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If you are looking at an offshore provider in Mauritius, the first thing to understand is that you cannot set up an Authorised Company on your own. The law routes the application, and the day-to-day relationship with the regulator, through a single type of licensed firm: an FSC-licensed corporate service provider (Management Licence). Choosing that firm is one of the most consequential decisions in the whole project, because it stays with the company for as long as it exists.
This page explains the legal role of that provider, what it does in practice, how its own licence is priced, and what to look at before you appoint one. It describes the general framework only; how it applies to your situation is a matter for an adviser.
Why an Authorised Company needs one
Under section 71A of the Financial Services Act 2007 (FSA), an Authorised Company must have, at all times, a registered agent in Mauritius, and that registered agent must be an FSC-licensed corporate service provider (Management Licence). The same type of firm also files the application in the first place: the request for authorisation is submitted through it, in the form and manner set by the Financial Services Commission (FSC), with the information, documents and fees laid down by the FSC Rules. The authorisation itself is issued by the Chief Executive on behalf of the Commission.
So the provider is not an optional extra that you hire for convenience. It is a legal component of the structure, in the same way as the registered office. For the broader picture of the regulator's role, see the FSC's oversight of an Authorised Company.
The Authorised Company versus the Global Business Corporation
The two regimes both involve a provider, but in different ways:
| Criterion | Authorised Company (s. 71A FSA) | Global Business Corporation (s. 71 FSA) |
|---|---|---|
| Central management and control | Outside Mauritius | Within Mauritius |
| Role of the licensed provider | Registered agent, permanently in Mauritius | Administers the company |
| Resident directors | Not set by this regime | 2 resident directors |
| Core income generating activities | Not required in Mauritius | Carried out in or from Mauritius |
| Fourth Schedule activities | Not permitted, save exceptions in the FSC Rules | Not the same restriction |
Both company types are treated as a "global business entity" by the Income Tax Act, but their tax position is a separate subject: see Authorised Company taxation.
What the provider actually does
Section 71A(8) FSA lists the functions of the registered agent of an Authorised Company. In plain terms, the provider:
- files the returns and documents required by the FSA, the Income Tax Act or the Companies Act;
- passes on communications between the company and the FSC, the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) and the Registrar of Companies;
- carries out the anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) measures that the law requires;
- keeps the company's records, such as minutes, resolutions and transaction documents.
Beyond the statute, most providers also supply the registered office and company secretary services, which is why the choice also touches the registered office question. What is included in your own package depends on the engagement letter, not on the law, so read it closely.
What the provider does not do
The provider does not run your business, does not decide where the company's management sits, and does not make your commercial decisions. For an Authorised Company, central management and control must be outside Mauritius, so the people who take the real decisions are expected to be you and your directors abroad. This is covered in managing an Authorised Company from abroad. A provider that offers to "manage everything for you" in a way that would put real control in Mauritius is describing a different regime, with different consequences.
How the relationship runs across the year
- Application
The provider files the request for authorisation with the FSC on your behalf.
- Incorporation and authorisation
The company is registered and the Chief Executive issues the authorisation.
- Annual cycle
Fees, the financial summary and record-keeping are handled through the provider.
- Changes
Updates to directors, shareholders or the registered agent go through the provider or its successor.
Speed of processing
Since 1 October 2024 (Act 11 of 2024), the FSC must grant an application within 10 working days of the date on which it is considered complete (section 17B FSA), and that period also covers Authorised Company authorisations (section 17C). The clock starts only once the file is complete, so a careful provider who submits a clean application saves more time than a fast one who submits a thin file. An application that does not meet the requirements, or for which information is not supplied to the Commission's satisfaction, is treated as withdrawn (section 17A), and requested information must be provided within 15 days. For a realistic view of timelines, see how long set-up takes.
What it costs
There are two separate layers of cost, and it helps not to confuse them.
Regulatory fees for the Authorised Company
The Financial Services (Consolidated Licensing and Fees) (Amendment) Rules 2026 (Government Notice No. 119 of 2026) took effect on 1 July 2026 and replaced the fee schedule. For an Authorised Company (code FS-4.3, section 71A):
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Processing fee | 600 USD |
| Annual fee | 1,400 USD |
| Annual registration fee payable to the Registrar | 65 USD (or another amount set by the Registrar of Companies), not included in the 1,400 USD |
The first annual fee is pro-rated by the quarter in which the authorisation is granted: 1,400 USD (July to September), 1,050 USD (October to December), 700 USD (January to March) and 350 USD (April to June). If the annual fee is paid late, it rises to 1,750 USD within a month after the due date, 2,100 USD between one and three months after, and 2,800 USD between three and six months after.
For the 2026-27 renewal cycle, the FSC extended the payment deadline to 30 September 2026. Payment is made on the FSC One platform, including by direct debit or from the deposit account of the licensed provider. This is one practical reason to ask how your provider handles reminders. The wider cost picture is in annual fees to keep the company alive.
The provider's own licence
The Management Licence (FS-3.1A, section 77 FSA) carries a processing fee of 700 USD and a fixed annual fee of 6,800 USD from 1 July 2026. A provider acting as registered agent also pays a variable fee based on the number of Authorised Companies it serves at 31 December of the previous year: nothing for 1 to 50, 4,000 USD for 51 to 250, 5,000 USD for 251 to 500 and 6,000 USD above 500. Providing corporate trusteeship adds 5,000 USD.
These are the provider's regulatory costs, not your invoice. They do explain why providers' fees are not arbitrary, and why a very low quote deserves a question about what it leaves out. The FSC stated in its communiqué of 10 July 2026 that processing fees had not changed since the 2008 rules and annual fees had not been reviewed since 2019, and justified the adjustment for Authorised Companies by their higher inherent risk profile.
How to judge a provider
Good judgement here is mostly about verification and clarity, not about price. The following points tend to separate a sound provider from a weak one.
1. Check the licence
Confirm that the firm holds a Management Licence and that the licence is current, using the FSC's own records. The method is in how to check a service provider is licensed by the FSC. A firm that cannot be matched to the register should be treated with great caution, and the common warning signs are collected in offshore company scams and red flags.
2. Read the scope of the engagement
Ask what the fixed annual charge covers and what is billed separately: registered office, secretary services, filing of the annual financial summary, bank introductions, certified copies, changes to officers. An Authorised Company must file a financial summary with the FSC each year, within six months after the end of its financial year, in the form of the Ninth Schedule to the Companies Act (or other documents specified by the FSC Rules). Find out whether the provider prepares it or only files what you supply. See annual obligations of an Authorised Company.
3. Understand the compliance questions you will be asked
Because the provider carries AML/CFT duties, expect it to ask about the beneficial owner, the source of funds and the nature of the business. That is not hostility; it is the legal duty. A provider that asks nothing is more of a concern than one that asks a great deal.
4. Ask about exit
The law contemplates a change of registered agent. Since 1 August 2024 (Act 11 of 2024), an application to appoint a new registered agent for an Authorised Company must be accompanied by the fee set by the FSC Rules. Ask how the provider handles a handover, whether it charges for releasing records, and how long it takes in practice. The process is described in changing your provider.
5. Prepare a list of questions
A ready-made list helps you compare firms like for like: questions to ask an offshore provider.
What the public can see about you
The Registrar's customer charter indicates that, for Authorised Companies and private companies holding a Global Business licence, only the name, the registered office and the provider (registered agent) are available on a file search. The search itself costs Rs 100. This is a general description of public access and not a guarantee about every document; for the wider question see whether the owner of an offshore company is private.
Next step
If you want a licensed provider to look at your specific facts, you can send a request through the contact form, which is relayed to an FSC-licensed firm. Please treat anything you read here as general information, not as advice on your own situation.
FAQ
Can I set up an Authorised Company without a licensed provider?
No. The application must be made through an FSC-licensed corporate service provider (Management Licence), and the company must permanently have a registered agent in Mauritius that holds the same licence.
Is the provider the same thing as a registered office?
Not exactly. The registered agent is the licensed firm with statutory functions towards the FSC, the MRA and the Registrar. The registered office is the address where the company is registered. Many providers supply both, but they are distinct concepts, and your engagement letter should say what you receive.
Does the provider make my business decisions?
No. For an Authorised Company, central management and control must be outside Mauritius. The provider handles filings, communications, AML/CFT measures and records; it does not replace your directors.
What happens if the annual fee is paid late?
The fee increases in steps: from 1,400 USD to 1,750 USD within a month after the due date, 2,100 USD between one and three months after, and 2,800 USD between three and six months after. Ask your provider how it tracks the deadline.
Can I change provider later?
Yes. The law provides for a change of registered agent, and an application to appoint a new one must be accompanied by the fee set under the FSC Rules. The practical steps and timing depend on the firms involved.
Does a licensed provider guarantee that my bank account will be opened?
No. A provider may introduce you to a bank, but the bank takes its own decision and carries out its own checks. See why banks refuse offshore company accounts.
Is the quoted fee the only cost?
No. The provider's fee is separate from the FSC fees and the Registrar's annual registration fee. Ask for a written list of what is included and what is billed on top.
Sources
- Financial Services Act 2007, consolidated version (FSC)
- Financial Services (Consolidated Licensing and Fees) (Amendment) Rules 2026 (FSC)
- Circular letter on the 2026-27 annual fee deadline (FSC)
- Communiqué on the review of fees, 10 July 2026 (FSC)
- Income Tax Act, consolidated (Mauritius Revenue Authority)
- Customer Charter 2025 (Registrar of Companies)