Mauritius Authorised Company (AC) Formation
A Mauritius Authorised Company (AC) is a company incorporated in Mauritius for eligible business conducted principally outside Mauritius, with its central management and control outside Mauritius. It is authorised by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and must have a registered agent in Mauritius.
Titan helps clients assess this route, prepare their incorporation and authorisation applications and organise the continuing administration. We start with your business activity, ownership and where the company will actually be managed.
When is an Authorised Company appropriate?
An AC may be considered for eligible international trading, investment holding, management or consultancy activities. The majority ownership or control must meet the non-Mauritian-citizen eligibility requirements. The proposed activities, ownership chain and management arrangements need to be reviewed together.
An AC is different from a Global Business Company holding a Global Business Licence (GBC/GBL). A GBC is managed and controlled in Mauritius; an AC has its central management and control outside Mauritius. Choosing the structure is therefore about how the business will operate, not simply its name.
Requirements for an AC in Mauritius
- A company incorporated in Mauritius with at least one shareholder.
- At least one director, who does not have to be resident in Mauritius. A corporate director may be appointed.
- A Mauritius registered office and a registered agent that is an FSC-licensed management company.
- Business conducted principally outside Mauritius and central management and control outside Mauritius.
- Clear information on the owners, beneficial owners, directors, intended activity and source of funds.
- Continuing accounting records, regulatory filings and applicable tax reporting.
The management arrangements must reflect the real decision-making of the company. A foreign address or occasional overseas board meeting does not, by itself, establish where a business is centrally managed and controlled.
Activities and restrictions
The AC regime is not an authorisation to provide regulated financial services. Banking, financial services, professional services to investment funds, company formation and administration services, and trusteeship are restricted activities under this regime. Explain the intended activity before incorporation so that the appropriate structure and any licensing requirements can be assessed.
If your principal business will be carried on in Mauritius, our Mauritius domestic company service may be more relevant.
How to establish an Authorised Company
- Discuss the business. Tell us what the company will do, the countries involved, the proposed owners and where management decisions will be taken.
- Confirm eligibility and the engagement. We review the proposed structure and agree the formation and registered-agent services required.
- Complete due diligence. Provide the requested identity, ownership, business-background and source-of-funds information.
- Prepare the applications. Titan coordinates the incorporation and FSC authorisation submissions through the appropriate licensed channel.
- Organise ongoing obligations. Establish record-keeping, banking arrangements where required, and a calendar for regulatory and tax reporting.
Information to prepare
For an initial discussion, please provide proposed company names, a short business description, the ownership structure, the countries in which the business will operate and the proposed directors. We will then confirm the supporting documents, certifications and financial information needed for the application.
The timetable depends on document readiness, the ownership structure, the activity and the authorities' review. Banking is a separate application: each bank determines acceptance and timing. Titan can provide bank-account application assistance within the agreed engagement.
Tax residence and reporting
An AC is intended to be non-resident for Mauritius income-tax purposes because its central management and control are outside Mauritius. Non-resident companies are generally taxed in Mauritius on Mauritius-source income. It is therefore misleading to describe every AC as automatically tax-exempt.
An AC does not obtain Mauritius tax-treaty benefits simply through incorporation. Tax obligations in the country of effective management and other relevant countries must also be considered. Independent advice should address the company's actual activities and the position of its owners.
An AC must maintain records and submit an annual financial summary to the FSC within six months of its financial year-end. Applicable income-tax returns and information-reporting obligations must also be met. Non-resident status does not remove all reporting obligations.
Frequently asked questions
Is an AC the same as the former GBC2?
No. The former GBC2 regime is historical. New applications should be assessed against the current Authorised Company requirements, rather than old GBC2 descriptions or benefits.
Does an AC need a Mauritius-resident director?
The AC regime requires at least one director, who need not be resident in Mauritius. Its central management and control must remain outside Mauritius.
Does an AC have to keep accounts?
Yes. Accounting records, the annual financial summary and applicable returns are required. The appropriate accounting and any audit requirements should be confirmed for the particular company and its activities.
Can Titan assist after incorporation?
Yes. We can provide agreed registered-agent and company administration support, help maintain corporate records and coordinate the required filings. Changes to ownership, directors or activities should be reviewed before implementation.
Discuss your Authorised Company with Titan
Contact Titan with a brief outline of your business and management arrangements. We will help you understand the requirements and the next steps.
General information reviewed on 2 October 2026. Requirements and tax treatment must be confirmed for the particular company before proceeding.