For a growing number of London-based entrepreneurs, Mauritius has moved from holiday destination to serious business base. The combination of a territorial tax system, a stable legal framework built on English common law, and a government genuinely set up to attract foreign capital makes it one of the more practical offshore options available to UK founders, without the opacity that comes with some other jurisdictions.
This guide covers what the process actually looks like on the ground, from choosing the right structure to opening a bank account once you land.
Why Mauritius appeals to UK founders
The headline figure is a flat corporate tax rate of 15%, with effective rates often lower under the partial exemption regime. But what tends to seal it for UK professionals is the practicality: English is an official language, the legal system follows common law, and the country sits in a time zone only three hours ahead of the UK in winter, close enough for real-time calls with London.
Mauritius also has a network of double taxation avoidance agreements with over 40 countries, including the UK, which matters for anyone structuring income between the two.
Business structures available to UK nationals
- Global Business Company (GBC) The most common choice for UK entrepreneurs wanting to hold assets, manage international operations, or run a holding structure. A GBC is tax-resident in Mauritius and can benefit from the double taxation treaty with the UK. It requires at least two directors resident in Mauritius, which most incorporators handle through a licensed management company.
- Domestic Company If you intend to trade primarily within Mauritius (running a physical office, hiring locally, serving Mauritian clients), a domestic company is the simpler route. It is also subject to the standard 15% corporate tax.
- Authorised Company Designed for businesses whose operations and clients are entirely outside Mauritius. It is not tax-resident in Mauritius for treaty purposes, but it comes with fewer administrative requirements and lower annual fees.
- Branch of a UK company Less common but viable for companies wanting to maintain a single legal entity. The branch is treated as an extension of the UK parent rather than a separate legal person.
The incorporation process, step by step
The Mauritius financial services sector is well-regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and the Registrar of Companies. The practical sequence looks like this.
- Choose and reserve your company name Names are checked and reserved through the Registrar of Companies online portal. Turnaround is typically 24 to 48 hours.
- Appoint a licensed Management Company For a GBC in particular, you are legally required to appoint a Management Company licensed by the FSC. This firm handles your registered address, provides resident directors if needed, and takes care of compliance filings. Costs vary but typically run between £1,500 and £4,000 per year depending on the level of service.
- Prepare and submit incorporation documents You will need a Constitution (the Mauritian equivalent of Articles of Association), details of shareholders and directors, and a business plan if applying for a GBC licence. The Management Company usually handles the drafting.
- Obtain your Business Registration Number (BRN) Once documents are submitted, the BRN is generally issued within three to five working days. The FSC licence for a GBC takes longer, typically four to six weeks.
- Open a corporate bank account This is often the most time-consuming step. Mauritian banks have tightened their KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements significantly over the past five years. Expect to provide audited accounts or financial projections, proof of the source of funds, and detailed information about the nature of the business. Some UK founders find it worth engaging a local consultant specifically for the banking step.
Major banks operating in Mauritius include MCB (Mauritius Commercial Bank), SBM (State Bank of Mauritius), and AfrAsia Bank, with the latter being particularly active with international clients.
Tax considerations for UK residents
Setting up a company in Mauritius does not automatically remove your UK tax obligations. HMRC’s rules on Controlled Foreign Companies (CFC) mean that if you are UK-resident and control a foreign company, profits can in some circumstances be attributed back to you and taxed in the UK.
The substance requirements introduced over recent years add another layer: Mauritius companies need to demonstrate genuine economic activity on the island to defend treaty benefits. That typically means having real decisions made in Mauritius, which is why the Management Company model matters.
Taking advice from a UK tax adviser with international experience before incorporating is worth the cost: structuring it correctly from the start avoids more expensive corrections later.
Living and working between London and Mauritius
Many UK founders who go through the company formation in Mauritius from the UK process do not relocate entirely. They establish the company and a light operational presence in Mauritius, while continuing to live and work in London. This works, but it requires attention to substance rules and your own tax residency position.
For those considering a fuller move, Mauritius offers several residence permits, including the Premium Visa for remote workers, and a property acquisition route that grants residence alongside purchase of qualifying real estate.
Practical costs to budget for
- Incorporation and first-year Management Company fees: £2,000 to £5,000
- FSC licence fee (GBC): approximately £1,200 per year
- Annual government filing fees: around £300 to £500
- Local audit (often required): £800 to £2,500 depending on company size
These figures vary and should be confirmed with a licensed Management Company during the scoping stage.
A straightforward jurisdiction for a specific type of business
Mauritius works best for UK founders who have an international revenue stream, hold assets across multiple jurisdictions, or want a credible and treaty-backed structure rather than a purely nominal offshore arrangement. It is less suited to businesses with predominantly UK-based clients and no genuine cross-border element; in that scenario the tax and compliance costs can outweigh the benefits.
For those who fit the profile, it remains one of the more accessible African jurisdiction options, with a level of institutional reliability that is harder to find elsewhere on the continent.