Authorised Company (AC) in Mauritius

What is an Authorised Company?

The Authorised Company (AC) is a category of international company registered in Mauritius under the Companies Act 2001 and the Financial Services Act 2007. It succeeds the former "Category 2 Global Business Licence", which was abolished as part of the Mauritian financial sector reform that came into effect on 1^st January 2019.

Unlike the Global Business Company (GBC), the Authorised Company does not hold a licence from the Financial Services Commission (FSC). It is simply registered with the FSC as a company authorised to conduct activities outside Mauritius. This distinction is fundamental, as it determines the scope of activity, the regulatory obligations and the tax advantages of the structure.

Every Authorised Company must appoint an approved registered agent — that is, a management company holding an FSC licence, such as Sunibel Corporate Services. The registered agent serves as the interface with the authorities, maintains the mandatory registers and ensures compliance with regulatory obligations.

Who is the Authorised Company suited for?

The Authorised Company is suited to investors and entrepreneurs whose activities do not require access to the Mauritian treaty network and do not fall within sectors regulated by the FSC. The most common use cases include:

• Pure holding: holding assets, participations in foreign companies or intellectual property rights, without the need to benefit from tax treaties. For structures requiring access to DTAs, see the Global Business Company.
• Intellectual property holding: centralisation and management of patents, trademarks, software licences or copyrights within an international structure.
• Group treasury: management of intra-group financial flows, inter-company loans and treasury optimisation, where access to DTAs is not necessary.
• E-commerce and digital activities: operation of digital platforms, marketing of online services or SaaS applications to an international clientele.
• Consultancy and professional services: management, engineering, marketing or technology consulting services provided to clients located outside Mauritius.
• International trading: trading of goods not involving Mauritian territory (transit, brokerage, commodities trading). Offshore companies may also be structured through an offshore company in Mauritius.

Advantages of the Authorised Company

The main attraction of the Authorised Company lies in its administrative simplicity and its reduced costs compared to the GBC. Here are the key advantages:

• No FSC licence required: the AC is simply registered, which eliminates annual licence fees and the associated application procedures.
• Fast incorporation: the process is shorter than for a GBC, typically 2 to 4 weeks.
• Reduced operating costs: as compliance obligations are less onerous, annual administration fees are significantly lower.
• Structural flexibility: possibility of having a single director and a single shareholder, whether a natural or legal person, resident or non-resident of Mauritius.
• Confidentiality: information on shareholders and directors is not publicly accessible, subject to reporting obligations to the competent authorities.
• No enhanced substance requirement: unlike the GBC, the AC does not have to demonstrate the same level of economic substance in Mauritius, although it must maintain a registered agent and a registered office on the territory.

Limitations and restrictions of the Authorised Company

It is essential to fully understand the limitations of this structure before committing to it. The Authorised Company has several important restrictions:

• No access to double taxation agreements: this is the most significant limitation. The AC cannot benefit from the 45 double taxation agreements in force in Mauritius (MRA, 2026). For structures requiring a reduction in withholding taxes or the elimination of double taxation, the GBC is essential.
• Prohibition on operating in Mauritius: the AC cannot conduct commercial activities on Mauritian territory or provide services to the local public.
• Regulated activities excluded: financial services (banking, insurance, fund management, investment advisory) and other sectors regulated by the FSC are not accessible to the AC.
• External perception: certain business partners or financial institutions may afford less credibility to an AC than to a GBC holding an FSC licence.

Authorised Company taxation

The Authorised Company is subject to Mauritian corporate tax at the standard rate of 15 %. For an overview of the tax framework, see our guide on corporate taxation in Mauritius. The applicable tax regime warrants careful analysis:

The AC may, subject to conditions, benefit from the deemed foreign tax credit provided for under Mauritian tax law. This mechanism allows, depending on the structure of income and subject to compliance with the legal conditions, a reduction in the effective tax burden. The application of this credit depends on the nature and source of income and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Important: the effective taxation of an Authorised Company depends on multiple factors — the nature of the income, the jurisdictions involved, the shareholding structure, and applicable treaties (or the absence thereof). We systematically recommend a personalised tax analysis before incorporating the company.

Furthermore, Mauritius does not apply withholding tax on dividends distributed by a Mauritian company to non-resident shareholders, nor on interest or royalties paid abroad. There is also no capital gains tax in Mauritius.

Incorporation process

Company formation in Mauritius follows a structured process. For the Authorised Company, this process is overseen by the management company designated as registered agent. Here are the main steps:

1. Preliminary consultation: analysis of your project, your objectives and identification of the suitability of the AC structure to your needs.
2. Name availability check: search for the availability of the company name with the Registrar of Companies.
3. KYC document collection: preparation of the compliance file (identification of beneficial owners, source of funds, proof of identity and address).
4. Drafting of constitutional documents: preparation of the Constitution (articles of association), the resolutions of the director(s), and the registration form.
5. Registration with the Registrar: filing of documents and registration of the company, obtaining the certificate of incorporation.
6. Notification to the FSC: declaration of the company as an Authorised Company to the Financial Services Commission.
7. Bank account opening: assistance with opening a bank account in Mauritius or in another jurisdiction, depending on operational needs.

Required documents

To initiate the incorporation of your Authorised Company, the following documents are required for each beneficial owner, director and shareholder:

• Certified true copy of a valid passport
• Recent proof of address (less than 3 months old): utility bill or bank statement
• Bank reference letter issued by a recognised bank
• Detailed professional curriculum vitae
• Detailed description of the planned activity and business plan
• Evidence of the source of funds and wealth
• For corporate shareholders: constitutional documents, certificate of incorporation, register of shareholders and directors

Comparison: Authorised Company vs Global Business Company