Starting a business in Seychelles: foreigner's guide (2026)

Non-residents may wholly own a Seychelles IBC; there is no local-participation requirement, and a single foreign individual or corporate body may serve as both sole shareholder and sole director with no residency requirement.

The IBC Act sets no minimum capital; a company can be incorporated with nominal share capital and need only issue at least one share on incorporation.

Foreigners cannot file directly; every IBC must be incorporated and maintained through an FSA-licensed registered agent who also provides the registered office in Seychelles.

Typical steps: reserve a unique name, appoint the registered agent, submit KYC documents (IDs, proof of address, business activity) and the memorandum/articles; incorporation is commonly completed within about 1-3 business days.

An IBC carrying on business within Seychelles becomes liable to Seychelles business tax, and the Registrar may strike off a company for contravening the Act's business-conduct rules; the offshore vehicle is designed primarily for activity conducted outside Seychelles.

For investing in the local economy, the Seychelles Investment (Economic Activities) Regulations 2022 list activities reserved exclusively for Seychellois, those open to foreigners, and those allowed only in joint venture; other activities are subject to a Seychelles Investment Board economic-needs assessment.