Besides anonymous offshores or IBCs (International Business Company) which are suitable for investors, foreign companies can establish branches of foreign companies. These are legal business entities for which the parent companies are fully reliable for the registered profits and losses. The company formation in Seychelles is less restrictive and has fewer formalities, but for complete support at the time of registration, you may ask our specialists in company formation in Seychelles.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| How branches work |
Branches in Seychelles operate as extensions of a foreign company. They are not considered separate legal entities, but rather an integral part of the parent-company. |
|
Physical presence required for incorporation (YES/NO) |
No, our company formation specialists can handle the entire incorporation process on your behalf. |
|
Minimum capital required |
None |
| Differences from a subsidiary |
– different types of entities, – the parent-company’s liability is limited to its investment in the subsidiary, – the subsidiary’s operations and decisions are independent from the parent company |
| Minimum shareholders |
1 |
| Can it hire employees? |
Yes |
| Accounting |
Report the financial transactions and activities of the branch as part of the parent-company’s financial statements. |
| Documents required to open a branch in Seychelles |
– business address and share capital of the parent-company, – Memorandum and Articles of Association, – director information, etc. |
| Liability |
The liability of the branch is essentially an extension of the parent-company’s liability. |
| Incorporation time (approx.) | 4 weeks |
| Representative required (YES/NO) |
Yes, you need to appoint at least 2 representatives. |
| Taxation of branches |
corporate income tax (33%) |
| Number of double taxation treaties signed by Seychelles (approx.) |
22 |
| Advantages of opening a branch in Seychelles |
– fast and easy registration, – simple procedure, – no share capital required, – low taxes, – no physical presence required |
| Assistance | We can help you with company incorporation in Seychelles, including establishing a branch in the country. |
Table of Contents
How to set up a branch in Seychelles in 2025
The main rules of establishing a branch in Seychelles in 2025 are the same as for any kind of non-resident companies in any state. The parent documents are necessary at the time or branch registration in this jurisdiction, and furthermore, a local representative must be appointed. Entrepreneurs should consider the following conditions when opening a branch in Seychelles:
- offer complete details about the parent company such as the business address, the share capital;
- the parent company’s memorandum and articles of association must also be filed with the Trade Register in Seychelles;
- information about the branch office – its registered address in Seychelles and the schedule.
All the documents of the company must be translated into the English language and then notarized. We can offer comprehensive support and guidelines for foreigners who want to register a company in Seychelles, including branches.
How branches work in Seychelles
Branches are normally subject to lower expenses and are seen as permanent establishments from a taxation point of few, remembering the fact that such entities are not considered separate legal structures. Likewise, branches in Seychelles must obtain approvals from the parent company for all the operations in the insular state.
Even though the branch is not a separate legal entity from its parent company, it still needs to complete all the steps for company formation in Seychelles, and that includes taxation registration obligations as well. Therefore, if you want to open a branch in 2025 in this country, you need to address the Seychelles Revenue Commission for tax registration formalities.
Please mind that this obligation is imposed to all legal entities operating here – this step can be completed in 14 days since the company started its operations. It is also important to know that when you will start operating your business in 2025, you will benefit from a lower corporate income tax, of 15% or 25%, depending on the taxable income (the corporate tax rate has been decreased from 33%).
These 2 tax rates apply based on the company’s income (for the first tax rate, companies must have a revenue of up to SCR 1 million, while the 2nd is imposed when the income is above this sum). It must be noted that there are certain differences in taxation based on the legal entity of the company.
Thus, the scenario presented above is applicable to companies, while for sole traders and partnerships, different taxation thresholds are applied, as follows (according to the information provided by the Seychelles Revenue Commission):
- for income of up to SCR 102,666, the tax rate is 0%;
- income between SCR 102,666.01 to SCR 1 million is charged with a tax of 15%;
- income above SCR 1 million is imposed with a tax rate of 25%.
As for the annual financial statements of a branch in Seychelles, these must be submitted to the Trade Register, alongside with the ones of the parent company. It is good to know that branches are considered reasonable entities which present low risks and have fewer obligations compared to separate legal entities.
Why open a Seychelles branch office in 2025
At the level of 2025, the branch office is ideal for foreign companies who seek to have an established presence in Seychelles without registering a new company.
The Seychelles branch office is also a more suitable option than the representative office which cannot undertake any type of commercial activity.
From an accounting point of view, the branch office is a Seychelles resident company only if it is managed from an office located in the insular state, a regulation that is required in 2025.
Please mind that if you want to open a branch office in Seychelles in 2025 you must apply for a license provided that the entity is set up by a financial institution operating abroad. Although the entity is a subdivision of the parent company, it must have a bank account opened at a local bank in Seychelles.
If you will start the procedure in 2025, you can obtain a corporate bank account in a period of 3 weeks.
The video below presents the steps for opening a branch in Seychelles:
FAQ on branch offices in Seychelles
No, the registration process is quite simple as long as the parent company has all the documents in place.
It takes around 4 weeks to have the branch office up and running.
In fact, both branch representatives must be Seychelles residents.
Branch offices are imposed with the corporate tax of 15% or 25%.
No, the registration process of the branch office can be completed remotely through a power of attorney granted to our company formation representatives in Seychelles.
No, there are no such requirements related to the opening of a branch office in Seychelles.
Setting up a branch in Seychelles vs. in Jersey
Investors interested in extending their businesses in another offshore jurisdiction, such as Jersey, may find useful this short comparison presented below.
Key facts on opening a branch office in Seychelles:
- Time frame for the incorporation: 4 weeks;
- Minimum capital required: none.
Key facts on opening a branch office in Jersey: - Time frame for the incorporation: 1 week;
- Minimum capital required: none;
- Representative required: yes, one representative.
In case you decide to choose Jersey for your business objectives, our partners from CompanyFormationJersey.com can help you.
If you want to know more details about how branches are established in Seychelles or about the company registration in Seychelles, please feel free to contact our team of consultants at any time.