Seychelles Offshore Company (IBC): Open Your Structure in 24 Hours
Looking for a stable, fast-to-set-up and fiscally competitive offshore jurisdiction? The Seychelles combine rare advantages: full tax exemption on foreign-source income, beneficiary confidentiality, flexible governance and maintenance costs among the lowest on the global offshore market.
At Investir à Dubai, we guide international entrepreneurs, independent professionals and investors through the complete setup of their Seychelles offshore structure: incorporation, bank account opening and international compliance.
Result: a fully operational, compliant and tax-optimised company — without ever travelling to the Seychelles.
Why Choose the Seychelles for Your Offshore Company?
The Seychelles stand out among offshore jurisdictions through a unique balance of tax attractiveness, incorporation speed and compliance with OECD/FATF international standards. Here is why this destination attracts thousands of international entrepreneurs and investors every year:
- 0% tax on income generated outside the Seychelles (foreign-source income of an IBC)
- No VAT applicable on offshore activities
- Incorporation in 24 to 48 hours — one of the fastest in the world
- No requirement to file annual accounts with the public register for IBCs
- Shareholder and beneficial owner confidentiality — non-public register
- Minimum share capital of USD 1 — no prior bank deposit required
- Flexible governance: a single shareholder and single director of any nationality is sufficient
- Among the lowest annual maintenance costs globally: USD 300 to 600/year
- Compliant with OECD, FATF and Common Reporting Standard (CRS) since 2018
- Bank account opening available in Seychelles, UAE or internationally
Seychelles Tax System: What You Need to Know
Seychelles taxation for offshore companies is among the simplest and most advantageous in the world, provided exemption eligibility rules are respected.
- IBC (foreign income): 0% — full exemption on profits generated outside the Seychelles 0% — full exemption on profits generated outside the Seychelles
- CSL (Company Special Licence): 1.5% on worldwide income — in exchange for access to Seychelles double tax treaties
- Local Seychelles companies 25% on profits generated within the Seychelles
- CRS threshold mandatory automatic reporting to foreign tax authorities if assets exceed USD 250,000
- VAT 15% in the Seychelles — but IBCs operating outside the Seychelles are not subject to it
- Stamp duty none for IBCs on transactions conducted outside the Seychelles
- Dividend tax : 0 % pour les distributions d’une IBC à des non-résidents
Les règles CFC (Sociétés Étrangères Contrôlées) de votre pays de résidence fiscale peuvent s’appliquer aux bénéfices non distribués de votre IBC seychelloise. En France, les règles CFC (article 209 B du CGI) peuvent imposer les bénéfices d’une IBC détenue par un résident fiscal français si la société est considérée comme artificielle. Un conseil fiscal personnalisé est indispensable avant la création.
Following the OECD Pillar One & Two reforms and BEPS standards, a Seychelles IBC with no genuine economic substance (no activity, no decisions made locally) may be reclassified by your home country's tax authority. Our experts integrate this consideration from the outset of structuring to ensure long-term compliance.
How to Set Up a Seychelles Offshore Company: The 6 Steps
Here is the complete process for incorporating a Seychelles IBC, including the timeline and the parties involved at each stage.
Define your structure and objective
Choice of company type (IBC, CSL, PCC, Trust), business purpose, number of shareholders/directors and banking strategy. Outcome: a personalised recommendation from our experts within 24 hours.
Choose and validate your trade name
The name must be unique and must not include regulated terms (Bank, Insurance, Government) without specific authorisation. Availability checked via the FSA within 24 hours.
Prepare KYC / AML documents
Know Your Customer dossier preparation: certified passport copy, recent proof of address (less than 3 months old), Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) declaration. Required by the FSA and partner banks.
Submission via FSA-licensed registered agent
Incorporation must be carried out through an FSA-licensed registered agent — direct incorporation is not possible. Our network of licensed agents ensures priority processing within 24 to 48 hours.
Receipt of incorporation documents
You receive the Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum & Articles of Association, and the registers of shareholders and directors. These documents are issued in English.
Open your corporate bank account
Corporate bank account opening is typically done outside the Seychelles (Mauritius, Singapore, Europe). Our banking partners facilitate this process with a pre-prepared dossier.
Opening a Bank Account for Your Seychelles Company
Bank account opening is often the most complex part of an offshore project. Seychelles-based banks themselves are not widely used by IBCs — most entrepreneurs prefer institutions in Mauritius, Singapore, Europe (Lithuania, Estonia) or regulated B2B neobanks.
| Banking Option | Country / Region | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Bank of Mauritius (SBM, MCB) | Mauritius (IFS) | Legal proximity to the Seychelles, deep expertise with IBCs and offshore structures |
| DBS Bank / OCBC | Singapore | High Asian banking standards, privileged access to Asia-Pacific markets |
| Bankera / Payset | Lithuania (EU) | Licensed B2B neobanks, fast onboarding and access to a European IBAN |
| Wise Business | Europe / Global | Multi-currency accounts, simplified international payments, ideal for trading IBCs |
| Local Seychelles banks | Seychelles | MCB Seychelles, Absa Seychelles and other local banks for on-the-ground deposits |
How Investir à Dubai Supports Your Seychelles IBC Setup
Our team has supported entrepreneurs, SME directors, independent consultants and family offices from across the world in establishing UAE tax residency for over 10 years. Our integrated approach goes well beyond simple document filing.
Situation Analysis and Structure Recommendation
Assessment of your objectives (holding, trading, succession, confidentiality), your personal tax residency and applicable CFC rules, to recommend the optimal structure.
KYC/AML Dossier Preparation
Preparation of all documents required by the FSA and partner banks: certified passports, proof of address, company resolutions and UBO declarations.
Incorporation in 24–48h via FSA-Licensed Agents
Coordination with our network of FSA-licensed registered agents for priority incorporation and fast receipt of constitutional documents.
Bank Account Opening Support
Introductions to our banking partners in Mauritius, Singapore or Europe based on your profile and financial flows. Success rate above 90% with a complete dossier.
Annual Compliance and Ongoing Tax Advisory
Annual renewal, FSA filings, UBO updates, OECD/CRS regulatory monitoring, and advice on the interaction with your personal or corporate tax situation.
Common Use Cases for a Seychelles IBC
The Seychelles IBC is a versatile structure used across many sectors. Here are the most common use cases observed by our experts:
| Sector | Typical Use of a Seychelles IBC |
|---|---|
| International Trade | Trading company buying and reselling goods between third countries |
| Consulting & services | Independent consultant invoicing clients in multiple countries through a centralised entity |
| Shareholding structures | Holding company owning shares in businesses across Africa, Asia or the Middle East |
| E-commerce / SaaS | Selling digital products or software to an international customer base |
| Intellectual property | Holding and licensing patents, trademarks, software or other intangible assets |
| Financial investment | Managing equity portfolios, crypto assets, private funds or investment vehicles |
| International real estate | Holding company owning property located outside the Seychelles |
| Estate planning | Transferring wealth to heirs in multiple countries via a Trust/IBC structure |
FAQ — Seychelles Offshore Company Formation
Registering an International Business Company (IBC) in the Seychelles takes between 24 and 48 business hours from receipt of the complete dossier by the FSA-licensed registered agent. This is one of the fastest offshore jurisdictions in the world. More complex structures such as a PCC or CSL require 5 to 15 business days.
The IBC (International Business Company) is by far the most common structure, used for international trading, shareholding, consulting, IP holding and e-commerce. It accounts for the vast majority of Seychelles offshore incorporations due to its simplicity, speed and 0% tax on foreign income.
Yes. A single shareholder and single director of any nationality is sufficient to incorporate and manage a Seychelles IBC. No local director or shareholder is required.
The minimum share capital is USD 1. No prior bank deposit is required at incorporation — this is one of the lowest capital requirements among offshore jurisdictions globally.
Annual maintenance costs range from USD 300 to 600, covering the registered agent fee and government renewal fee. This is among the lowest maintenance cost of any offshore jurisdiction worldwide.
Yes. IBCs cannot conduct banking, insurance, or trust business without specific licensing, and cannot trade within the Seychelles domestic market. Regulated activities (finance, gambling) require additional FSA authorisation. Standard trading, holding, consulting and IP activities face no restrictions.
Yes, entirely. The Seychelles IBC is a legal and internationally recognised structure. However, you remain subject to your home country's tax reporting obligations (CRS, CFC rules) and must declare the structure where required. Compliance with economic substance requirements is essential to avoid reclassification.
Yes. Many clients combine a UAE Freezone or Mainland company (for residence visa and operational presence) with a Seychelles IBC (for international holding, IP or trading activities) to optimise their overall structure. Our team designs combined structures tailored to your specific objectives.
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