Under the International Business Companies Act, any individual, corporation, or business can establish an International Business Company (IBC) in the Seychelles. A Seychelles offshore company, also known as an International Business Company (IBC), is a legal entity registered in Seychelles that is primarily used for international trade, asset protection, and tax planning. It offers tax efficiency, confidentiality, and minimal reporting requirements.

Seychelles is an attractive jurisdiction for offshore companies due to its favorable tax laws, high levels of confidentiality, ease of incorporation, and flexible legal framework. Additionally, Seychelles IBCs are exempt from local taxes on income generated outside of the country. There is no requirement to file any financial information on public record, nor is there any audit requirement for business activities outside of the Country..

Our Seychelles IBC is a tax-free company that may be used for all types of international commerce. Seychelles IBCs are exempt from local taxes on income derived from outside Seychelles. This includes no corporate tax, capital gains tax, or withholding tax, making it a tax-efficient solution for international businesses.

No, Seychelles IBCs are not required to file annual financial statements or tax returns to the government as long as they do not conduct business within Seychelles. You will not need to submit anything to the government. You will send a basic financial report (for example a basic balance sheet in excel), every 6 months, to our International Corporate Service Provider (ICSP) with: 1) Assets, 2) Liabilities, and 3) Equity.

Yes, a Seychelles IBC can own assets, such as real estate or intellectual property, and can open and maintain bank accounts in various jurisdictions. This makes it a versatile vehicle for holding and managing international assets.

A Seychelles IBC can engage in a wide range of business activities, including international trade, investment holding, intellectual property management, and more. It can also act as a holding company for subsidiaries in other countries.

• An IBC has an independent legal personality and possesses the same powers as a natural person.
• An IBC requires a minimum of only one shareholder, and one director, both of whom may be the same person.
• There is no requirement to have any local directors or shareholders.
• Foreign individuals or corporate bodies can be shareholders or directors of an IBC.
• Apart from the director, the company does not have to appoint any other officers.
• The shareholders and directors of an IBC may be individuals or corporations and of any nationality.
• There is no requirement for the shareholders or directors meetings to be held in the Seychelles and there is no requirement for a regular Annual General Meeting.
• Meetings can be held by telephone or other electronic means.
• Directors as well as shareholders may vote by proxy.

• Minimum number of directors is one.
• Corporate directors are permissible.
• No Seychelles resident director requirement.
• No public filing of director details.
• No public access to director details.
• Location of directors meetings can be anywhere.
• Directors may attend meetings via telephone or other electronic means.

• Minimum number of shareholders is one.
• Corporate shareholders are permissible.
• No Seychelles resident shareholder requirement.
• No public filing of shareholder details.
• No public access to shareholder details.
• Location of shareholders meetings can be anywhere.
• Shareholders may attend meetings via telephone or other electronic means.

Details of the beneficial owner will not be made available to the public. The details of the beneficial owner(s) are not required to be filed with any Government office.

With CompanySetup-UAE, only three people know our client’s name.

1. The Registrar in Seychelles.
2. The Head of Legal, who is named as the director in Seychelles, oversees all legal operations.
3. CompanySetup-UAE’s partner.

• Standard authorised share capital is US$100,000.
• Standard minimum issued capital is US$1.
• The standard currency is the United States Dollar, but any other convertible currencies are permitted.
• Shares may be held by a nominee on behalf of the beneficial owner(s).

An IBC is not required to have any minimum paid-up capital in order to start its business operations in Seychelles. Any amount of authorized capital can be stated in the IBC formation documents, as required by the owners.

• Accounts must be prepared but no requirements for filing with Authorities.
• Annual declaration as to accounting records and registers to be submitted to the Rengistered Agent only.
• Confirmation of location of accounting records to be submitted to the Rengistered Agent only.

An IBC is required by law to have a Registered Agent in Seychelles.

An IBC must maintain records of the following at their registered office:

• Register of Shares
• Register of Directors
• Company Officers

The use of electronic signatures is permitted.

A foreign entity can be re-domiciled as a Seychelles IBC.

Company names are subject to several restrictions stated in the International Business Companies Act. A Seychelles company may not be registered under a name that:

• is identical to the name of an existing Seychelles company.
• is so similar to the name of an existing Seychelles company that the use of the name would be likely to confuse or mislead.
• suggests or is calculated to suggest the patronage of or any connection with the Government of Seychelles or the with the government of any other country.
• is in any way offensive, misleading, objectionable or contrary to public policy or to the public interest.
• includes a prohibited word, phrase or abbreviation: “Bank“, “Building Society“, “Chamber of Commerce“, “Chartered“, “Cooperative“, “Credit Union“, “Government“, “Licensing“, “Municipal“, “Parliament“, “Police“, “Royal“, “Tribunal“, “Stock Exchange“ or a word or abbreviation conveying a similar meaning.

No. There are no minimum paid-up capital requirements for a Seychelles company. The shareholders of the company may freely decide as to the amount of the authorized capital to be stated in the company formation documents. A Seychelles company may start its business with any amount of capital, or no capital at all.

No. The only requirement is to have a “minimum local presence” in the country. This means having a registered office and a registered agent in the Seychelles. This service is provided by IFZA offshore, as a licensed Registered Agent, for all companies we register and maintain for our clients.

Only the name of the company, registration date, registration number, registered office address and the name of the Registered Agent.

No. In common with nearly all offshore jurisdictions, Seychelles companies can no longer issue bearer shares.

Yes, corporate shareholders are allowed. Corporate directors are also allowed.

Yes, nominee shareholders are allowed. A nominee shareholder is an unrelated person, who is officially registered as the holder of shares in the company. The purpose of the nominee shareholder is to shield the actual owner of the company from being publicly associated with the ownership.
Nominee shareholder services can be provided by licensed registered agent firms to their client companies as an optional service for an additional fee. Engagement of a nominee shareholder is done through a nominee services agreement. This document evidences the actual situation – namely, that the shares are only held
by the nominee for the benefit and on behalf of the beneficial owner and that the nominee acts on the directions of the beneficial owner for all matters concerning the shares.

Yes, nominee directors are allowed. A nominee director is an unrelated person (corporate or individual), who is listed as the Director of the company. The main aim of a using a nominee director is to prevent other persons from knowing that a direct relationship exists between the beneficial owner and his company.
Using a nominee director helps to avoid implications that the beneficial owner is closely controlling and operating the company (the “management and control“ concept).
Nominee director services can be provided by licensed registered agent firms to their client companies as an optional service for an additional fee.

Apostille certification is a formal name for an internationally agreed bureaucratic procedure, by which official documents issued in one country are certified in a uniform way, so that they become formally acceptable in a different country. This procedure was established by the 1961 Hague Convention. Almost all countries of the world are part to this Convention as of today. (However, it is important to note that the United Arab Emirates is not a member of the Hague Convention. Accordingly certain documents for use in the UAE may still require to be attested at the UAE Embassy.)
CompanySetup-UAE can arrange to have documents of a Seychelles company Apostilled. We can also arrange to have
documents attested by the UAE Embassy in the Seychelles if that is required.

A Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) is an official document, issued by the Registrar of Companies to confirm that a particular company continues to legally exist, has complied with all the administrative requirements as to its continued registration and has paid all government duties, and, therefore, is in good standing as of the date of issue.
CompanySetup-UAE can arrange for the issue of a CGS.

Seychelles IBC companies are required to maintain, internally, such accounting records that enable the financial position of the company to be reasonably determined at any time. These accounting records need to be kept at the registered office of the company in the Seychelles. However, there is no requirement to file any financial information on public record, nor is there any audit requirement if the company only conducts business activities outside of the Country.
Very rarely, a company may be asked by the Seychelles Revenue Commission or Financial Intelligence Authority to furnish its accounting records – but this can happen only in strictly limited circumstances.

Yes. All registered agents are required by Seychelles Law to know and confirm the identities of their client. Therefore, copies of identity documents and documents to show proof of address are required. However, all personal information about the beneficial owner remains only with the Registered Agent. None of this information becomes part of any public record. Severe criminal penalties are prescribed by the law for illegally disclosing any client information to third parties.

A proof of address is any original document which features the full name of the individual together with his residential address. A utility services bill, bank statement, credit card statement, tax bill, or a statement of the residential address issued by a council or municipality, are all proof of address.
A national identity card or driver’s license can also serve as proof of address, if it contains the residential address and if such document is provided in addition to the passport of the same individual.

Yes. The Seychelles International Business Companies Act permits foreign companies which are registered and in good standing in their own country, to be re-domiciled into and become registered in Seychelles (called “Continuation”). Continuation must, however, be allowed under the laws of the country/jurisdiction in which the foreign company is registered.

No. However, before the Registered Agent proceeds with a new incorporation, all new clients must complete the application form and agree to the standard terms and conditions of business. The incorporation documents themselves (Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association, First Minutes and Resolutions) are all be signed by the Registered Agent.

Yes – but the information that needs to be given is very limited. The registered agent needs to know generally what and where the intended type of operation is going to be for a Seychelles company. The registered agent does not need to know any commercially sensitive information.

• The timeline depends on how soon we receive all the client documentation for Know Your Client (KYC) and Due Diligence (DD). Once payment is received, it will take about 6 working days to register the company.