How to register a company in the Seychelles: full process
The incorporation of an IBC in the Seychelles is fast and easy. The Seychelles have earned a reputation of being one of the best offshore jurisdictions for company registration, thanks to the simplicity of forming a company there.
Necessary documents
Generally speaking, a passport scan is enough to kickstart the registration process of an offshore Seychelles company. In case the shareholder (or one of the shareholding parties) is a legal entity, a certificate of registration of the company will be required.
There is no minimum share capital to register for a Seychelles company. In practice, the share capital shall be at least $1.
Remote incorporation
A Power of Attorney is necessary for our team to manage the incorporation remotely.
LegalBison provides you with a standardized example of this document. Signing it allows us to manage the remote incorporation without you having to fly to the Seychelles.
How to: registration company in the Seychelles with LegalBison
Incorporation in the Seychelles is one of the simplest, if not the simplest, processes that we can offer assistance with.
As you provide the few required documents, indicate a company name, and wire the cost of incorporation, it takes about one business week before the incorporation is complete without intermediary stages.
Registry of companies and UBO in the Seychelles
The Seychelles holds a registry of the companies registered in its jurisdiction.
Registry of Directors in the Seychelles
Directors of Seychelles offshore companies are not listed in any public registry.
Registry of shareholders in the Seychelles
Similarly, the shareholders of companies registered in the Seychelles are not indexed in a public registry either.
Are nominee services legal in the Seychelles?
Yes, both directors and shareholders of an offshore company registered in the Seychelles can be nominees. Contact our consulting team for more information about this service.
Economic substance requirements in the Seychelles
Economic substance is actually prohibited for offshore companies registered in the form of International Business Companies.
Domestic presence requirements in the Seychelles
An offshore company in the Seychelles will have a legal address, but cannot have any form of economic activity in the Seychelles, lest it be requalified as a Limited Liability Company and lose the tax benefits of an IBC.
Residency requirements of shareholders and directors in the Seychelles
In the same fashion, neither directors nor shareholders have any requirement to reside in the Seychelles.
How to open a bank account for a company registered in the Seychelles
As an offshore jurisdiction and a tax haven, the Seychelles is flagged by numerous banks as a high-risk jurisdiction. Therefore, opening a bank account for a company registered in the Seychelles can be difficult. Only a few banking institutions may consider opening an account through a specific introduction by a legal service company such as LegalBison.
Our consultants are familiar with the struggle of entrepreneurs of offshore companies in regard to banking. They can assist with applying for a bank account on your behalf, as part of the incorporation process in the Seychelles.
About the different types of companies in the Seychelles
Important: this section only covers the offshore forms of companies in the Seychelles. LegalBison can assist with the incorporation of a domestic company on request (Limited Liability Company), but take into consideration that such an entity does not bear any form of tax advantages and will be subject to tighter regulations than an IBC.
International Business Company (IBC)
The so-called IBC is the traditional offshore company in the Seychelles. It’s a simple legal entity that is simple and cheap to incorporate and provides a good level of confidentiality. An IBC can (and should) be operated 100% remotely.
Trust
A trust entity in the Seychelles can manage assets on behalf of private clients, as understood by British law.
Foundation
A non-profit foundation can be formed in the Seychelles in order to develop charitable activities or funding of charitable initiatives in the Seychelles and abroad.
