Payment providers (EMIs)
A fast route for a BVI company - quick setup, multi-currency support and remote onboarding for international operations.
- Multi-currency account details
- International transfers
- Online management
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Company formation for non-residents
Company registration in the British Virgin Islands
We incorporate a BVI Business Company for holding, trading and owning assets outside the BVI. We prepare the constitutional documents, appoint a licensed registered agent and registered office, and file the mandatory registers of members, directors and beneficial owners. We also help you open an account with a bank or payment provider abroad. The whole project is handled remotely - from the initial name check to a complete set of corporate documents.
6+ years
in the industry
30+
jurisdictions
1,250+
clients worldwide
Cost
from $1,450
Timeline
from 5 days
Format
fully remote
Key parameters
Key parameters of BVI company registration
A quick overview of the corporate, tax and annual conditions of the BVI for non-residents.
Company type
BVI Business Company
The core vehicle for holding, trading and owning assets outside the BVI.
Foreign ownership
up to 100%
The company can be wholly owned by a non-resident, with no residency requirements for directors or members.
Registered agent
Required
A licensed agent and a registered office in the BVI are mandatory - we provide both.
Corporate tax
0%
No corporate tax, capital gains tax or withholding tax on profits earned outside the BVI.
Minimum capital
no minimum
There is no minimum capital requirement. Companies usually issue up to 50,000 shares to keep the lowest government fee.
Annual obligations
Fee, filings and substance
Annual government fee, agent renewal, financial return, economic substance declaration and record-keeping for five years.
The final cost depends on the chosen package, registered agent services, economic substance support and any additional tasks in your project.
Information current as of July 2026.
Service packages
Cost of company registration in the British Virgin Islands
From basic BVI Business Company incorporation to a complete package with annual maintenance and banking support.
Start
Basic BC incorporation
US$ 1 450
BC incorporation
Company name check and reservation
Preparation of the Memorandum and Articles of Association
Payment of the government fee
Registration with the Registry of Corporate Affairs and Certificate of Incorporation
Appointment of the registered agent and filing of the registers of members, directors and beneficial owners
Recommended Request a quote
Corporate
Annual maintenance included
US$ 2 300
Everything in Start, plus:
Registered agent services for one year
Registered office in the BVI for one year
Receipt and forwarding of legal correspondence
Reminders about annual obligations: financial return filing, agent and registered office renewal
Full service
Director, shareholder and documents
US$ 3 250
For launching a BC with director and shareholder services, a full document set and a tailored banking solution.
Everything in Corporate, plus:
Director and shareholder services for one year
Document preparation: power of attorney, declaration of trust
Consultation on payment solutions and choosing a bank
Important: we advise on choosing a bank or payment provider and help you prepare for the application, but we cannot guarantee that an account will be opened. The final decision always rests with the bank or EMI after reviewing the company and its beneficial owners.
Use cases and benefits
What the British Virgin Islands are best suited for
The BVI is the choice of international groups and investors who value a bank-recognised jurisdiction, English common law and a flexible ownership structure for holdings, joint ventures and cross-border deals.
Suitable business scenarios
Holding structures
Holding stakes, shares and group assets through a single BVI company - the classic vehicle for international holdings.
Joint ventures and deals
A neutral platform for joint ventures, raising investment and M&A deals between partners from different countries.
Investment and fund structures
Setting up investment companies and feeder structures: the BVI is a leading jurisdiction for funds and pre-IPO rounds.
Asset protection
Ring-fencing assets and succession planning under English common law and the specialised BVI Commercial Court.
Why clients choose the BVI
Zero taxation
No corporate tax, capital gains tax or withholding tax on the profits of a BVI company.
English common law
A legal system based on English common law and a dedicated BVI Commercial Court - predictable protection of investor rights.
Flexible structure
One person can act as both director and shareholder. No minimum capital or residency requirements.
Recognised by banks
BVI companies are accepted by banks and payment providers worldwide as a well-understood and reputable structure.
Registration requirements
Requirements for BVI company registration
To incorporate a BVI Business Company you will need the members' documents and a decision on the company structure. Every stage is handled remotely through a licensed registered agent after a preliminary due diligence check.
What you need to prepare
- Passport of the director and each shareholder
- Proof of residential address
- Description of the planned business activity
- Client geography and expected turnover
- Three proposed company names
The exact set of documents may vary depending on the ownership structure, the members' residency and the registered agent's requirements.
01
Director
At least one director - an individual or a corporate entity of any residency. There is no requirement for a BVI-resident director. The first director must be appointed within 15 days of incorporation. We can provide director services if needed.
02
Shareholders and owners
From one shareholder, whether an individual or a corporate entity. Since 2025, the registers of members and beneficial owners are filed with the Registry of Corporate Affairs within 30 days. This information is confidential and accessible only to competent authorities.
03
Registered agent
Required by law: a licensed BVI registered agent. Appointed at incorporation and renewed annually - we provide this.
04
Registered office
A BVI registered office through the registered agent, for official correspondence. Included in the package.
05
Capital and shares
There is no minimum capital requirement. The share structure is set at incorporation - usually up to 50,000 shares to keep the lowest government fee. Shares may be issued in any currency.
Tax and reporting
Tax and reporting for a BVI company
The BVI has no corporate tax, but annual reporting is mandatory. The overall regime depends on the company's tax residency, the nature of its activity and the timely completion of the economic substance test and financial return.
Corporate tax
0%
on profits, capital gains and at source
Economic substance
Substance
annual declaration for every company
Financial return
9 months
to file with the agent after the financial year
Records
5 years
retention period for accounting records
How tax and status are determined
Zero taxation
A BVI company pays no corporate tax, capital gains tax or withholding tax, regardless of where its income is earned.
Economic substance test
Under the Economic Substance Act, the company confirms its status every year. Genuine substance is required for certain activities: finance, leasing, headquarters, intellectual property and licensed services.
Automatic exchange of information
The BVI takes part in the automatic exchange of financial information under the CRS. Data on the company's accounts may be shared with the country where the beneficial owner is tax resident.
Recognition in your country of residence
A zero rate in the BVI does not cancel taxes in your country of residence. CFC and anti-offshore rules may apply - assess this in advance.
What the company must do each year
Keep accounting records and retain documents for at least five years
Notify the agent of where the accounting records are kept
File the economic substance declaration within six months of the financial period
File the financial return with the agent within nine months of the financial year
Pay the annual government fee and agent renewal
Keep the registers of members, directors and beneficial owners up to date
Update beneficial ownership details with the Registry within 30 days of any change
A BVI company is not subject to a mandatory audit or public financial statements. A zero rate in the BVI does not release you from tax obligations in your country of tax residence - we recommend assessing the CFC implications in advance.
Information current as of July 2026
Banking solutions
Opening a bank account for a BVI company
The banking route depends on the company's activity, its payment geography and the profile of its beneficial owners. A BVI company is well recognised by banks, so we consider both international payment providers and banks in major financial centres.
Banks in financial centres
For projects with a clear structure and verifiable activity, we source banks in Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland and the EU that work with BVI companies.
- Corporate account
- International transfers
- Multi-currency operations
Handled by Finextwin
Compliance preparation
We prepare the company profile before submission, so the bank's or payment provider's KYC requirements are covered in advance.
- Business description
- Payment structure
- Contracts and counterparties
Not sure which banking route fits your project?
We assess your activity, payment geography and the banks' requirements before you apply.
Registration process
How BVI company registration works
The process covers the preliminary check, name reservation, filing through the registered agent and handing the finished BVI company over to the client. Every stage is handled remotely.
01
Name check and reservation
WHAT HAPPENS We run a basic check on the members and the business activity and reserve the company name with the Registry.
FROM THE CLIENT Members' documents, a description of the activity and name options.
RESULT The name is approved and reserved.
02
Document preparation
WHAT HAPPENS We prepare the Memorandum and Articles of Association, directors' consents and the forms for filing through the agent.
FROM THE CLIENT Confirmation of the details and signing of the required forms.
RESULT The set of documents is ready for filing.
03
BC registration
WHAT HAPPENS The registered agent files the documents with the Registry of Corporate Affairs and pays the government fee, and the company is entered on the register.
FROM THE CLIENT No further involvement is usually needed unless clarifications are requested.
RESULT The company is registered and the Certificate of Incorporation is issued.
04
Register filing and document handover
WHAT HAPPENS We file the registers of members, directors and beneficial owners within 30 days, assemble the corporate set and explain the annual obligations.
FROM THE CLIENT Confirmation of receipt of the documents and corporate details.
RESULT A ready BVI company with filed registers and a complete set of documents.
The documents you receive
Certificate of Incorporation The certificate of registration issued by the Registry of Corporate Affairs.
Memorandum and Articles of Association The company's constitutional documents, filed at incorporation.
Share certificate and registers The share certificate, register of members and register of directors.
Corporate set The first resolutions, powers of attorney and forms according to your chosen package.
The format of the set and any need for originals, apostille or translation depend on the client's objectives and the chosen package.
Limitations and alternatives
When the BVI is not the right fit and what to choose instead
The BVI is a reputable offshore jurisdiction for holdings and deals, but it does not suit every task. Below are the honest limitations and the jurisdictions that address them.
When another jurisdiction makes more sense
You need tier-one banks and an office
An offshore registration still complicates working with major tier-one banks and some counterparties.
Access to tax treaties
The BVI has no network of double taxation treaties - income may be subject to withholding at source.
Real activity and hiring
For an operating business with an office and staff, an offshore loses out to a jurisdiction with genuine substance.
Working within the EU market
If you need to work with EU counterparties, a VAT number and access to EU directives, an offshore will not do.
What to consider instead of the BVI
Hong Kong Prestige, strong banks and a broad network of tax treaties. Territorial taxation and a convenient gateway to Asia.
Belize A simple, low-cost offshore with fast registration. A flexible structure for holding and trading.
Seychelles A low-cost offshore with fast registration. Suited to holding and owning assets without complex reporting.
Lithuania An EU jurisdiction with access to directives and tax treaties. Genuine substance, a VAT number and working with Europe.
Results
Real cases from our clients
Every project is different - we tailor the solution to the specific task, jurisdiction and business model.
Company registration
BVI A BVI company as a holding vehicle for group assets
The client held stakes in three operating companies in different countries, all directly in his own name. He wanted to bring them under a single holding to simplify control and to plan ahead for passing shares to partners and to his children.
Solution We incorporated a BVI company, transferred the subsidiary stakes into it and helped with the corporate resolutions. We went through economic substance for a holding entity and confirmation of the beneficial owner's tax residency.
5 days registration time
3 stakes brought under one holding
❝
I put this off for about a year and a half, just never got round to it. In the end it came together faster than I expected, all they needed from me was some scans and a couple of calls. At least now it is clear who owns what, instead of everything sitting on me alone.
Company registration
BVI A BVI company for a partners' joint venture
Two partners from different countries were launching a shared project and did not want to register it in one partner's home country, worried it would tilt control one way. They were after a neutral platform where the shares and the rules are split fairly and transparently.
Solution We set up a BVI company for the two of them and wrote the share split and decision-making rules into the articles. We helped open an account and explained to both partners their tax obligations back home.
6 days registration time
50/50 share split
❝
What mattered to me and my partner was that neither side could pull rank, and this was neutral ground. The account took longer than we would have liked, the bank was slow with checks, but we had been told upfront it might go that way.
Company registration
BVI A BVI company as an SPV for raising investment
The startup founders were preparing to raise a round from foreign investors and knew the investors would not want to put money straight into a local entity. They needed a structure the investors would recognise for taking a stake.
Solution We incorporated a BVI company as a holding layer above the operating business and set up the structure for the investors to come in. We covered economic substance and how the shares would be split later on.
5 days registration time
SPV for the funding round
❝
The investors themselves said set up a structure we understand or there is no deal. The team put together what was needed quickly and did not bog me down with extra stuff. What I really appreciated was being warned about substance upfront, not after the fact.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
If you cannot find the answer to your question, leave a request and we will look into your situation personally.
Get a consultationIncorporating a BVI company itself usually takes from 5 working days once the documents are ready and the checks are complete. What takes longer is not the incorporation but filing the mandatory registers and, above all, opening a bank account - these are separate stages that fall outside the incorporation timeline. It is realistic to allow a few weeks for a full launch with a working account.
No, the whole procedure is handled remotely. The company is registered through a licensed registered agent, and physical presence in the BVI is not required at any stage. All we need from you are scans of your documents and signed forms - originals can be couriered later if required. There are also no residency requirements for directors or members.
The BVI has no corporate tax, capital gains tax or withholding tax - for the company this means 0%, regardless of where the income is earned. However, a zero rate in the BVI does not cancel your taxes in your country of tax residence. CFC and anti-offshore rules may apply, so it is worth assessing the implications for your particular situation in advance.
Details of directors and members are not published publicly. Since 2025, the registers of members, directors and beneficial owners are filed with the Registry of Corporate Affairs, but access is limited to competent authorities and law enforcement - they are not disclosed to the public. The threshold for disclosing a beneficial owner is a holding of 10% or more.
Economic substance is a requirement to confirm the nature of the company's activity each year. Every BVI company files a declaration, even if it carries on no so-called relevant activity or is tax resident in another country. Genuine substance in the BVI is only required for certain types of business: finance, leasing, headquarters, intellectual property and licensed services. For most holding companies the filing is a notification exercise, but it must not be skipped.
There is no minimum share capital requirement. A company usually issues up to 50,000 shares - at this number the lowest government fee applies. Shares may be issued in any currency, and the exact capital structure is set at incorporation to suit the project.
We do not guarantee that an account will be opened - the final decision always rests with the bank or payment provider after reviewing the company and its beneficial owners. What we do is assess your activity and payment geography, prepare the company profile to match the chosen bank's requirements and support the application. A BVI company is well recognised by banks, so there are usually more options than with many other offshore jurisdictions.
Each year the company files an economic substance declaration (within six months of the financial period) and a financial return with the registered agent (within nine months of the financial year). You also pay the government fee and agent renewal, keep accounting records and retain documents for at least five years. There is no mandatory audit or public financial statements for a BVI company.
We'll assess your task and suggest a solution
We work with clients from any country
The consultation is free
The consultation is free
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