Anjouan
Offshore
Company Formation.
Anjouan offshore company formation on the autonomous island of Anjouan, Union of the Comoros. IBCs, trusts, foundations and protected cell companies — structured and maintained from our Dubai advisory desk.
Anjouan IBC formation at a glance.
Structure, cost, timeline, and tax position of an Anjouan IBC formation — at a glance, no jargon.
A discreet, deliberately small harbour.
Key advantages of Anjouan offshore company formation for international founders, holding structures and Comoros offshore vehicles.
Zero tax on foreign income
Anjouan offshore tax: IBCs pay 0% corporation tax on income arising outside the Comoros. No capital gains, no withholding on dividends paid abroad. Statutory treatment, not a negotiated ruling.
Fast formation — 2 to 4 weeks
The authority processes applications in days, not months. For a clean file with KYC in order, IBC formation completes in 2–4 weeks including certificate and corporate kit.
Privacy, professionally preserved
Beneficial-ownership records held by the licensed agent, disclosed only to competent authorities on formal request. No public register. Professional privacy, not opacity.
No local director required
Full foreign ownership, no minimum capital, no mandatory audit. The simplest offshore structure in the Indian Ocean. Directors and shareholders located anywhere.
Euro-pegged currency stability
Comorian franc pegged to the euro under a French treasury arrangement. Transact freely in USD, EUR, GBP and AED through correspondent banking in Mauritius, UAE and Europe.
Also: regulated licences →
Anjouan licenses forex brokers, iGaming operators and VASPs under a separate regulatory framework. See Anjouan Forex & Licensing
Best suited for
Anjouan’s structure is specifically engineered for six high-intent use cases. Each is paired with the corporate vehicle we would typically recommend.
Crypto & Web3 ventures
Exchanges, custodians, wallet providers and token issuers benefit from Anjouan’s technology-neutral IBC regime — combined with a dedicated VASP licence for regulated activity and clear pathways to banking in Mauritius and the UAE.
IBC + VASP licenceForex & derivatives brokers
Retail and institutional brokers trading FX, CFDs, commodities and indices use Anjouan’s broker licence as a low-capital, faster-to-market alternative to Cyprus, Mauritius or Seychelles — while preserving full credibility with liquidity providers.
Forex Broker LicenceIP holding structures
Intellectual property, trademarks, royalty streams and licensing revenues housed in a confidential Anjouan IBC — zero tax on foreign-sourced royalty income, robust asset protection, and no public register of beneficial ownership.
IBC or FoundationWealth & succession planning
Multi-generational asset protection via Anjouan Trust and Foundation structures — with letters of wishes, settlor control retention, and discretion unavailable in Common Reporting Standard jurisdictions.
Trust or FoundationE-commerce & digital trading
Cross-border online retailers, dropshipping operations and SaaS platforms serving global markets — operating through an Anjouan IBC with foreign-sourced revenue, international merchant accounts and streamlined tax treatment.
IBC + bank accountInsurance & fund management
Captive insurance, segregated portfolio funds and investment vehicles use Anjouan’s Protected Cell Company (PCC) structure — a single licensed entity containing ring-fenced cells for each risk or investor class.
Protected Cell CompanySee your exact cost
in under a minute.
Fixed-price engagement. No hidden fees. Instant estimate, full written quote within twenty-four hours.
Four structures, precisely scoped.
Each entity below is one we actively structure, register and maintain. Pricing is the Sovera engagement fee; government fees itemised separately in the proposal.
International Business Company →
The workhorse. Non-resident corporate vehicle with zero tax on foreign income, full foreign ownership, no minimum capital and no audit.
Trust →
Discretionary and fixed-interest trusts settled under Anjouan law. Firewall provisions against foreign forced-heirship claims. Ideal for family governance and succession.
Foundation →
Hybrid entity combining corporate personality with trust-like asset segregation. Used for charitable vehicles and protector-driven private wealth governance.
Protected Cell Company →
Single entity with statutorily ring-fenced cells. Each cell’s assets and liabilities legally segregated. Used for insurance, fund umbrellas and multi-strategy platforms.
Formation requirements
Three straightforward pillars. Nothing onerous, nothing opaque. A full KYC pack is assembled within 3–5 business days of engagement.
Eligibility & applicant
- Individual or corporate applicants accepted — no citizenship or residency restrictions.
- Minimum age 18. No criminal record in the preceding seven years.
- Not a resident or national of FATF high-risk or sanctioned jurisdictions.
- Source of funds must be lawful, documented and verifiable.
Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) are not excluded, but require enhanced due diligence and may extend the formation window by 1–2 weeks.
Document checklist
- Notarised passport copy — certified within the last three months.
- Proof of address — utility bill or bank statement, dated within three months.
- Source of funds declaration — with supporting evidence where applicable.
- Professional reference letter — from a lawyer, accountant or banker.
- Curriculum vitae — summarising professional background.
- Business plan or activity description — required for licensed entities only.
All documents accepted in English. Other languages require certified translation, which we arrange for you.
Corporate minimums
- One director minimum — may be individual or corporate, any nationality.
- One shareholder minimum — same flexibility as director position.
- No minimum paid-up capital for standard IBCs — nominal USD 1 authorised.
- Registered agent required — Sovera serves in this capacity.
- Registered office in Anjouan — provided as part of our engagement.
- No local director or local company secretary required.
Licensed entities (Forex, iGaming, VASP) have additional capital and fit-and-proper requirements — addressed in the dedicated licence engagement.
Tax overview
Anjouan operates a territorial tax regime. Income sourced outside the Union of the Comoros is exempt from local taxation at the corporate level. The table below summarises the complete fiscal position.
For non-resident International Business Companies, income from foreign sources is not subject to corporate tax in Anjouan. This includes trading profits, dividends received, royalties, interest, capital gains and service revenue — provided the income is genuinely sourced outside the Comoros.
A fixed annual government fee replaces corporate tax assessment. There is no VAT or GST on foreign-sourced transactions, no withholding tax on dividends or interest paid to non-residents, and no capital gains tax on the disposal of foreign assets.
Economic substance obligations are calibrated to the activity and, for most holding and trading structures, are minimal. For licensed entities (forex, VASP, iGaming), substance requirements are more prescriptive — we plan for these during engagement.
Corporate tax on foreign-sourced income for non-resident International Business Companies. Replaced by a fixed annual government fee.
| Category | Applicable rate |
|---|---|
| Corporate income taxOn foreign-sourced income | 0% |
| Withholding taxDividends, interest, royalties to non-residents | 0% |
| Capital gains taxDisposal of foreign assets | 0% |
| Value-added tax (VAT)On foreign-sourced transactions | Not applicable |
| Double tax treatiesComprehensive network | Limited |
| Economic substanceFor standard holding & trading IBCs | Minimal |
Summary is indicative. Specific tax position depends on activity, residency of beneficial owner, and domestic tax rules in the owner’s jurisdiction. We coordinate with tax counsel in your home jurisdiction during engagement.
Anjouan vs alternative jurisdictions.
When founders choose an offshore IBC, the right answer depends on cost tolerance, banking expectations and how active the entity will be. Below, the five jurisdictions most often weighed against Anjouan IBC in 2026 — verified against current legislation and 2026 fee schedules.
| Jurisdiction | Setup cost | Timeline | Annual | Tax | Public reg. | Min capital | Banking | Crypto | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anjouan | $2,500 | 2–4 wks | $1,800 | 0% | Non-public | None | Moderate | Yes | Triple-mandate IBC + licence |
| BVI BC | $3,500 | 1–3 days | $1,650 | 0% | UBO non-public | None | Tier-1 | Allowed | JVs, holdings, real estate |
| Seychelles IBC | $1,500 | 1–3 days | $590 | 0% | UBO non-public | None | Difficult | Limited | Budget holding, IP |
| Panama IBC | $1,500 | 5–7 days | $300+ | 0% | UBO non-public | None | Improving | Yes | Privacy-focused holdings |
| Cayman | $6,000 | 2–3 wks | $3,128 | 0% | UBO non-public | None | Tier-1 | Regulated | Funds, SPACs, family offices |
Anjouan’s distinguishing edge in 2026: the lowest combined IBC + licence cost in the offshore world — the only jurisdiction in this list that also licences forex brokers, iGaming operators and VASPs under one regime, eliminating the need for a separate licensing structure. BVI and Cayman are stronger for institutional banking; Seychelles is cheapest if banking is handled offshore; Panama is the privacy specialist. Choose Anjouan when you want a cost-efficient holding vehicle that can also obtain a regulated financial licence under the same Commissioner.
Build your engagement.
Select your structure and optional services. The estimate updates in real time.
Your engagement, step by step
From first enquiry to delivered corporate kit, the typical Anjouan IBC engagement takes two to three weeks. Each step is handled by a single principal — one point of contact, one signature, one timeline.
Configure & confirm engagement
You select your structure and optional services in the calculator, submit your details, and receive an itemised quote within seconds. A principal from our desk follows up within two hours to countersign the engagement letter and issue the secure payment link.
KYC collection & due diligence
Once the engagement letter is signed, we issue the document checklist and secure KYC portal. You upload notarised passport, proof of address, professional reference and source-of-funds declaration. We arrange certified translations where required.
Drafting & regulator filing
We draft the memorandum and articles, register the company name, prepare the corporate resolutions, and file with the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority. For licensed entities, additional regulatory submissions are prepared in parallel.
Incorporation & certificate issue
The Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority issues the Certificate of Incorporation, assigns a company registration number, and confirms corporate existence. We receive electronic copies the same day and originals within 5–7 business days.
Corporate kit & bank introduction
You receive the complete corporate kit — certificate, M&A, share certificates, register of members and directors, corporate seal, tax residency certificate where applicable. We then introduce you to pre-vetted banking partners and coordinate the account opening.
Documents delivered
Eight original documents, electronically and in certified physical form. Couriered to any jurisdiction within seven business days of issuance.
Certificate of Incorporation
Issued by the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority, evidencing legal existence
Memorandum & Articles
Constitutional documents defining scope, governance and corporate powers
Share Certificates
Original signed share certificates for all shareholders, authenticated
Registers of Members & Directors
Maintained statutorily at registered office, available on request
Corporate Seal
Embossed common seal for the authentication of deeds and instruments
Registered Agent Confirmation
Sovera Global appointment as your registered agent in Anjouan
Tax Residency Certificate
Issued on request, confirming corporate tax residency in the Union of the Comoros
Good Standing & Apostille
On request, for cross-border use — apostille adds 3 business days
Banking infrastructure
Three tiers of banking and payment partners. We introduce, we do not guarantee acceptance — but our active relationships materially improve approval probability and reduce opening timelines.
Mauritius & UAE banks
Mauritius Commercial Bank, State Bank of Mauritius, Afrasia Bank; Mashreq Bank, Emirates NBD, RAKBank. Multi-currency accounts, wire capability, debit cards. Suited to operational IBCs with clear business activity.
Digital banks & fintechs
Mercury, Wise Business, Airwallex, Relay, Multipass. Fast onboarding, lower fees, strong API integrations. Suited to e-commerce, SaaS and remote-first operators serving Western markets.
PSPs & merchant acquiring
Stripe, Paddle, Checkout.com, NOWPayments, BitPay. Card acceptance and crypto settlement for online merchants. For high-risk industries (forex, iGaming, crypto), specialist acquirers are introduced.
Bank and PSP introductions are included in the base engagement fee. Success is not guaranteed — acceptance depends on activity, applicant profile and compliance fit. Typical first-introduction approval rate sits above 70%; if the initial partner declines, we pivot to the next-best fit without additional charge.
Regulatory framework
The Anjouan offshore financial services sector is governed by the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) — the statutory regulator responsible for licensing, supervision and enforcement across all offshore corporate, trust, banking, insurance and gaming activity in the jurisdiction.
AOFA was established under the Autonomous Island of Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority Act, which created the legal and supervisory architecture for International Business Companies, Trusts, Foundations and Protected Cell Companies. The Authority operates independently and reports directly to the Government of the Autonomous Island, part of the Union of the Comoros.
The primary legislation governing Anjouan IBCs is the International Business Companies Act, supplemented by the Trusts Act, the Foundations Act, and activity-specific regulations for forex, VASP and iGaming licensing. The framework draws substantially from the Common Law traditions of the British Virgin Islands and Mauritius, adapted for a non-resident offshore regime.
AOFA maintains confidential beneficial ownership records accessible only to competent regulatory and law enforcement authorities, and only pursuant to formal request. There is no public register of beneficial owners, directors or shareholders.
Anjouan does not participate in the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) at the time of writing, which materially affects the reportability of beneficial ownership to home-country tax authorities. We recommend that all clients engage home-country tax counsel to confirm their reporting obligations before incorporation.
Ongoing compliance
The setup cost is one thing; the annual cost of holding the structure is quite another. Both are disclosed upfront — no surprises, no hidden recurring charges.
| Annual obligation | Due | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Government annual fee | Anniversary of incorporation | $350 |
| Registered agent renewal | Annually | $950 |
| Registered office | Annually | Included |
| Annual return filing | Within 1 month of anniversary | $450 |
| Economic substance declaration | Annually, where applicable | Included |
| Corporate secretarial | As required | $600–$1,200 |
| Audit (if elected) | Annually | From $2,500 |
| Late filing penalty | If missed | $200–$500 |
Anonymised, but characteristic.
Frank answers to fair questions.
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Union of the Comoros
United Arab Emirates
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