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Corporate Structures

A Lean, Cost-Efficient International Structure

The Authorised Company is designed for businesses conducting all activities outside Mauritius, offering a low-cost, flexible corporate vehicle with minimal filing obligations and maximum operational simplicity.

Overview

What is an Authorised Company?

An Authorised Company (AC) is incorporated under the Companies Act 2001 but is not a tax resident of Mauritius and is expressly ineligible for the country's DTAA benefits. It is designed for entities that conduct all their business and hold all their assets entirely outside Mauritius, making it a purposefully lean vehicle for specific international applications.

Unlike a GBC, the AC does not hold a Global Business Licence. Instead, it requires FSC authorization as an Authorised Company, a lighter form of regulatory approval that reduces the compliance burden and annual maintenance costs without fully removing FSC oversight. This makes it a compelling choice where treaty access is commercially irrelevant.

Key applications include: international trading companies conducting operations entirely offshore, single-purpose holding vehicles for assets located outside Mauritius, investment holding structures where DTAA access is not required, and special purpose entities for discrete transactions or asset holding.

FSC
Authorised, Not Licensed
An Authorised Company requires FSC authorization but does not hold a Global Business Licence, resulting in a lighter regulatory framework and reduced annual compliance costs compared to a GBC.
100%
Foreign Ownership
The AC may be entirely foreign-owned, with no requirement for any Mauritius-resident shareholder participation in the capital structure.
4–6
Weeks, Setup Timeline
From engagement to incorporated and authorized entity, generally faster than a GBC given the lighter FSC authorization process compared to a full Global Business Licence application.

What We Provide

Key Features of the Authorised Company

Simplified Compliance
The regulatory obligations of an AC are lighter than those of a GBC. While FSC authorization is required, there is no Global Business Licence to maintain, and annual FSC reporting requirements are more limited. An annual audit is not required in most circumstances. Annual returns to the Registrar of Companies and ongoing FSC obligations represent the principal statutory obligations.
Non-Resident for Tax
An AC is not considered a Mauritius tax resident and therefore pays no Mauritius corporate income tax on its income. No MRA corporate tax return is required, making it a zero-tax vehicle in the Mauritius context, subject to the laws of jurisdictions where economic activity occurs.
Low Maintenance Cost
The combination of simplified compliance, no audit requirement, and lower FSC authorization fees compared to a Global Business Licence means that the annual maintenance cost of an AC is materially lower than that of a GBC, an important consideration for SPVs or entities in an early stage of development.
Full Foreign Ownership
An AC may be 100% owned by non-residents of Mauritius, with no restriction on the nationality or jurisdiction of shareholders, providing complete structural flexibility for international groups.
Fast Establishment
The FSC authorization process for an AC is generally lighter and faster than a full Global Business Licence application. An AC can typically be incorporated and authorized within 4–6 weeks of engagement, compared to the longer FSC processing timelines applicable to a GBC.
Flexible Purpose
The AC can be used for a wide range of commercial purposes, trading, holding, investment, or as a special purpose vehicle, provided that all activities and assets are located and conducted entirely outside of Mauritius.

Process

How It Works

01
Structure Assessment
We assess the client's commercial objectives, existing group structure, and jurisdictional considerations to confirm that an AC is the most appropriate vehicle and that treaty access is not a requirement.
02
Incorporation Filing
The company is incorporated at the Registrar of Companies under the Companies Act 2001, with all constitutional documents, name reservation, and initial statutory filings prepared and submitted by our team.
03
Registered Agent Appointment
All ACs must appoint a registered agent in Mauritius. Aurevya acts as registered agent, ensuring that all statutory notifications, annual return obligations, and regulatory correspondence are handled professionally and on time.
04
Banking (Where Required)
Where the client requires a Mauritius bank account for the AC, noting that ACs face stricter bank acceptance criteria than GBCs, Aurevya leverages its established banking relationships to facilitate the process.
05
Ongoing Administration
Aurevya provides ongoing registered agent services, annual return preparation, corporate maintenance, and any amendments to the constitutional documents required over the lifetime of the entity.

Practical Considerations

Requirements & Timeline

Regulatory Requirements

  • Registered agent maintained in Mauritius at all times
  • Annual return filed with the Registrar of Companies
  • Authorised share capital as specified in constitutional documents
  • No annual audit required (unless specified in Articles or by agreement)
  • No Mauritius corporate tax return (entity is non-resident for tax purposes)
  • All business conducted and all assets held entirely outside Mauritius
  • Notification of changes to Registrar (directors, shareholders, registered office)

Indicative Timeline

  • Company Incorporation: 5–7 business days from submission of complete documentation
  • Registered Agent Appointment: Concurrent with incorporation, no additional processing time
  • Banking (where required): 6–12 weeks, noting that AC banking applications require additional justification given the non-resident status of the entity
  • Full Operational Status: Typically 4–6 weeks where banking is not required; 10–16 weeks where banking is sought

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

The fundamental difference lies in tax residency and DTAA access. A GBC is a Mauritius tax resident and can benefit from the country's 46+ Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements, enabling reduction of withholding taxes on cross-border income flows. An AC is expressly non-resident for Mauritius tax purposes and cannot access these treaties. The AC compensates with a substantially lower regulatory burden, lower annual costs, and a faster setup timeline. The appropriate choice depends entirely on whether treaty access is commercially material to the client's objectives.
No. An AC is explicitly excluded from the benefit of Mauritius's network of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements by virtue of its non-resident tax status. This is one of the defining characteristics of the AC structure. If DTAA access is commercially important, for example, to reduce withholding taxes on dividends, interest, or royalties flowing from a treaty partner jurisdiction, a GBC should be considered instead.
Technically yes, but in practice Mauritius banks apply more rigorous scrutiny to AC applications than to GBCs, given that the AC holds FSC authorization rather than a Global Business Licence, and given its non-resident tax status. Banking for an AC is achievable through Aurevya's established relationships, but clients should be aware that the process may be lengthier and that some institutions will not accept AC clients. For most clients, the AC's banking needs are best met through accounts held in other jurisdictions where the underlying business is conducted.
The AC can be used as a holding vehicle for African investments, but without access to Mauritius's DTAAs, the tax efficiency benefits that typically make Mauritius an attractive African investment hub, particularly reduced withholding taxes under treaties with countries such as India, South Africa, and various other African jurisdictions, are unavailable. For African investment platforms where treaty protection and withholding tax reduction are material commercial considerations, a GBC is the more appropriate vehicle.
Annual maintenance for an AC is lighter than that of a GBC. The primary obligations are: filing an annual return with the Registrar of Companies, maintaining a registered agent in Mauritius, meeting ongoing FSC authorization obligations, and ensuring that any changes to directors, shareholders, or constitutional documents are notified to the Registrar promptly. There is no annual audit requirement (absent specific agreement) and no MRA corporate tax return. Aurevya manages all annual compliance obligations as part of its ongoing administration service.

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