Assessed on the people
Business Regulatory Approvals in Seychelles
Seychelles licensing turns on whether the regulator is satisfied with the individuals behind the firm.
GCC business setup specialists
Reputation is assessed, not assumed
Following reform, the regulator applies close scrutiny to who owns and runs a licensed entity: regulatory history anywhere in the world, the source of the applicant’s wealth, and whether the proposed officers have genuinely relevant experience. Applications fail on the people far more often than on the business plan, and that assessment is not negotiable.
- Controller assessment addressed before the application is built
- Regulatory history disclosed up front, not discovered
- Honest view when the people will not pass
20+
Mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions we file in — so the recommendation is based on your activity, not on which authority we happen to be registered with.
7,000+
Companies successfully established.
Black Swan Business Setup Services•Black Swan Business Setup Services•Black Swan Business Setup Services
What is assessed
How the regulator reviews an application
The people come first.
| Element | What the regulator examines |
|---|---|
| Controllers | Who owns and who actually runs the firm. |
| Regulatory history | Refusals, sanctions or withdrawals anywhere. |
| Source of wealth | How the applicant’s own money was made. |
| Experience | Whether officers have run something comparable. |
| Compliance capability | Appointed officers and working systems. |
| Capital | Held, and demonstrable, per the category. |
Licence categories, controller assessment criteria and capital requirements are set by the regulator and change, and approval is discretionary. A licensed registered agent makes the regulated filings for an International Business Company, and its own licence depends on doing that properly.
How it works
Establishing whether this is viable
We test the people before building a file.
01
Test the controllers
Ownership, officers, regulatory history and source of wealth reviewed against what the regulator currently accepts.
02
Build the application
Business plan, compliance framework, capital evidence and controller documentation assembled to the standard expected.
03
Submit and respond
Application filed through the licensed agent, queries answered and conditions carried into a compliance calendar.
Typically required
What a licensed application needs
Every controller is individually assessed.
- Detailed business plan and projections
- Ownership and control structure to beneficial owners
- Fit and proper questionnaires for every controller
- Documented source of wealth for owners
- Full regulatory history in every jurisdiction
- Curricula vitae and experience evidence for officers
- Capital adequacy evidence
- Compliance and anti-money-laundering framework
- Appointed compliance and reporting officers
- Professional indemnity insurance
- Outsourcing and systems arrangements
- Auditor appointment
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Controller viability assessment before application
- Licence category identification
- Capital requirements set out
- Application preparation support
- Co-ordination with the licensed agent and regulator
- Responses to regulator queries
- Conditions carried into a compliance calendar
- Honest view of prospects
Not included, quoted separately
- Regulator fees, paid at cost
- Capital required to be held
- Compliance manual drafting, quoted separately
- Compliance officer appointments
- Professional indemnity premiums
- Legal representation
- Ongoing regulatory reporting
- Regulated filings, made by the licensed agent
Verify independently
Official Seychelles authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
Financial Services AuthorityRegistrar of CompaniesSeychelles Licensing AuthoritySeychelles Revenue CommissionIndustrial property registryBeneficial ownership registry
Questions
Seychelles regulatory approvals — FAQs
Why do Seychelles licence applications fail?
Most often on the people — undisclosed regulatory history, source of wealth that cannot be documented, or officers without genuinely comparable experience.
Should I disclose a past regulatory problem?
Yes. It will be found, and non-disclosure is worse than the original issue. We advise on how to present it.
Which activities need a licence?
Securities dealing and advice, fund administration, trusteeship and insurance among others. We confirm before you build a plan.
Can I operate while the application is pending?
No. Carrying on licensable activity without authorisation is a serious matter.
What if the controllers will not pass?
We will say so before you spend on an application, and explain what would need to change.
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