Business Setup

Company Structures in Mauritius

Every company and legal structure available in Mauritius — from the standard domestic company to specialised fund vehicles — set out with what each one is and who it suits.

Jump to 01 · Companies 02 · Partnerships 03 · Sole Proprietorship 04 · Fund Vehicles 05 · Foreign Company Presence
01

Companies

Companies Act 2001

Private CompanyDomestic Company

Standard company under the Companies Act 2001; liability limited to shares; min. 1 director and 1 shareholder; for locally operating businesses.

Public Company

As the private company, but min. 7 shareholders, publicly tradeable shares, stricter disclosure and reporting duties.

Global Business CompanyGBC

FSC-licensed, tax-resident special status on a private company; for international holding/financial activities; 2 Mauritius-resident directors mandatory (usually the Management Company's nominees).

Authorised CompanyAC

FSC-authorised, tax non-resident special status; explicitly designed for non-resident owners, minimal local substance.

Company Limited by Guarantee

For associations/non-profit purposes; members liable only up to their promised contribution, no shares/profit share.

Company Limited by Shares and Guarantee

Hybrid form: combines shareholder and guarantee membership within one company.

Unlimited Company

No liability limitation for shareholders; rarely used in practice.

Limited Life Company

Duration capped at max. 50 years from the outset (extendable up to 150 years).

One-Person Company

A single shareholder is sufficient; a secretary must be appointed within 6 months.

02

Partnerships

SociétéPartnership

Partnership under the Code de Commerce; no separate legal personality; max. 99-year term, renewable.

Limited PartnershipLP

Under the Limited Partnerships Act 2011; at least 1 general partner (unlimited liability) + at least 1 limited partner (liability capped at investment).

Limited Liability PartnershipLLP

Under the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2016; separate legal personality, all partners' liability capped at their contribution.

03

Sole Proprietorship

Sole ProprietorshipEntreprise Individuelle

Sole proprietorship under the Business Registration Act 2002; no separate legal personality, unlimited personal liability; registered via form BRF1.

04

Fund Vehicles

Protected Cell CompanyPCC

Company with legally segregated “cells” (assets/liabilities ring-fenced per cell); popular for fund and insurance structures, FSC-licensed.

Variable Capital CompanyVCC

Flexible fund structure introduced in 2022, with sub-funds; FSC-licensed, modelled on international VCC/ICAV regimes.

05

Foreign Company Presence

Branch Office

Non-independent branch of a foreign company; operationally active in Mauritius, no separate legal personality.

Representative Office

Pure liaison presence of a foreign company with no revenue generation of its own, marketing/liaison function only.

Good to know

Structure and Residency Are Two Separate Steps

None of these structures grants residency on its own. Incorporating or registering a company and obtaining the right to reside and work are two separate processes handled by two different authorities. Thresholds, fees and requirements reflect the position as of August 2026 and should be reconfirmed with the Economic Development Board or licensed Mauritius counsel before being relied on.

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