Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right VAITOS class and leads the file all the way to the compliant launch, including banking and payment rails.
Get a crypto license in Mauritius.
Mauritius has a full regime - the Virtual Asset and Initial Token Offering Services Act 2021, run by the FSC since February 2022. Five licence classes, real substance - a physical office and management on the island - and a company at a 15% headline rate that a partial exemption can bring far lower. We map you to the right class and build it end to end.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Crypto licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Mauritius in brief
A full regime with real island substance.
Mauritius regulates virtual assets under the VAITOS Act 2021, enforced by the Financial Services Commission since 7 February 2022. It is a proper licensing regime, not a light registration: five VASP licence classes, fit-and-proper checks on controllers, owners and officers, minimum capital by class, and an AML/CFT framework under the island's FIAMLA rules. Initial token offerings have their own registration path alongside. This is a jurisdiction that expects a real business, and supervises it.
The substance is genuine - a VASP applicant needs a physical office in Mauritius and must be directed and managed from the island, the classic mind-and-management test. What you build is a Mauritius company, usually a Global Business Company, licensed by the FSC under the right class, with local directors, a compliance officer and an MLRO, sitting on a 15% headline corporate rate that a partial-exemption regime can bring far lower on qualifying income. Mauritius pairs a respected regulator with one of the widest tax-treaty networks in the region - we build the licence and the structure together.
A full regime: VAITOS Act 2021, run by the FSC since Feb 2022, with five licence classes.
You build a Global Business Company, the FSC class and island substance - 15% headline, as low as 3% effective on qualifying income.
The five licence classes
A class for each virtual-asset activity.
VAITOS licenses by class - you hold the class that matches what the business does, and the FSC sets minimum capital by class, ranging from about MUR 2 million to MUR 6.5 million. We size the licence to the real model.
Five classes: broker-dealer (M), wallet (O), custodian (R), advisory (I), marketplace (S).
CLASS M
Broker-dealer
Dealing in virtual assets for clients - buying and selling as principal or agent. The class most trading intermediaries hold.
Dealing in virtual assets for clients - buying and selling as principal or agent. The class most trading intermediaries hold.
- ✓Virtual-asset broker-dealer activity
- ✓Fit-and-proper controllers and officers
- ✓Minimum capital set by the FSC for the class
CLASS O
Wallet services
Providing virtual-asset wallets - custodial or non-custodial - and the transfer functions that go with them.
Minimum capital MUR 2m - 6.5m by class (about USD 44k - 143k). FSC fees apply.
- ✓Wallet and transfer services
- ✓Key management and safeguarding
- ✓Controls to FSC standard
CLASS R
Custodian
Safekeeping clients' virtual assets or the means of access to them - the custody class, held to the highest safeguarding bar.
Safekeeping clients' virtual assets or the means of access to them - the custody class, held to the highest safeguarding bar.
- ✓Custody and cold storage
- ✓Segregation and safeguarding
- ✓Higher capital and controls
CLASS I
Advisory services
Advising on virtual assets - investment advice and related guidance provided as a regulated activity.
Advising on virtual assets - investment advice and related guidance provided as a regulated activity.
- ✓Virtual-asset advisory activity
- ✓Fit-and-proper advisers
- ✓Lighter footprint than custody
CLASS S
Marketplace / exchange
Operating a marketplace or exchange where clients trade virtual assets - the venue class, with the operational controls a platform demands.
Operating a marketplace or exchange where clients trade virtual assets - the venue class, with the operational controls a platform demands.
- ✓Operating a trading marketplace
- ✓Matching, settlement, market controls
- ✓Held to full operational standards
Minimum capital runs from about MUR 2 million (roughly USD 44,000) to MUR 6.5 million (roughly USD 143,000) depending on the class. FSC application and annual fees apply and are confirmed for your case before any work begins.
Why Mauritius
A respected hub with a real tax edge.
A credible regulator, a wide treaty network and a partial-exemption regime - Mauritius is the substance-backed play with a genuine tax advantage.
✓
A partial-exemption tax edge
The 15% headline corporate rate can fall to as low as 3% effective on qualifying income under the partial-exemption regime - subject to substance and the nature of the income, which we model for your flows.15% headline, partial exemption on qualifying income.
✓
No capital gains tax
Mauritius levies no capital gains tax - disposals of virtual assets and other property are not caught by a separate CGT charge.No capital-gains charge.
✓
A credible regulator
The FSC is a respected supervisor and a full VAITOS licence reads to banks and counterparties as a serious, real authorisation - not a paper badge.FSC - a respected supervisor.
✓
One of the widest treaty networks
Mauritius has an extensive double-tax-treaty network, especially into Africa and Asia - relevant where the group's flows and holding sit across borders.Wide, into Africa and Asia.
✓
Five clear classes
The licence is sized to the activity - broker-dealer, wallet, custody, advisory or marketplace. You carry the class you need and its capital, and no more.Sized to the activity.
✓
Substance that banks respect
A physical office and management on the island are required - and they are exactly the facts that make the structure bankable rather than a shell. We build them properly.Office + management - bankable.
How it compares
How Mauritius differs from other routes.
Mauritius is the substance-and-treaty play: a real licence, genuine island presence, and a partial-exemption rate that few offshore rivals can match. The honest comparison is below.
Mauritius vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Mauritius | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Model today | FSC licence by class | From registration to full licensing |
| Corporate tax | 15% - as low as 3% effective | 0% offshore, or 9-30% onshore |
| Substance | Office + management on island | From none to full teams |
| Setup | From ~4-6 months | Weeks to years |
Model today
MauritiusFSC licence by class
Other jurisdictionsFrom registration to full licensing
Corporate tax
Mauritius15% - as low as 3% effective
Other jurisdictions0% offshore, or 9-30% onshore
Substance
MauritiusOffice + management on island
Other jurisdictionsFrom none to full teams
Setup
MauritiusFrom ~4-6 months
Other jurisdictionsWeeks to years
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mauritius | VAITOS - five licence classes (FSC) | 15% · as low as 3% effective | Office + management, ~4-6 months |
 Seychelles | VASP Act - four activities (FSA) | 1.5% local · territorial | Resident director + office, ~6 months |
 BVI | VASP registration by category (FSC) | 0% corporate | Authorised representative, ~4-6 months |
 Cayman | Registration + licence (CIMA) | 0% corporate | Custody/platform licensed, ~4-6 months |
MauritiusLicense typeVAITOS - five licence classes (FSC)
Taxation15% · as low as 3% effective
RequirementsOffice + management, ~4-6 months
SeychellesLicense typeVASP Act - four activities (FSA)
Taxation1.5% local · territorial
RequirementsResident director + office, ~6 months
BVILicense typeVASP registration by category (FSC)
Taxation0% corporate
RequirementsAuthorised representative, ~4-6 months
CaymanLicense typeRegistration + licence (CIMA)
Taxation0% corporate
RequirementsCustody/platform licensed, ~4-6 months
Doing it properly
What the FSC licence file contains.What the FSC file contains.
VAITOS expects a real business on the island. The checklist below is what we build and file - substance the FSC verifies, not a nameplate.
01
Mauritius company - usually a Global Business Company, incorporated with clean governance and ownership to the UBOs.
02
FSC VASP licence under the right class - broker-dealer (M), wallet (O), custodian (R), advisory (I) or marketplace (S).
03
A physical office in Mauritius, with the business directed and managed from the island (mind and management).
04
Fit-and-proper controllers, beneficial owners, associates and officers.
05
Minimum capital for the class - from about MUR 2 million to MUR 6.5 million.
06
A compliance officer and a money-laundering reporting officer (MLRO).
07
An AML/CFT programme to the FIAMLA framework - KYC, monitoring, reporting and records.
08
Local directors and appropriate resident staffing for the substance.
09
An auditor appointed, with accounts kept to standard.
10
Ongoing FSC reporting and supervision - the licence is a relationship, not a certificate.
01
Mauritius GBC.
02
FSC VASP licence by class.
03
Physical office on the island.
04
Mind-and-management in Mauritius.
05
Fit-and-proper controllers and UBOs.
06
Minimum capital MUR 2m - 6.5m.
07
Compliance officer and MLRO.
08
AML/CFT to FIAMLA.
09
Auditor appointed.
10
Ongoing FSC reporting.
Reflects the VAITOS Act 2021 and FSC rules and guidelines as of 2026. This is a full licensing regime with real substance requirements.VAITOS Act 2021 + FSC rules, as of 2026.
How it works
From first call to an FSC licence.
01
Strategy and class
Which VAITOS class you need, the honest timeline and the substance plan - fixed in writing before anything incorporates.Which class, timeline, substance - in writing.
02
The Mauritius company
A Global Business Company, incorporated with clean governance and ownership transparent to the UBOs.A Global Business Company.
03
The FSC file
The licence application for the class, the capital, the fit-and-proper pack and the AML programme.Class, capital, fit-and-proper, AML.
04
Substance and banking
The physical office, local directors and management put in place; accounts arranged on disclosure.Office, directors, accounts.
05
Licence and run
The FSC grants the class; ongoing reporting and supervision keep the structure clean.FSC grants; reporting keeps it clean.
Quick facts
RegulatorFSC (Mauritius)
LawVAITOS Act 2021
ClassesFive (M/O/R/I/S)
VehicleGlobal Business Company
Minimum capitalMUR 2m - 6.5m by class
Corporate tax15% (as low as 3% eff.)
Capital gainsNone
SetupFrom ~4-6 months
Mauritius asks for real substance - an office and management on the island. The upside is a respected licence, a treaty network and a partial-exemption rate few rivals match.
On the ground for Mauritius
Run from our Dubai desk, built on the island.
Prifinance - Mauritius desk
Run from our Dubai office
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower, Dubai, UAE
01
Global Business Company
The Mauritius vehicle the licence sits on - incorporated clean, owned transparently to the UBOs.The vehicle, built clean.
02
The FSC licence class
The right class for the activity, with the application and capital assembled the way the FSC expects to read them.Right class, capital, application.
03
Substance on the island
The physical office, local directors and management that meet the mind-and-management test - arranged, not claimed.Office + management, real.
04
Banking and rails
Accounts or a licensed payment provider, arranged on full disclosure with a respected regime behind you.Arranged on full disclosure.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of crypto companies in Mauritius.
Not a zero, but often close: a 15% headline that a partial exemption can bring to as low as 3% on qualifying income, with no capital gains tax and a deep treaty network - all resting on genuine substance.
15% headline - 3% effective
Companies are taxed at 15%, but the partial-exemption regime can reduce the effective rate on qualifying income to as low as 3%. Whether your flows qualify depends on substance and income type - we model it, we do not promise it.Partial exemption on qualifying income.
No capital gains tax
Mauritius has no capital gains tax - gains on virtual assets and other property fall outside a separate CGT charge.No capital-gains charge.
A wide treaty network
One of the region's broadest double-tax-treaty networks, strong into Africa and Asia - relevant where holding and flows cross borders.Wide, into Africa and Asia.
Substance is the condition
The partial exemption and treaty access depend on real substance - the same office and management the licence already requires. Built once, they work twice.Same office the licence needs.
No crypto-specific tax
Virtual-asset income follows the general corporate system - there is no separate digital-asset tax layer to plan around.General system applies.
Home-country tax still matters
A low Mauritius rate does not switch off tax where owners live and manage. We flag the residence and controlled-company questions up front.Owners' residence still counts.
Tax summary
Corporate income tax15% headline
Effective on qualifying incomeAs low as 3%
Capital gains taxNone
Crypto-specific taxNone - general system
Treaty networkWide (Africa, Asia)
ConditionGenuine substance
*As of 2026. The partial-exemption rate depends on substance and income type - we model your actual case rather than promising a headline.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the FSC file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: the Mauritius Global Business Company, the FSC licence file for the class, the capital and AML/KYC policy set, and the island substance. His document sets are the reason reviews finish cleanly.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a clean, licensed business.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Mauritius · VAITOS Act 2021
Launch your crypto project in Mauritius with expert support.
Full-service setup - the company, the FSC licence class and the island substance, assembled as one.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Mauritius the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which class, jurisdiction or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Mauritius crypto licence, answered honestly.
Is there a real crypto licence in Mauritius?+
Yes - the VAITOS Act 2021, run by the FSC since February 2022. It is a full licensing regime with five classes, fit-and-proper checks, minimum capital and real substance. Not a registration formality.
What are the five classes?+
Broker-dealer (M), wallet services (O), custodian (R), advisory (I) and marketplace or exchange (S). You hold the class that matches what the business actually does.
Do I really need people on the island?+
Yes - a physical office in Mauritius and the business directed and managed from the island. It is the mind-and-management test, and it is exactly what makes the structure bankable. We arrange it.
How much capital?+
Minimum capital depends on the class, running from about MUR 2 million (roughly USD 44,000) to MUR 6.5 million (roughly USD 143,000). Custody and marketplace sit at the higher end.
How is it taxed?+
A 15% headline rate that the partial-exemption regime can bring to as low as 3% effective on qualifying income, with no capital gains tax. Whether your flows qualify depends on substance and income type - we model it honestly.
How long does it take?+
Realistically a few months once the file is complete. A well-built application, with the class, capital, people and AML in order, is what keeps the FSC review moving.
Mauritius or Seychelles?+
Both are real Indian Ocean regimes. Seychelles is lighter and territorial at 1.5%; Mauritius asks for more substance but offers a treaty network and a partial-exemption rate. Model, treaties and banking decide.
Why Mauritius with you?+
Because the licence turns on the file and the substance - the class, the capital, the office and the AML. We build Mauritius applications to the standard the FSC and the banks read, which is what makes the licence usable.
A real licence?+
Yes - VAITOS Act 2021, run by the FSC.
Five classes?+
Broker-dealer, wallet, custodian, advisory, marketplace.
People on island?+
Yes - office + management in Mauritius.
Capital?+
MUR 2m - 6.5m by class.
Tax?+
15% headline, as low as 3% effective.
How long?+
A few months once the file is complete.
Vs Seychelles?+
More substance; treaties + partial exemption.
Why with us?+
File and substance to FSC and bank standard.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
“I had their assistance in company registration and I would recommend them. They were answering all my clarification during the process and offering all their supportThank you Daniel and Irinia”
Google
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Google
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Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which class, jurisdiction or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Mauritius class fits your project and what it will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right class, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius or the Government of Mauritius. Licences are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authority.