Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the FSA decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get an investment license in Seychelles.
The working dealer licence for global books: FSA authorisation under the Securities Act 2007 - US$50,000 minimum capital, US$1,500 to apply and US$3,000 a year, a licence earned in months and clear about what it is: a real securities regime for international clients, not an EU retail passport.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Seychelles in brief
The proportionate licence that says what it is.
Seychelles licenses securities business under the Securities Act 2007, with the FSA issuing the securities dealer licence - US$50,000 minimum capital, US$1,500 application fee, US$3,000 annually, representative licences at US$500 and US$750 alongside. The regime is real: fit-and-proper directors, a local presence, compliance and reporting obligations, and an examination that runs three to six months when the file arrives complete. What it is not, and we say this before anyone asks - is a passport into EU or UK retail: those markets require their own licences, and a Seychelles dealer serves them only through separately licensed entities.
Used for what it is, the licence works hard: a dealer managing international portfolios, executing for non-EU clients and running global books gets a supervised home at proportionate cost, with source-based business tax of 15%/25% under substance rules, no capital gains tax and territorial logic for foreign-source income. The working architecture for serious groups is layered: the Seychelles dealer as the global-book workhorse, licensed EU or UK entities where those clients live - both ends built properly. For managers who want the offshore leg supervised rather than improvised, Seychelles is the measured choice. We build the file end to end.
The working dealer licence: FSA under the Securities Act 2007 - US$50,000 capital, US$1,500/US$3,000 fees, representatives at US$500/US$750, 3-6 months realistic.
Scope, stated: global books yes, EU/UK retail no - the layered structure pairs it with onshore licences. Source-based 15%/25% tax, no CGT. Built end to end.
The two builds
The securities dealer - or the representative route.
One Act, two instruments: the corporate dealer licence carrying the business, representative licences for the individuals inside it. We build both together.
The corporate dealer. With representatives licensed inside it.
01 - SECURITIES DEALER
The working licence
Dealing in securities for international clients. US$50,000 minimum capital, a supervised operation with compliance and reporting, the global-book workhorse at proportionate cost.
Dealing in securities for international clients. US$50,000 minimum capital, a supervised operation with compliance and reporting, the global-book workhorse at proportionate cost.
- ✓Dealing and execution
- ✓Portfolio business for global clients
- ✓US$50,000 minimum capital
- ✓US$1,500 application · US$3,000 annual
- ✓Fit-and-proper directors
- ✓3-6 months realistic
02 - REPRESENTATIVES
The licensed individuals
Securities dealer representatives licensed at US$500-US$750. The people executing under the corporate licence, vetted and named, completing the supervised architecture.
Individual representative licences at US$500-US$750. The vetted bench executing under the corporate licence, scaled as the desk grows.
- ✓Individual representative licences
- ✓US$500 / US$750 fee tiers
- ✓Vetted and named persons
- ✓Tied to the corporate licence
- ✓Compliance-trained bench
- ✓Scaled as the desk grows
Figures per the FSA fee schedule as of 2026. EU and UK retail distribution requires separately licensed entities. We build the layered structure cleanly.
Why Seychelles
Six reasons dealers choose the islands.
✓
Proportionate entry
US$50,000 capital and fees in four figures. A supervised licence at a cost that matches an emerging book.Leanest supervised.
✓
A real regulator
The FSA examines, licenses representatives and supervises. This is a licence, not a registration, and counterparties know the difference.Licence, not registration.
✓
Months, not years
Three to six months to a decision when the file is complete. Speed as a function of preparation.3-6 with a full file.
✓
Territorial logic
Source-based taxation with substance rules. Foreign-source income maps cleanly when the structure is built right.Source-based, clean.
✓
The stated scope
We tell you exactly which clients this licence serves and which need an EU or UK entity - no surprises after launch.Stated before launch.
✓
The layered architecture
The standard serious build pairs the Seychelles workhorse with onshore licences where retail lives. We construct both ends.Both ends done right.
How it compares
How Seychelles differs from other routes.
Numbers next to numbers: the leanest supervised dealer licence on the map. With scope limits stated up front.
Seychelles vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Seychelles | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Regime | Securities Act - FSA | Dealer or type licences |
| Capital | US$50,000 | MUR 1M-S$1M spread |
| Speed | 3-6 months | 6-15 months onshore |
| EU/UK retail | Not covered | Passported or licensed |
Regime
SeychellesSecurities Act - FSA
Other jurisdictionsDealer or type licences
Capital
SeychellesUS$50,000
Other jurisdictionsMUR 1M-S$1M spread
Speed
Seychelles3-6 months
Other jurisdictions6-15 months onshore
EU/UK retail
SeychellesNot covered
Other jurisdictionsPassported or licensed
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seychelles | Securities dealer - FSA | 15%/25% source-based | US$50,000 capital |
 Mauritius | Investment dealer - FSC | 15% · 3% effective | MUR 1M, 2 officers |
 Vanuatu | Financial dealer - VFSC | No corporate income tax | VT 5M deposit |
 Labuan | Securities licensee - LFSA | 3% audited profits | RM1M intermediary |
SeychellesLicense typeSecurities dealer - FSA
Taxation15%/25% source-based
RequirementsUS$50,000 capital
MauritiusLicense typeInvestment dealer - FSC
Taxation15% · 3% effective
RequirementsMUR 1M, 2 officers
VanuatuLicense typeFinancial dealer - VFSC
TaxationNo corporate income tax
RequirementsVT 5M deposit
LabuanLicense typeSecurities licensee - LFSA
Taxation3% audited profits
RequirementsRM1M intermediary
Before you apply
Requirements for the Seychelles licence.Requirements for the licence.
The FSA licenses a supervised operation. The checklist below is what a passing file contains.
01
Seychelles company. Locally incorporated for the licence with a registered office.
02
Minimum capital. US$50,000, evidenced with source of funds.
03
Fit-and-proper directors. Clean histories, vetted to ultimate-owner level.
04
Licensed representatives. The individuals dealing, licensed at their tiers.
05
Business plan. Clientele, products and projections the FSA can test.
06
Compliance function. A named officer with documented procedures.
07
Client-asset arrangements. Segregation logic per the Act.
08
Local presence. An office and administration the regulator can reach.
09
Auditor and reporting. Annual audited filings per the licence.
10
AML/CFT programme. Seychelles framework with a named MLRO.
11
Scope, stated. EU/UK retail routed to licensed entities, documented in the model.
01
Seychelles company, office.
02
US$50,000 evidenced.
03
Directors vetted clean.
04
Representatives licensed.
05
Testable business plan.
06
Compliance officer named.
07
Client assets segregated.
08
Local admin reachable.
09
Annual audit filed.
10
MLRO + AML live.
11
Scope documented.
Reflects the Securities Act 2007 and FSA practice as of 2026. Representative licensing runs alongside the corporate file.Securities Act 2007 + FSA practice, 2026.
How it works
From first call to the FSA register.
01
Model and scope
The book defined precisely, which clients, which products, which markets need more.Book defined.
02
Company and capital
Seychelles entity, US$50,000 evidenced, directors vetted.US$50k evidenced.
03
The application
Corporate and representative files together. US$1,500 paid, complete at submission.Both files together.
04
FSA examination
Queries answered on schedule. The three-to-six-month window earned by preparation.Months, with answers ready.
05
Licence and launch
Register entry, banking live, representatives licensed. The global book supervised.Book supervised.
Quick facts
RegulatorFSA Seychelles
FrameworkSecurities Act 2007
Minimum capitalUS$50,000
Application feeUS$1,500
Annual feeUS$3,000
Representative feesUS$500 / US$750
Realistic timeline3-6 months
EU/UK retailNot covered
The scope note is not small print. It is the architecture: global books here, EU/UK retail through licensed entities there.
On the ground in Seychelles
Run from our Victoria office.
Prifinance - Seychelles
Victoria · Seychelles
Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
01
Model and scope
Clientele mapped precisely. The Seychelles book defined, EU/UK routes planned where needed.Set from day one.
02
The FSA file
Plan, compliance and capital evidence. Complete at filing, answered through examination.Complete at filing.
03
Representatives
The dealing bench licensed at its tiers. Vetted individuals under the corporate licence.Bench licensed.
04
Banking and launch
Accounts, custody and PSP relationships built for an island licensee. The practical layer done right.Built in parallel.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
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 investment firms in Seychelles.
Source-based taxation with substance rules. Territorial logic that rewards clean structure.
15% / 25% business tax
The two-band rate on Seychelles-source income. The system taxes what happens on the islands.Seychelles-source.
Source-based system
Foreign-source income maps outside the charge under substance rules. Structure decides the outcome.Structure decides.
No capital gains tax
Portfolio appreciation and exits sit outside the system. Dealer economics stay whole.Whole economics.
Substance rules
The territorial result survives because the operation is real. The licence requirements already force what the tax system rewards.Forced by licence.
VAT domestic only
15% VAT touches domestic supplies. International dealing sits outside its practical reach.Outside the book.
Predictable state charges
US$3,000 a year and representative renewals. The fixed costs are known to the dollar.To the dollar.
Tax summary
Business tax15% / 25%
SystemSource-based · substance
Capital gains taxNone
VAT15% domestic
Annual licence feeUS$3,000
*Figures as of 2026 per the Seychelles Revenue Commission. Source and substance outcomes are modelled per structure.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Seychelles company, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
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 live, licensed dealer.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Seychelles · FSA
Launch your investment firm in Seychelles with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from clear scope design to the FSA licence, representatives and banking - run through our Victoria office.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Seychelles the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Seychelles investment licence: the practical answers.
What licence does an investment firm need in Seychelles?+
The securities dealer licence from the FSA under the Securities Act 2007, with dealer representative licences for the individuals executing under it.
What capital is required?+
US$50,000 minimum capital, evidenced with source of funds - the leanest supervised dealer requirement among real regimes.
What are the fees?+
US$1,500 application and US$3,000 annually for the corporate licence; representative licences at US$500 and US$750 tiers.
How long does licensing take?+
Realistically 3-6 months including preparation - the FSA moves at the speed of the file's completeness.
Can the licence serve EU or UK retail clients?+
No, and we say so before you build. EU and UK retail require locally licensed entities; the Seychelles dealer serves global books and non-EU clients. Serious groups run the layered structure - we build both ends.
What substance does the FSA expect?+
A real operation: local presence, fit-and-proper directors, licensed representatives, a compliance officer and audited reporting - a supervised licensee, not a shelf company.
How are Seychelles dealers taxed?+
Source-based business tax at 15%/25% on Seychelles-source income with substance rules; foreign-source income maps outside the charge when the structure is clean. No capital gains tax.
Is a Seychelles licence bankable?+
For its scope, yes - supervised dealers with real substance open accounts and custody that registrations cannot. Banking is built deliberately, and we run that workstream in parallel with the licence.
Seychelles or Mauritius for the offshore leg?+
Speed and cost versus treaties and depth: Seychelles licenses at US$50,000 in months; Mauritius adds the treaty network and the 3% system at higher substance cost. The book decides - we model both.
Why Prifinance for Seychelles?+
Clear scope design first, a complete FSA file second, banking in parallel - the offshore leg supervised, not improvised.
What licence?+
FSA securities dealer.
Capital?+
US$50,000.
Fees?+
US$1,500 + US$3,000/yr.
How long?+
3-6 months realistic.
EU retail?+
No - layered instead.
Substance?+
Real, supervised.
Taxes?+
Source-based 15/25.
Bankable?+
For its scope, yes.
Or Mauritius?+
Speed vs treaties.
Why you?+
Clean architecture.
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
“We found PRIFINANCE COMPANYvia the Internet and asked for help in organizing the opening of their company in Estonia. PRIFINANCE COMPANY specialists helped us a lot with this. Their professional, competent approach and knowledge of their business left us with only the best impressions.”
Google
“I'm thrilled with my experience with PriFinance! They helped me obtain a crypto license in Estonia without any hassle. The team was super understanding and always available to answer my questions and assist. It was great to see how they put effort into preparing the documents to ensure everything went smoothly. I'm delighted with the outcome and highly recommend PriFinance to anyone looking to get a license…”
Google
“Opening an account with Prifinance in a Swiss bank was such an easy and quick process that I was shocked. It all started with the first call, where I received detailed guidance on the required documents and the entire procedure.One of the key highlights was their attention to detail. As someone who usually gets tangled up in paperwork, I was pleasantly surprised when they sent me all the documents and…”
Google
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Boris.. and I must say, it was a fantastic experience. Boris went above and beyond to assist me with my residency needs. His professionalism, knowledge, and dedication truly stood out. I highly recommend working with Boris and the team!”
Google
Start today
One message away from your Seychelles investment licence.
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 jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Seychelles route 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 licence scope, 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 FSA Seychelles or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.