What is a Seychelles holding company?

A Seychelles holding company is an International Business Company (IBC) used to own and consolidate assets rather than trade. Instead of selling goods or services, it sits at the top of your structure and holds things of value: shares in other companies (subsidiaries), real estate, intellectual property such as trademarks and patents, and bank or investment accounts. It is governed by the International Business Companies Act 2016 and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). One person can own and run it, foreign ownership is 100% permitted, and there is no minimum paid-up capital. This makes it a clean, central vehicle for international groups, family wealth and investors who want one entity holding everything in one place.

Why use a Seychelles holding company?

• No tax on foreign income - Seychelles uses a territorial tax system, so the company pays no Seychelles tax on foreign dividends, capital gains or royalties it receives from outside the country.

• Asset ring-fencing - holding assets in a separate company keeps them apart from the trading risk and liabilities of your operating businesses.

• Privacy by default - directors, shareholders and beneficial owners are not on any public register.

• Simple transfers - you can sell or pass on the whole group by transferring shares at the holding level, often without disturbing the underlying assets.

• One clean structure - consolidate subsidiaries, property and IP held across several countries under a single parent company.

• Lean and low-cost - one person can be sole director and sole shareholder, corporate directors are allowed, and there is no minimum capital.

Is a Seychelles holding company right for you?

Good fit:

• investors consolidating shares in several companies

• founders placing a parent over their operating subsidiaries

• families holding property or investments across borders

• IP owners centralising trademarks and patents

• anyone who wants a single, private entity to own and protect long-term assets

Not a fit: trading physically inside Seychelles (that needs a domestic company and licence), regulated activities such as banking, insurance or securities without the relevant FSA licence, anyone hoping to sidestep tax at home (a holding IBC doesn't override your own country's tax-residency and reporting rules), and anyone who needs tax-treaty access or a Seychelles tax residency certificate - an IBC is not tax-treaty resident, so for that we'd point you to a Companies Special Licence (CSL) instead (see the FAQ).

What You'll Need

• A certified copy of each owner's and director's passport

• Proof of residential address dated within the last 3 months (utility bill or bank statement)

• One to three proposed company names

• A short description of the assets the company will hold (shares, property, IP or investments)

• Beneficial-owner details and source of funds (for KYC)