VAREMONT INSIGHTS

How to Set Up a Company in Mauritius as a Foreigner

A Practical 2026 Guide to Structure, Incorporation, Banking & Compliance

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A foreigner can own shares in a Mauritius company. For a standard Domestic Company, the current CBRD framework requires at least one shareholder and at least one resident director. International structures may instead require a Global Business Licence or Authorised Company status, each with different management, licensing and tax-residence consequences. 

Can a foreigner own 100% of a Mauritius company?

Foreign ownership is possible in many ordinary activities, but ownership should not be confused with permission to work in Mauritius. A foreign shareholder who intends to live in Mauritius and actively operate the business may need an appropriate Occupation Permit or other residence/work status. Regulated activities can also require separate licences or approvals.

Domestic Company, Global Business Company or Authorised Company?

Structure	Typical use	Key distinction
Domestic Company	Business whose main operations are carried on in Mauritius	At least one resident director under the current CBRD framework; ordinary Mauritius company compliance.
Global Business Company (GBC)	Mauritius-resident international business with activities principally outside Mauritius	FSC-regulated Global Business regime; at least two resident directors; administered by a Management Company; substance and tax-residence considerations.
Authorised Company (AC)	International business principally outside Mauritius with central management and control outside Mauritius	Not treated as Mauritius tax resident; requires a Mauritius Management Company as registered agent; restricted activities apply.

What does a Domestic Company require?

The Corporate and Business Registration Department currently describes a Domestic Company as a company incorporated under the Companies Act 2001 with its main business operations carried in Mauritius. The incorporation file includes the proposed name, registered office, director and shareholder details, beneficial ownership information and the relevant consents and supporting documents.

A Domestic Company must have at least one shareholder and, under the current CBRD incorporation framework, at least one resident director. Where the ownership or directorship is foreign, passport, address, beneficial ownership and structural documentation should be prepared carefully. The company will also require a principal place of business and business-registration information.

What are the incorporation steps?

Stage	Practical action
1	Define the activity, ownership, management and intended markets.
2	Check whether the activity is unregulated or requires sector approval/licensing.
3	Choose the correct company/regulatory structure.
4	Prepare KYC, beneficial ownership, director/shareholder consents and registered-office details.
5	Incorporate and obtain the company/business registration records.
6	Complete tax, employer, VAT or sector registrations where applicable.
7	Open the appropriate bank account and document source of funds.
8	If relocating, coordinate the company with the correct Occupation Permit route.
9	Implement accounting, statutory records, annual filings and ongoing compliance.

Do you need a Mauritius resident director?

For a standard Domestic Company, the current CBRD incorporation guidance requires at least one resident director. A GBC has a higher governance threshold, including at least two resident directors under the current framework. An Authorised Company has a different model because its central management and control is expected to be outside Mauritius and it must have a registered agent that is a Mauritius Management Company.

Do you need an Occupation Permit to own the company?

Ownership and immigration status are separate. A foreign national can be a shareholder without that fact alone granting the right to reside and work in Mauritius. If the founder will relocate and actively operate the business, the Investor Occupation Permit is often the route that needs to be assessed. The 2026 Investor criteria are materially higher than under the previous framework, so the business plan and funding should be tested before incorporation decisions are finalised. 

How quickly should you open the bank account?

Banking should be treated as part of the incorporation project, not an afterthought. Mauritius banks conduct their own customer due diligence and may request incorporation documents, board authority, business plan, source of funds, expected transactions, contracts and information on directors, shareholders and beneficial owners. A company being incorporated does not guarantee that a bank will accept the account. 

What taxes apply to a Mauritius company?

The tax outcome depends on the company’s residence, activities and income. Mauritius has a corporate tax framework with partial exemptions available for specified categories of income where the statutory conditions are satisfied. It is therefore misleading to choose a company solely because someone has advertised a headline effective tax rate. The structure, source of income, substance, residence and treaty position must be analysed together.

What about VAT, payroll and accounting?

A trading company may have obligations beyond annual corporate filings. Depending on the activity and thresholds, these can include tax registration, VAT, payroll, social contributions, accounting records, annual returns, financial statements and sector-specific reporting. These requirements should be mapped before operations begin so that the company is built to comply from day one.

Common mistakes foreign founders make

• Incorporating before deciding the immigration route.
• Using a Domestic Company, GBC or Authorised Company label without understanding the management and tax-residence consequences.
• Assuming foreign ownership automatically gives the right to work in Mauritius.
• Leaving banking until after contracts or payment deadlines have been agreed.
• Using a generic business description that does not match the real activity.
• Ignoring licences, VAT, payroll or employer registrations.
• Choosing a structure for a headline tax rate rather than the actual commercial facts.
• Failing to plan for accounting, beneficial ownership and annual compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreigner register a company in Mauritius?

Yes. Foreign participation is permitted, subject to the company type, activity and applicable regulatory requirements.

Can a foreigner be the only shareholder?

A Domestic Company requires at least one shareholder and foreign ownership can be possible. The directorship and immigration position must be considered separately.

Does a Mauritius company need a resident director?

A standard Domestic Company currently requires at least one resident director. A GBC requires at least two resident directors under the current CBRD framework.

Is company incorporation free?

The CBRD currently states that no incorporation fee applies for a Domestic Company, although professional, registered-office, licensing, banking and ongoing compliance costs can still arise.

Does a company automatically get a bank account?

No. Banks conduct independent due diligence and reserve the right to accept or reject an application.

Can I work for my own Mauritius company?

Not merely because you own it. Your immigration/work status must authorise the activity.

Should I use a GBC for international business?

Possibly, but not automatically. A GBC is a regulated Mauritius-resident global business structure with governance, administration, substance and tax implications.

Is an Authorised Company the same as a GBC?

No. An Authorised Company is intended for business principally outside Mauritius with central management and control outside Mauritius and is not treated as Mauritius tax resident.

Before incorporating

A Mauritius company should be the result of a structure decision, not the beginning of one. Define where the business will operate, where decisions will be made, who will work in Mauritius, how money will move and what clients will expect. Then choose the company and permit framework that supports those facts.

VAREMONT PERSPECTIVE

The certificate of incorporation is the easy part. The real project is creating a company that can bank, trade, comply and support the owner’s wider Mauritius objectives. 

PLANNING YOUR MAURITIUS MOVE OR BUSINESS?

Varemont Private assists individuals, entrepreneurs and families with the practical implementation of their Mauritius plans — including residence strategy, corporate structuring, business relocation, banking coordination and the practical steps required to establish life and business in Mauritius.

Where specialist tax, legal, immigration or regulated advice is required, we coordinate with the appropriate professional advisers so that the different parts of the plan are considered together.

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Regulatory & professional disclaimer

This article provides general information only and does not constitute tax, legal, investment, financial, banking or immigration advice. Requirements can change through legislation, regulations, administrative guidance and institutional policy. Current requirements should be confirmed before acting, and appropriate professional advice should be obtained for the relevant circumstances and jurisdictions.