Mauritius: the Global Business Company and its substance conditions
Mauritius draws attention for its network of tax treaties, notably towards Africa and India. But that network has a price: the Global Business Company requires real substance on the island. The choice of form decides everything else.
Published on 4 November 2026 · Jason Pivron, director
Two forms, two logics
Our Mauritius profile records two forms: the Global Business Company (GBC) and the Authorised Company. No minimum capital is required, and the recorded incorporation time is one week.
The GBC gives access to the reduced rate and the treaty network, subject to substance conditions. The Authorised Company is lighter to run, but markedly harder to bank in our assessment.
What the GBC requires
Global Business Company status requires two resident directors, board meetings held in Mauritius, local accounting and minimum annual expenditure on the island. That is the price of access to the treaty network — and a registered office does not unlock it.
The reduced rate depends on these substance conditions. It was recorded on 21 September 2026 and its official source checked on 30 September 2026. Nothing here is tax advice: your case is checked during the scoping call.
Who Mauritius makes sense for
For a group investing in Africa or India that needs a centre recognised by institutional investors, with a mature regulatory framework. The time zone is convenient, and French is spoken.
For a service business with no link to those regions, the cost of substance outweighs the benefit of the treaty network.
What a GBC costs
Published prices, government fees included, excluding capital and travel. Regulated activity licences start at €63,690, then €8,990 per year. Details are on the Mauritius profile.
- Company formation: €20,490 one-off
- Registered office: €999, then €999 per year
- Bank account opening: €999 one-off
- Accounting, filings and audit: €1,604, then €1,604 per year
- Renewal and upkeep: €9,084, then €9,084 per year
Banking
Our assessment: adequate for a properly constituted Global Business Company, difficult for an Authorised Company. Substance is also the first thing the bank examines.
Our bank account opening service builds that file and presents it to at least two institutions; it is an obligation of means, never of result.
Compare before choosing
For a project that needs neither substance nor treaties, a US LLC costs far less to form and run: see our Wyoming and New Mexico or Mauritius comparison.
A free 20-minute call is enough to tell whether the GBC is worth its cost for your business, with a firm quote before signature: book a call.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Global Business Company in Mauritius?
A Mauritian company with access to the reduced rate and the tax treaty network, provided it has real substance: two resident directors, board meetings in Mauritius, local accounting and minimum annual expenditure.
Is an address in Mauritius enough for GBC status?
No: a registered office does not unlock access to the treaty network, which requires real substance on the island.
How much does a company in Mauritius cost?
Our published price for formation is €20,490, government fees included; annual upkeep is €9,084 per year.
Is there a minimum capital in Mauritius?
No, no minimum capital is required according to our profile.