Offshore company in Mauritius: what you really need to know

The term "offshore" in Mauritius: an outdated concept

The term "offshore company" is still commonly used in searches relating to Mauritius. It reflects a historical reality -- that of the former so-called "offshore" regimes, which offered untaxed companies, with no substance and minimal transparency. This model has not existed in Mauritius since the fundamental reforms of 2018-2019.

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) and the Mauritian government carried out a profound transformation of the international financial sector. Mauritius now positions itself as an International Financial Centre (IFC) -- a regulated, transparent financial centre that complies with global standards. This shift is not cosmetic: it comes with real requirements in terms of economic substance, tax compliance and international cooperation.

Specifically, the former categories -- "Category 1 Global Business Licence" and "Category 2 Global Business Licence" -- have been replaced by two clearly defined structures:

• The Global Business Company (GBC), a regulated structure holding an FSC licence.
• The Authorised Company (AC), a simplified structure registered with the FSC without a licence.

Both structures are subject to tax at a rate of 15 %, must satisfy compliance and accounting obligations, and are supervised by the Mauritian authorities. See our comprehensive guide to company taxation in Mauritius for a full overview.

The international structures available in Mauritius

The Global Business Company (GBC)

The GBC is the benchmark structure for international activities in Mauritius. It holds a licence from the Financial Services Commission, which gives it several major advantages:

• Access to the network of 45 double taxation agreements currently in force (MRA, 2026) signed by Mauritius (India, South Africa, United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg, China, Singapore, etc.).
• The ability to carry out regulated activities: fund management, financial services, insurance, international leasing.
• Eligibility for the tax residence certificate issued by the Mauritius Revenue Authority, essential for applying treaty provisions.
• Perceived credibility and solidity in the eyes of banks, business partners and foreign tax authorities.

In return, the GBC must demonstrate genuine economic substance in Mauritius: at least two resident directors, board meetings held in Mauritius, premises, qualified personnel and operational expenditure within the territory.

The Authorised Company (AC)

The Authorised Company is a lighter structure, suited to activities that do not require access to tax treaties or the conduct of regulated activities. It does not hold an FSC licence, and its substance requirements are reduced. It is typically suited to pure holding companies, intellectual property management, international e-commerce or consulting services provided to a foreign clientele.

The AC cannot carry out activities in Mauritius, does not benefit from DTAs, and cannot obtain a tax residence certificate.

Why Mauritius is no longer regarded as a "tax haven"

The question comes up regularly: is Mauritius a tax haven? The answer is clearly no, for objective and verifiable reasons:

• FATF compliance: Mauritius is a member of the Financial Action Task Force and of ESAAMLG (the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group). The country has passed the mutual evaluations and has not appeared on any FATF grey or black list since coming off the grey list in 2021.
• EU whitelist: Mauritius is on the European Union's list of cooperative jurisdictions in tax matters. This status is reassessed periodically and reflects compliance with good tax governance standards.
• OECD standards: Mauritius is a signatory to the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters and takes part in the BEPS Inclusive Framework. The country applies OECD transfer pricing standards and anti-abuse rules.
• Automatic exchange of information (CRS): Mauritius engages in the automatic exchange of financial information with more than 100 jurisdictions under the OECD's Common Reporting Standard.
• Substance requirements: the 2018 reforms introduced genuine economic substance obligations for GBC companies, ruling out the possibility of creating "empty shell" structures.
• Effective tax rate: the standard rate of 15 % is comparable to that of many European countries (Ireland: 15 %, Hungary: 9 %, Bulgaria: 10 %) and well above that of genuinely offshore jurisdictions (0 % in the BVI, the Cayman Islands or the Bahamas).

Advantages of the Mauritian framework for international investors

While Mauritius does not offer the zero taxation of a classic offshore jurisdiction, the country offers a set of structural advantages that make it a platform of choice for international structuring:

• 45 double taxation agreements currently in force (MRA, 2026): one of the most extensive networks in Africa, covering Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. A major asset for reducing withholding tax and optimising flows between jurisdictions.
• Political and institutional stability: a stable parliamentary democracy since 1968, peaceful changes of government, and respect for the rule of law. A secure environment for investors.
• Dual legal system: based on Anglo-Saxon common law with influences from French civil law, offering flexibility and familiarity to investors from different legal traditions.
• FSC regulation: an independent and recognised regulator overseeing the non-banking financial sector, providing credible supervision in the eyes of international partners.
• Bilingual environment: French and English are both widely used in business, a rare feature that facilitates dealings with both French-speaking and English-speaking investors.
• No exchange controls: free movement of capital, with full repatriation of profits, dividends and capital without restriction.
• No capital gains tax: no taxation of capital gains in Mauritius, a significant advantage for holding and investment structures.
• No withholding tax: dividends, interest and royalties paid to non-residents are not subject to any withholding tax.

How to choose between a GBC and an Authorised Company?

The choice of structure depends on specific criteria relating to your project. Here are the main decision factors:

In many cases, the answer is not binary. Some projects combine a GBC for the activities requiring treaty access with an AC for ancillary activities. For local activities, a Mauritian local company may also be considered. Our role is to analyse your overall situation in order to recommend the most efficient structure. Discover our comprehensive guide to company formation in Mauritius.

The role of the management company

Every international company in Mauritius -- GBC or Authorised Company -- must be administered by a management company licensed by the FSC. This is not optional: it is a legal requirement set out in the Financial Services Act 2007.

The management company plays a central role throughout the life of your company:

• Incorporation and registration: preparation of the constitutional documents, KYC/due diligence procedures, filing with the Registrar and the FSC.
• Corporate secretarial services: keeping the mandatory registers, drafting resolutions, organising meetings, filing annual documents.
• Regulatory compliance: monitoring the company's obligations, CRS and FATCA filings, reports to the FSC, and follow-up on economic substance.
• Accounting and tax: bookkeeping, preparation of financial statements, filings with the Mauritius Revenue Authority, liaison with auditors.
• Interface with the authorities: the management company is the official point of contact with the Registrar of Companies, the FSC and the MRA.

Sunibel Corporate Services Ltd is a management company holding a licence issued by the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius. A member of the Probus Pleion group, we offer support that combines local expertise with an international outlook, with offices in Grand Baie and Quatre Bornes and a network of partners in Switzerland, Dubai, Luxembourg and Thailand.

Our commitment: to provide you with transparent, professional support that complies with the most demanding international standards. We do not sell "offshore companies" -- we structure durable, compliant international operations.