Tian Tang Meng Xi Business Setup: from registration to compliant operation
Company registration, bank account, licences and annual filings — build the operating entity behind your residency properly, once.
Behind the Residence Status Is a Company That Must Genuinely Operate
The Investor Visa is not really about investing a sum of money — it is about running a company. Registration is only the first step; bank account opening, licences, tax filings and annual audits are what determine whether the company can keep going and whether your permit is renewed smoothly. We connect every link in that chain.
Company Registration
Name approval, drafting of the constitution, registration with the Corporate and Business Registration Department (CBRD), and obtaining the business licence and tax number.
Licences and Permits
We apply for the operating licences your business type requires (financial services, trading, food and beverage, tourism and others) and complete the relevant EDB registrations.
Bank Account Opening
Preparing the KYC documents, arranging your in-person interview and opening the corporate account, together with your personal account.
Tax and Accounting Compliance
Setting up the books, filing on schedule, annual audits and the turnover evidence required for renewal.
Choosing a Company Structure
Mauritius offers several corporate vehicles, each suited to a different situation. Which one fits depends on where your clients are, how income is settled and whether you need access to an international network of tax treaties.
Domestic Company
Used when you trade in Mauritius, serve local clients, or run a physical outlet or project on the island. Local corporate tax rates and filing requirements apply, and it is the most common vehicle for an Investor Visa.
GBL · Global Business Company
A Global Business Company is for companies running cross-border business through a Mauritius platform and can benefit from Mauritius's extensive tax treaty network. Incorporation and compliance requirements are stricter, and a licensed management company must provide the registered office and company secretarial services.
Authorised Company
Owned, managed and controlled by non-residents, with business conducted mainly outside Mauritius. Suited to structures that keep management and control offshore; its treatment for tax residence differs from that of a GBL.
Bank Account Opening: The Step Most Likely to Stall
Opening an account is not a formality. Banks in Mauritius scrutinise the source of funds, the substance of the business and tax compliance increasingly closely, and an incomplete file can add weeks to the process. We make sure everything is solid in advance.
- Corporate accounts: certificate of incorporation, constitution, details of directors and shareholders, a description of the business and source of funds, and information on expected counterparties.
- Personal accounts: passport, residence permit, proof of address and proof of source of funds; most banks require you to attend an interview in person.
- Interview preparation: the bank will want to understand your business model and how funds will move. We run through the details and hold a practice session beforehand.
- Bank selection: international and local banks serve different purposes. Most regional headquarters of international banks are in Ebène Cybercity in the centre of the island, while the main local banks and the central bank are in Port Louis. We recommend a combination based on your business type.
Tax Compliance and Annual Maintenance
Renewal of the Investor Visa and any long-term residence application are tied directly to turnover and filing records. Compliance is not simply a cost — it is part of keeping your status secure.
- Bookkeeping: maintaining the books under local accounting standards, organising receipts and preparing financial statements.
- Tax filings: corporate and personal income tax returns filed on time, including advance payments and final assessments.
- Annual audit: annual returns, statutory reviews and the audit procedures required by law.
- Renewal support: compiling turnover, tax and operational records as supporting evidence for permit renewal and later long-term residence applications.
- Employment and HR: local employment contracts, payroll compliance, social security contributions and permit applications for foreign staff.
Indicative Timeline
Company Registration
From name approval to completion of registration; the business licence and tax number are usually obtained within a few weeks.
Bank Account Opening
Once the file is complete it enters the bank's review process, which moves at the bank's own pace.
Licence Applications
Some sectors require additional licences; timing depends on the review schedule of the relevant regulator.
Tax Registration
Tax registration and account set-up are completed, after which routine filing begins.
Start of Operations
Office space, recruitment and business development; we can help introduce local resources.
Annual Maintenance
Ongoing support on an annual cycle for bookkeeping, filings, audits and renewal documents.
Business Climate: Low Tax, Open and Globally Connected
Before choosing a corporate vehicle, understand the country's tax system, foreign exchange rules and treaty network — they determine how far your structure can go.
💼 Business Climate: Low Tax, Open and Globally Connected
Low-Tax Environment
Corporate income tax is 15%, personal income tax is progressive at 10%–15% and VAT is 15%. According to official EDB information, Mauritius has no wealth tax and no inheritance tax, and does not tax dividends or capital gains (in general circumstances).
Free Movement of Capital
No foreign exchange controls, with funds moving freely in and out; 100% foreign ownership is permitted, profit repatriation is unrestricted and multi-currency bank accounts are straightforward to open.
International Treaty Network
Double taxation avoidance agreements with more than 40 countries, including China; a member of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and SADC.
Common Law System
The legal system blends English common law with the French civil code, commercial contracts are enforced transparently, and the international arbitration centre (MARC) handles regional commercial disputes.
Financial Centre Status
Mauritius is a major international financial centre in Africa. International banks and professional services firms cluster in Ebène Cybercity in the centre of the island — the regional headquarters of Standard Chartered, HSBC, Absa (formerly Barclays Africa), Standard Bank and SBI are all based there — while the capital, Port Louis, concentrates the head offices of large local banks such as the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) and SBM Bank, together with the Bank of Mauritius. With a broad tax treaty network and a stable business environment, it is also a common location for holding platforms used by Chinese enterprises entering Africa.
Clarify the Business Model First, Then Decide the Structure
Tell us what your business does, where your clients are and how funds are settled, and we will recommend a vehicle and a timeline for getting set up.