Offshore Companies, Bank Accounts and Financial Licences
We form offshore companies in 17 jurisdictions, from the BVI to Dubai, and introduce the bank account to match. Formation runs from ⟨$1,450⟩ USD all-in, and most registries issue the certificate within ⟨2 to 5⟩ business days. If the business needs a payment, crypto, forex, or gaming license, we prepare that application too. You see the full price, timeline, and document list before you pay.
No payment details required. We reply within ⟨one business day⟩.
- 17 jurisdictionsOne published price list.
- Filed in ⟨2–5⟩ daysBusiness days, from receipt.
- Remote setupCertified documents only.
What you get before you spend anything
Every price is published.
Government fee, registered agent, and our fee, listed separately on one pricing page. No "contact us for a quote".
The government fee is verifiable.
Each fee in our tables links to the registry's own fee schedule, so you can check the official half of the bill yourself.
Timelines in business days.
"Fast" is not a number. We state days from document receipt to certificate, per jurisdiction.
The compliance reality, stated plainly.
An offshore company is legal to own and reportable at home. We tell you what CRS, FATCA, and your local rules require before you form anything.
Choose a jurisdiction
The right jurisdiction depends on where you live, what the company will do, and which banks you need. Pick a region, or ask us and we will shortlist for you.
- BVI Business CompanyZero-tax classic
The default holding-company standard; banks and lawyers know it everywhere. From ⟨$1,850⟩.
- Nevis LLCZero-tax classic
US-favoured asset-protection LLC with a creditor bond requirement written into the ordinance. From ⟨$1,650⟩.
- Cayman IslandsZero-tax classic
For holding companies and fund structures.
- BelizeZero-tax classic
For low-cost international invoicing companies.
- Dubai and the UAEMid-shore
On-the-ground banking and substance; 9% federal corporate tax; free zone, mainland, and RAK ICC offshore are three different things. From ⟨$3,900⟩.
- RAK ICC IBCMid-shore
The UAE's offshore register for non-resident holding and invoicing structures. From ⟨$3,900⟩.
- Dubai offshore (JAFZA)Mid-shore
Dubai-registered offshore entity; audited accounts required, and a residence visa only on the narrow Reg 31.2 route.
- CyprusMid-shore
For EU-facing trading companies.
- MaltaMid-shore
For EU gaming and payments businesses.
- GibraltarMid-shore
For UK-facing holding and gaming companies.
- Isle of ManMid-shore
For UK-facing holding companies and e-gaming.
- IrelandOnshore-offshore
For EU-resident trading companies with real substance.
- EstoniaOnshore-offshore
For remote-run EU companies via e-Residency.
- Hong KongMid-shore
For Asia-facing trading and holding companies.
- SingaporeMid-shore
For Asia-facing holding companies and regional headquarters.
- United StatesOnshore-offshore
Wyoming and Delaware LLCs for non-residents; Form 5472 reporting applies.
- Panama
For private-interest foundations and holding companies.
Zero-tax classics charge no corporate income tax on foreign-source income. Mid-shore jurisdictions charge real rates and give you treaties, easier banking and a cleaner reputation with counterparties. Either way you remain reportable where you are tax resident.
Beyond these seventeen we also form companies in the Bahamas, Samoa, Anguilla, the Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Labuan and Mauritius. Ask us and we will price any of them.
How formation works
Five steps from your first message to a working company and a bank introduction. You see the full price, timeline, and document list before you pay.
- Step 1Day 0
Tell us the goal
You complete the consultation form: jurisdiction interest, country of residence, what the structure is for, budget.
- Step 2Day ⟨1⟩
Shortlist and fixed quote
We reply with a shortlist, the all-in price, and the document list. The quote is itemised: government fee, agent, our fee.
- Step 3Your pace
You send documents
Typically a certified passport copy, a utility bill dated within three months, and a short source-of-funds note. Exact list depends on jurisdiction and bank.
- Step 4⟨2–5⟩ business days
Filing
The licensed registered agent files with the registry. You receive the certificate of incorporation and the corporate pack.
- Step 5⟨2–6⟩ weeks, bank-dependent
Banking
We introduce; the bank runs its own KYC and decides.
Who an offshore company suits
A good fit
- You invoice international clients and want a neutral, low-cost corporate home.
- You hold investments or IP and want them in a separate, well-recognised entity.
- You are a US person building lawful asset protection and will file FBAR, Form 5471, or Form 3520 as required.
- You are an Indian resident investing abroad within FEMA and the LRS limits.
- You want UAE substance: an office, banking, and the 9% corporate tax rate on the record.
- You are launching a brokerage, payment product, or gaming platform and need the company, the license, and the account in the right order.
Not a fit (we will say no)
- You want to keep income off your home tax return. That is evasion, and we do not assist it.
- You want to be unreachable by regulators or banks. Beneficial-ownership registers and bank KYC see through every structure we form.
- You are on, or act for anyone on, a sanctions list.
- You need legal or tax advice. We are not a law firm or a tax adviser; we work alongside yours.
What you still owe at home
An offshore company removes local corporate tax in some jurisdictions. It removes none of your home-country reporting. Banks exchange account data automatically under CRS, and the US receives it under FATCA.
| Market | What applies |
|---|---|
| US | FBAR for foreign accounts over $10,000 in aggregate; Form 5471 for foreign corporations; Form 3520 and 3520-A for foreign trusts; and controlled-foreign-corporation income, still labelled GILTI on Form 8992, can be taxed as it is earned rather than when it is distributed.IRS, FBAR · IRS, Form 5471 · 26 U.S.C. §957 |
| UK | Foreign income reported through Self Assessment; the Part 9A TIOPA 2010 CFC charge on UK-resident companies holding at least 25% of a controlled foreign company's chargeable profits, with individuals instead within transfer of assets abroad; and the register of overseas entities where UK property is involved.GOV.UK, foreign income · HMRC INTM194500 |
| India | FEMA governs outbound investment. The Liberalised Remittance Scheme caps remittances at USD 250,000 per resident individual per financial year and is not available to companies, partnership firms, HUFs or trusts. Forming a foreign company is Overseas Direct Investment, and a Unique Identification Number must be obtained before any money leaves India.RBI, LRS FAQ · RBI, FEM (OI) Regulations 2022 |
| UAE | Corporate tax at 0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. Economic substance notifications were cancelled for financial years ending after 31 December 2022, but a company incorporated on or after 1 March 2024 must register for corporate tax within three months, and the free zone versus RAK ICC offshore distinction decides what you actually pay.UAE Government, corporate tax · Ministry of Finance, ESR cancellation |
Is an offshore company legal? Read the full answer →
What we do
We are an advisory and introduction service. We prepare the formation, a licensed registered agent in the jurisdiction files it, and we introduce the bank. You always know which of the three is acting.
Company formation
Entity selection, name check, documents, filing through the licensed agent, corporate pack delivered. From ⟨$1,450⟩.
Offshore bank account introduction
Introductions matched to your profile and jurisdiction. Accounts are subject to the bank's own KYC and approval; we introduce, we do not guarantee an opening.
Company + bank account bundle
Formation and bank introduction sequenced so the account application starts the day your certificate is issued.
Trust and foundation setup
Cook Islands International Trusts, Panama Private Interest Foundations, and the reporting duties that come with them.
Registered agent and renewal
Annual government fee, agent renewal, and good-standing certificates handled on one calendar.
Nominee director and shareholder
A governance and privacy arrangement, legal where offered. Nominees do not remove you from regulator, bank, or tax-authority visibility, and we say so on every page that mentions them.
Financial licenses
Formation is step one. A company that holds client money, trades for customers, or takes bets needs an authorization from a financial regulator before it can operate. We prepare the application the same way we prepare a formation: named regulator, government fee separated from ours, and the timeline in business days, all stated before you commit.
Payment and EMI licenses
Electronic money and payment institution authorizations in Lithuania and the UK, and money services business registration with FinCEN in the US and FINTRAC in Canada.
Crypto licenses
Virtual asset service provider authorizations: VARA in Dubai, CASP under the EU's MiCA regulation, and national registers in Lithuania, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
Forex and investment licenses
Securities dealer and broker licenses from the Seychelles FSA, the Mauritius FSC, and the Vanuatu VFSC, plus asset management authorizations for funds and managed accounts.
Gambling and iGaming licenses
Operator licenses from Curacao, Anjouan, Malta, and the Isle of Man. Each regulator sets different fee, capital, and hosting rules; we put them side by side before you choose.
Banking licenses
Advisory for groups an EMI cannot cover. We scope the realistic jurisdictions and introduce the local counsel a banking application requires.
High-risk merchant accounts
Acquirer and processor introductions for licensed gaming, forex, and crypto businesses. Underwriting stays with the processor; we match your profile to ones that accept your industry.
The questions everyone asks first
- Legal
Is an offshore company legal?
Yes. Owning one is legal in the US, UK, EU, and India; concealing it from your tax authority is not.
Read the answer - Costs
How much does an offshore company cost?
First-year costs run from about ⟨$1,450⟩ to ⟨$6,900⟩ USD depending on jurisdiction, with the government fee the smallest line item.
Read the answer - Process
How do I open an offshore company?
Choose the jurisdiction, send certified documents to a licensed registered agent, and the registry issues the certificate, usually within a week.
Read the answer
Offshore company formation FAQ
Is an offshore company legal?
Yes. The US, UK, EU, and India all permit residents to own non-resident companies, provided you report them: FBAR and Form 5471 for US persons, self-assessment for the UK, FEMA and ODI rules for India. What is illegal everywhere is concealing the company or its income from your tax authority.
How much does an offshore company cost?
From ⟨$1,450⟩ USD in the first year for a Seychelles IBC to ⟨$6,900⟩ and up for a Cook Islands International Trust. Each price splits three ways: the government fee, the licensed registered agent, and our fee. The pricing page lists all three for every jurisdiction.
How long does formation take?
⟨Two to five⟩ business days in most jurisdictions, counted from the day the registered agent holds your certified documents. The BVI and Seychelles registries are typically fastest; UAE structures take longer because of substance checks. A bank account adds ⟨two to six⟩ weeks after incorporation.
Do I have to visit the country?
No. Every jurisdiction we cover allows remote incorporation through a licensed registered agent using certified copies of your documents. Some banks, mainly in the UAE, Hong Kong, and Singapore, require one in-person or video meeting before opening an account; we tell you which before you choose.
Which country is easiest to open an offshore company in?
Seychelles and the BVI are usually the quickest: low document counts, no minimum capital, and registries that issue certificates in days. "Easiest" changes with your residence and banking needs, so the full ranked comparison scores each jurisdiction on days, documents, and capital.
Will I still pay tax at home?
In most cases, yes. A 0% corporate income tax jurisdiction removes local tax, not your home-country obligations. CRS reports your account data automatically, FATCA covers US persons, and CFC rules in the US and UK can tax retained profits. Structure lawfully and budget for reporting, not for zero.
Can I get a bank account with an offshore company?
Yes, subject to the bank's own KYC and approval. We introduce you to banks that match your profile and jurisdiction; we do not guarantee an opening. Expect to show the certificate, ownership documents, proof of address, and a source-of-funds explanation. Timelines run ⟨two to six⟩ weeks.
Do you help with financial licenses?
Yes. We prepare license applications for payment and e-money firms, crypto businesses, forex brokers, and iGaming operators, and we introduce local counsel where a regulator requires one. Formation, license application, and the bank or processor introduction run as one sequenced engagement.
What documents do I need?
Three items cover most formations: a certified passport copy, a proof of address dated within three months, and a short description of the company's activity and funding source. Trusts, foundations, and bank applications add more. Each jurisdiction page lists its exact set with certification rules.
Get a shortlist for your situation
Tell us your country of residence, what the structure is for, and your budget. We reply within ⟨one business day⟩ with a shortlist of two or three jurisdictions, the all-in price for each, and the document list. The consultation is free and does not commit you to anything.
We use this to prepare your shortlist and reply by email. No newsletter, no third-party sharing.
WeOpenOffshore is not a law firm, a bank, or a tax adviser. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
You remain responsible for reporting your interest in any foreign company, trust, or account to the tax authority where you are resident.
Accounts are subject to the bank's own KYC and approval. We introduce; we do not guarantee an account opening.