does not depend on turnover.
Taxes and Reporting for Seychelles Companies
Seychelles has carried out extensive reforms of its corporate and tax legislation to meet international standards of tax transparency and anti-money laundering. How these rules apply to IBCs and domestic companies in practice is examined in our overview of taxes and reporting requirements for Seychelles companies.
Taxation of Seychelles Companies
A Seychelles offshore company is no longer entirely tax-free: since 2019 a territorial principle has applied, under which only income from sources within Seychelles is subject to business tax. Income from activities outside the country is not taxed.
Since 2021 the territorial principle has had an important exception. Passive income (dividends, interest, royalties, rent) received from non-residents may be taxed in Seychelles if the company is part of an international group and lacks adequate economic presence. To keep the exemption, such a company must satisfy the economic substance test.
Business tax rates on Seychelles-source income (in force since 2022):
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,000,000 SCR (approx. 68,000 USD) | 15% |
| Above 1,000,000 SCR | 25% |
Reporting and Record-Keeping for IBCs
- Financial statements and audit are required only where income is earned from sources within Seychelles. If there is no such income, no financial statements need to be filed with the state authorities.
- Accounting records (bank statements, invoices, contracts and other transaction documents) must be kept for at least 7 years and lodged with the registered agent twice a year: records for January – June by 31 July of the same year, and records for July – December by 31 January of the following year.
- The annual financial summary must be prepared within 6 months of the financial year end by large companies (annual turnover above 50,000,000 SCR, approx. 3.5 million USD) and by non-large companies carrying on trading activities. Non-large purely holding companies are exempt from preparing the summary.
- The annual return is filed with the Registrar of Companies and confirms where the company’s accounting records and corporate resolutions are kept.
Substantial penalties apply for failure to comply with the record-keeping and lodgement requirements.
Confidentiality and International Information Exchange
Details of the directors, shareholders and beneficial owners of Seychelles companies are not published. The register of shareholders is kept by the registered agent, and a copy of the register of directors is filed with the Registrar of Companies without official publication.
At the same time, the jurisdiction operates a centralised register of beneficial owners: it is accessible to the courts, law enforcement agencies, the FSA and the Registrar of Companies, but not to the general public. Beneficial owners must provide their details to the registered agent, which maintains the register and submits the data to the centralised database; penalties apply for non-compliance.
Seychelles participates in the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters and the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on the automatic exchange of financial account information (CRS MCAA); automatic exchange has been applied since September 2017.
The jurisdiction’s reputation has strengthened in recent years: in February 2024 Seychelles left the EU blacklist, and in February 2026, following a positive assessment by the OECD Global Forum, Seychelles was removed from the EU tax grey list. This lowers compliance barriers when working with European banks and counterparties.
Seychelles has concluded double taxation agreements (DTAs) with the following countries and territories: Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Botswana, China, Cyprus, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guernsey, Indonesia, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Kenya, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, Oman, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the UAE, Vietnam and Zambia. For classic IBCs with no Seychelles-source income, the benefits of these agreements are generally unavailable.
Bilateral tax information exchange agreements (TIEAs) are also in force with the following countries and territories: Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Guernsey, Iceland, India, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
Frequently Asked Questions about Seychelles Offshore Companies
How long does it take to register an offshore company in Seychelles?
From 2 business days once the company name is approved and client checks are complete. Collecting and certifying KYC documents usually adds a few days, and apostilling the corporate documents takes about a week, including courier delivery. If the company is needed urgently, the transfer of a ready-made company can be completed within one to two days.
Do I need to visit Seychelles to incorporate a company?
No, personal presence is not required at any stage. Company incorporation in Seychelles is handled entirely remotely: copies of documents are sent to the registered agent electronically, and the originals are delivered by courier. Passport copies are certified by a notary in your country of residence, and corporate documents are also signed remotely.
Does a Seychelles offshore company pay tax on foreign income?
No, income derived from activities outside Seychelles is not taxed. Tax applies only to income from Seychelles sources, at rates of 15% and 25%. The exception is passive income of companies that form part of international groups: to keep the exemption, such a company must demonstrate adequate economic substance in Seychelles.
Is Seychelles on the EU or FATF blacklist?
No. In February 2024 Seychelles left the EU blacklist, and in February 2026 it was removed from the EU grey list as well, following a positive assessment by the OECD Global Forum. Seychelles is also not on the FATF list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring. This reduces compliance barriers when dealing with banks and counterparties.
Do I need a local director or shareholder in Seychelles?
No, there are no residency requirements. One shareholder and one director are sufficient, each of whom may be an individual or a legal entity of any nationality, and the same person may hold both roles. Only the registered office and the licensed registered agent must be located in Seychelles.
Can a Seychelles offshore company open a bank account?
Yes, accounts are opened with foreign banks and international payment institutions. Seychelles banks are available only in limited cases: they focus mainly on local businesses, and opening an account for an IBC there is difficult. Banks apply enhanced due diligence to offshore companies, so be prepared to explain the business model, ownership structure and source of funds. We help select a suitable institution and prepare the application file.
Is information about the owners of a Seychelles company publicly available?
No, the registers of shareholders and beneficial owners are not published. The information is held by the registered agent and is available to the competent authorities of Seychelles, including the FSA and the courts. In addition, information on the company’s financial accounts is reported to the owner’s country of tax residence under the automatic exchange framework (CRS).
What are the annual obligations of a Seychelles IBC?
The company pays the annual renewal fee, files an annual return with the Registrar and lodges its accounting records with the registered agent twice a year. Large and trading companies additionally prepare an annual financial summary. Financial statements and an audit are required only where the company earns income from Seychelles sources.
To take full advantage of the Seychelles jurisdiction, it is worth entrusting your company formation to experts.
Why Choose Us for Your Seychelles Company Formation
Our subsidiary, Uniwide Corporate Services, is a licensed registered agent in the Seychelles, holding licences as an International Corporate Service Provider, a Trust Service Provider, and a provider of private foundation services. More about the company.
Setting up a company in Seychelles can be complex, but you do not have to navigate it alone. At Uniwide, we are licensed experts in Seychelles company formation with a deep understanding of local laws and regulations. Our team is committed to helping entrepreneurs like you establish International Business Companies smoothly and efficiently.
We offer personalised support every step of the way, ensuring that your company is registered correctly and complies with all legal requirements. Let us handle the details so you can focus on growing your business.
