So you want to register a company in Mauritius.
Look, the process is supposed to be fully online through CBRIS. On paper, it sounds simple. In reality, you’ll probably hit at least one roadblock—a form that doesn’t load, a document that gets rejected for reasons nobody can explain, or a query from CBRD that takes a week to arrive and gives you 5 days to respond.
But it’s doable. Company registration itself is free (Rs 0 filing fee). The headaches come from everything around it—setting up CBRIS access, figuring out which business activity code to use, getting your documents in the exact format they want.
Here’s what actually happens when you try to register a company in Mauritius.
Pick Your Business Structure First
This matters more than your company name. Get it wrong and you’ll either overpay or end up personally liable for debts.
Domestic Company (Private Ltd)
This is what 90% of local businesses register. It’s a proper company—separate legal entity, limited liability, can own property, can sue and be sued.
Use this if: You’re doing business in Mauritius, selling to Mauritian customers, or you’re just a normal small business that doesn’t need fancy international tax treaties.
The basics:
- Free to register
- 1-50 shareholders allowed
- Need at least 1 director (can be the same person as the shareholder)
- No minimum capital requirement despite what your uncle’s friend told you
- Takes 5-7 days for approval, then you pick up your BRC in Port Louis
- 15% corporate tax
Don’t use this if: You’re running an offshore setup or your clients are all international and you want to access Mauritius’s double tax treaties. Then you need a GBC (we’ll get to that).
Sole Proprietorship
Fastest and cheapest option. Just register for a Business Registration Number (BRN) and you’re done.
The catch: You and your business are legally the same thing. Business gets sued? They’re coming after your house. Business goes bankrupt? So do you.
Costs: Rs 100 if you have less than 10 employees, goes up from there.
Use this if: You’re testing an idea, doing freelance work, or running something genuinely tiny where liability doesn’t matter much. A lot of people start here then upgrade to a Private Ltd once things get real.
Partnership
Two or more people sharing ownership. Profits split according to your agreement. Decisions made together (or according to your agreement). Drama when someone wants out (hopefully according to your agreement).
Notice a pattern? Get a proper partnership agreement written by a lawyer. Not a template from Google. An actual lawyer who knows Mauritius law. Should cost Rs 10,000-20,000 and is worth every rupee when your business partner decides to move to Australia.
Global Business Company (GBC)
This is for international business. You get access to Mauritius’s 40+ double taxation treaties, which is the whole point of doing this.
Requirements:
- At least 2 directors (both must be Mauritius residents)
- Must use a licensed management company as your registered agent
- Need to show you have actual “substance” in Mauritius—not just a brass plate
- More paperwork, more compliance, more costs
First year costs: Around Rs 128,000-130,000 (USD 2,800-3,000) including government fees, management company, registered office.
Takes: 2-3 weeks
The Financial Services Commission tightened up GBC rules in 2025. You need real economic activity in Mauritius, not just a mailbox. If you’re doing this for legitimate tax planning, fine. If you’re doing it to hide money, don’t.
Company Name Rules
Your name needs to end with “Ltd”, “Limited”, or “Co. Ltd”. Beyond that, it just needs to be available and not use restricted words.
Restricted words: Royal, Government, Bank, Insurance, University—basically anything that makes you sound official or regulated when you’re not.
Check availability: Go to https://onlinesearch.mns.mu and search. Free. Takes 30 seconds.
Pro tip: Have 3 name options ready. Your first choice is probably taken.
Another pro tip: Simple names work better. “Mauritius Consulting Ltd” gets approved. “The Royal Imperial Mauritius International Consulting Group Holdings Ltd” gets rejected and makes you look ridiculous.
You can reserve a name for Rs 100 (good for 2 months), but you don’t have to. Most people just submit the incorporation application with their preferred name.
Documents You Actually Need
For Mauritians:
- National ID card (clear scan, both sides)
- Proof of address less than 3 months old (CEB bill, bank statement)
- Email address
- Phone number
For Foreigners:
- Passport (valid for 6+ months)
- Proof of residence less than 3 months old
- Get your passport copy notarized or certified
- Email and phone
For the Company:
- Registered office address (can be your home address—doesn’t need to be a fancy office)
- Company constitution (you can use the standard template on CBRIS or pay someone to customize it)
- Business activity description (be specific: “software development” not “services”)
Common mistake: Writing “Quatre Bornes” as your address. That’s a city, not an address. CBRD will reject it. Give them the full street address.
Another common mistake: Blurry scans. Take clear photos in good light or use a proper scanner.
The CBRIS Registration Process
CBRIS is the online system. The domain just changed—it’s now https://cbris.mns.global (the old portalmns.mu domain stopped working January 7, 2026).
Step 1: Get CBRIS Access
You can’t register a company without CBRIS access, and getting access is its own mini-adventure.
- Go to https://mns.mu/cbris-cbrd/
- Fill in the registration form (make sure your info matches your ID exactly)
- Upload your ID/passport
- Wait
They say 1-2 business days. Sometimes it’s next day. Sometimes it’s a week. Sometimes your application gets lost and you have to email helpdesk@mns.mu or call 86205 to find out what happened.
When you finally get your login credentials, write them down somewhere safe. People lose access all the time.
Step 2: Buy a Forms Package
CBRIS uses a package system. You buy a package of forms, use them to file stuff, package expires after 12 months.
Pay by credit card or MauCAS (internet banking).
Step 3: Fill in the Forms
Form 1 – Application for Incorporation
Main form. You’ll enter:
- Company name
- Registered address
- Business activity (choose carefully—there’s a whole classification system)
- Share capital (Rs 100 is fine for most small businesses)
- Financial year end (most people use 30 June)
Takes 30-45 minutes if you have everything ready.
Form 7 – Director’s Consent
Each director fills this in saying “yes, I agree to be a director” and confirming they’re not bankrupt or previously disqualified.
Form 9 – Shareholder’s Consent
Each shareholder fills this in saying how many shares they’re getting.
Form 8 – Secretary’s Consent
Only needed for GBCs and public companies. Domestic companies don’t need a secretary.
Step 4: Submit and Wait
Hit submit. CBRD reviews your application.
If everything’s fine: CBRD says 3 working days. Reality is usually 5-7 days, sometimes longer if you submit near a public holiday or end of year. You’ll get your Certificate of Incorporation by email. Then you need to physically go to CBRD in Port Louis to collect your actual BRC.
If they have questions: You get an email with queries. You have 5 days to respond or your application dies and you start from scratch. The queries are often cryptic (“Please clarify business activity”) so you end up guessing what they want.
If you made a mistake: Fix it and resubmit. No penalty except the time you’ve lost—which could be 2-3 weeks if you’re unlucky.
What You Get (and Where to Get It)
When CBRD approves your application, you receive your Certificate of Incorporation by email. This is the electronic document that confirms your company exists.
But your Business Registration Card (BRC) is physical. You need to collect it in person at:
Corporate and Business Registration Department (CBRD)
One Cathedral Square Building
Jules Koenig Street
Port Louis
Bring your national ID or passport. They’ll hand you the actual card.
Your BRC shows:
- Company name
- Business Registration Number (BRN)
- Date of incorporation
- Registered office address
- Business activity
The BRC is what you’ll need for everything—opening bank accounts, registering with MRA, getting business permits, signing contracts. Make copies and keep the original safe.
What Happens Next (The Part Everyone Forgets)
Getting your BRC isn’t the finish line. Here’s what you actually need to do:
1. Register with MRA (Mauritius Revenue Authority)
Your company is automatically registered with MRA when you incorporate, and you’ll get a Tax Account Number (TAN). But you still need to:
- Register for VAT if your annual turnover will exceed Rs 3 million (around USD 65,000)
- Register for PAYE if you have employees
- File for CSG and other statutory contributions
Timeline: Do this within the first month.
2. Open a Business Bank Account
Banks in Mauritius are picky. You’ll need:
- Your physical BRC (the card you picked up from CBRD)
- Company constitution
- Directors’ IDs
- Proof of address for the company
- A business plan (even a simple one-pager)
Popular choices: MCB, SBM, Absa. Expect initial deposit requirements of Rs 5,000-10,000.
Pro tip: Call the bank before you show up. Some want you to book an appointment. Some have specific branch requirements for business accounts.
3. Get a Company Stamp
Any print shop can make one. Costs Rs 500-1,000. You’ll use it to stamp official documents, contracts, and invoices.
4. Set Up Bookkeeping
Even if it’s just Excel at first, start tracking income and expenses from day one. Or hire an accountant—expect to pay Rs 5,000-10,000 per month for a small business.
Why this matters: MRA requires you to keep proper records. Annual returns are due every year. Mess this up and you pay penalties.
5. Pay Your Annual Fees
Every year in January, you pay your annual registration fee to CBRD. For small companies (turnover under Rs 30 million), it’s Rs 500 if you pay by January 20. Miss the deadline and it jumps to Rs 750.
You also pay trade fees annually—the amount depends on your business activity classification. This can range from a few hundred to several thousand rupees.
What It Actually Costs
Let’s be honest about money.
Government fees: Rs 0 for company registration
Everything else:
- CBRIS forms package: Rs 1,000-3,000 (depends on package size)
- Company stamp: Rs 500-1,000
- Initial bank deposit: Rs 5,000-10,000
- Accountant for first setup: Rs 5,000-8,000
- If you hire someone to help with CBRIS: Rs 5,000-7,000
Total to get properly started: Rs 15,000-25,000
If you’re doing a GBC, multiply everything by 5-10x.
Timeline: When You’ll Actually Get Your BRC
Best case: 7 days from starting your CBRIS application to getting your certificate by email, then you go pick up your BRC in Port Louis (add travel time if you’re not in Port Louis)
Realistic case: 10-14 days for email approval + whenever you can get to Port Louis to collect the BRC
If things go sideways: 3-4 weeks or more
Why the variation?
- CBRD processing speed varies (end of year is slow, July is slow)
- If you get queries and need to respond, add 5-7 days
- If your documents get rejected, add another week
- If you submit near a public holiday, add time
- If CBRIS has technical issues (happens), add time
- Physical BRC pickup means you need to factor in a trip to Port Louis
Common Ways People Mess This Up
1. Wrong Business Activity Code
There are hundreds of activity codes. Pick the wrong one and you might pay higher trade fees than necessary, or CBRD might reject your application.
The business activity description matters too. “Consulting” isn’t specific enough. “IT consulting services” works.
2. Incomplete Addresses
“Quatre Bornes” will get rejected. “Royal Road, Quatre Bornes” will get rejected.
You need: Street name, building name or number, full area, town. Like an actual mailing address.
3. Signatures Don’t Match Your ID
Sign the forms exactly like your signature appears on your national ID or passport. CBRD checks this. If it doesn’t match, rejected.
4. Thinking Registration = Ready for Business
Getting your BRC means you have a registered company. You still can’t:
- Open a bank account (need additional documents)
- Hire employees (need PAYE registration with MRA)
- Issue invoices with VAT (need VAT registration if applicable)
- Operate legally (need to file your company constitution, set up proper bookkeeping)
5. Forgetting About Ongoing Compliance
You don’t just register and forget about it. Every year:
- Annual return due (with financial statements)
- Annual registration fee due in January
- Trade fees due
- Tax returns due to MRA
Miss these and you rack up penalties.
Questions People Actually Ask
“Do I need a lawyer?”
For a simple Domestic Company? No. The process is designed for you to do yourself, which is why registration is free.
For a GBC or complex structure? Yes. Don’t try to DIY this.
“How much share capital do I actually need?”
There’s no legal minimum for Domestic Companies. Rs 100 works fine. Some people do Rs 10,000 or Rs 100,000 to look more substantial, but it doesn’t really matter for a small business.
If you’re planning to raise investment later, talk to a lawyer about setting up a proper capital structure from the start.
“Can I change things after registering?”
Yes, but every change costs Rs 100 plus time:
- Change business activity: Rs 100 + wait time
- Change directors: Rs 100 + wait time
- Change registered address: Rs 100 + wait time
- Change company name: Rs 100 + wait time
Get it right the first time.
“What if CBRD rejects my application?”
Common reasons:
- Name too similar to existing company
- Missing or unclear documents
- Wrong document format
- Business activity not properly described
Fix the issue and resubmit. There’s no “appeal” process—you just correct and try again.
“Can I use my home address?”
Yes, for Domestic Companies this is completely fine. You don’t need to rent office space. Just use your actual residential address.
For GBCs, you’ll need to use your management company’s address as your registered office.
Two Ways to Do This
Option 1: DIY
Use this guide. Do everything yourself. It’s free (except for the ancillary costs listed above).
Takes longer because you’ll make mistakes and need to fix them. But you’ll understand how everything works, which helps later.
Option 2: Pay for Help
We charge Rs 5,000 to guide you through the entire CBRIS process. You still submit everything yourself (so you learn how it works), but we’re there at every step via video call or WhatsApp.
What you get:
- Initial consultation to pick the right structure
- Document checklist and review
- Help filling in the forms correctly
- Pre-submission check to catch errors
- Follow-up until you get your BRC
Saves you time and reduces the chance of rejection.
Option 3: Full Service for Complex Setups
Need a GBC? Complex shareholding structure? We’ll connect you with licensed service providers who can handle the entire setup including management company services.
After You’re Registered
Week 1:
- Go to CBRD in Port Louis to collect your physical BRC (bring your ID)
- Register with MRA (if not done automatically)
- Apply for VAT registration if needed
Week 2-3:
- Open business bank account (you need the physical BRC for this)
Month 1:
- Get company stamp made
- Set up basic bookkeeping system
- Register employees for social contributions if hiring
Month 2-3:
- First quarterly VAT return due (if VAT registered)
- Get proper accounting software or accountant
Within First Year:
- Annual return due (usually 12 months after incorporation)
- First tax return due to MRA
- Renew any business licenses
Most companies that fail in Mauritius don’t fail because of bad business ideas. They fail because they don’t handle compliance properly and rack up penalties, or they can’t open bank accounts, or they never properly set up their accounting.
Do the boring admin stuff right, and you can focus on actually building your business.
Need help with registration? WhatsApp us at +230 5514 5150 or check out our other guides on taxation, banking, and work permits at kickoffmauritius.com