Mauritius GBC Formation

The main difference between a GBC and an Authorised Company (AC) is their tax residency and treaty eligibility. A GBC is considered a Mauritius tax-resident company and can access treaty benefits if it maintains adequate economic substance. In contrast, an Authorised Company is managed and controlled outside Mauritius, treated as a non-resident entity, and generally does not qualify for access to Mauritius’s DTAA network.

Mauritius Global Business Companies are regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) under the Financial Services Act 2007. The FSC is responsible for licensing, supervision, and ensuring that GBCs comply with applicable regulatory, governance, and reporting requirements.

Yes, Mauritius allows complete foreign ownership of a Global Business Company. Foreign investors can hold 100% of the shares in a GBC without requiring a local shareholder. This makes Mauritius an attractive jurisdiction for international entrepreneurs, investors, and multinational businesses seeking a flexible corporate structure.

A Mauritius GBC is subject to a headline corporate tax rate of 15%. However, qualifying income may benefit from an 80% partial exemption regime, resulting in an effective tax rate of approximately 3%. Additionally, Mauritius does not impose capital gains tax and generally does not apply withholding tax on dividends, interest, and royalties paid to non-residents.

Yes, a Mauritius GBC can access Mauritius’s network of 45+ Double Taxation Agreements (DTAAs), provided it satisfies the required economic substance conditions. These treaty benefits can help businesses reduce tax exposure on cross-border transactions and improve international investment efficiency.

To maintain its status and access treaty benefits, a Mauritius GBC must demonstrate adequate economic substance in Mauritius. The company is generally required to have at least two resident directors, maintain a principal bank account in Mauritius, keep proper accounting records, maintain a registered office, conduct core income-generating activities locally, and have adequate employees and operational expenditure based on its business activities.

Yes, every Mauritius GBC must be administered by a licensed Mauritius Management Company. The Management Company provides essential corporate services, including registered office facilities, corporate administration, regulatory filings, compliance support, and assistance with maintaining the company’s ongoing obligations under Mauritius laws.

A Mauritius GBC can be used for a wide range of international business activities, including investment holding, cross-border trading, fund and investment management, intellectual property (IP) holding, treasury and financing operations, consulting services, and e-commerce activities. Its flexible structure makes it suitable for businesses seeking global expansion and efficient international structuring.

The formation of a Mauritius Global Business Company generally takes around 3–6 weeks, depending on the complexity of the structure and regulatory approvals. The Mauritius GBC formation process includes company incorporation, FSC license application, preparation of compliance documents, and assistance with opening a corporate bank account.