A factual overview of how trusts are established in the Republic of Seychelles, the legal framework that governs them, and the players who operate within this jurisdiction.
Seychelles trust formation refers to the legal process of creating a fiduciary arrangement in which a settlor transfers assets to a trustee, who then administers them for designated beneficiaries. The mechanism is built on common-law principles, adapted through local statute to the realities of an international financial centre.
The practice is widely used for estate planning, intergenerational wealth structuring and the safekeeping of moveable or intangible property. Trusts in Seychelles are commonly distinguished from a Seychelles foundation, which is a separate legal entity rather than a fiduciary relationship.
The principal legislation is the Trusts Act of 2021, which replaced the earlier International Trusts Act of 1994 and consolidated the Seychelles trust law into a single, modernised framework. Supervision falls under the Financial Services Authority (FSA), the local regulator for non-bank financial activities.
References to a "Seychelles trusts act 2026" in some commercial publications generally point to ongoing regulatory updates rather than a brand-new statute; the 2021 Trusts Act remains the operative text. The legislation defines duties of the trustee, rights of beneficiaries, and the boundaries of the Seychelles international trust.
| Element | Provision under the Trusts Act |
|---|---|
| Maximum duration | Up to 100 years (purpose trusts may differ) |
| Resident trustee | At least one FSA-licensed trustee required |
| Settlor residency | Settlor must be non-resident at the time of formation for an offshore trust |
| Forced heirship | Foreign forced-heirship rules disregarded by Seychelles courts |
| Public register | No public access to settlor or beneficiary identities |
To set up trust in Seychelles, three roles must be assigned: a settlor, one or more beneficiaries, and a licensed resident trustee. The trust deed is then drafted to capture the purpose, the powers, and the rules of distribution.
Documentation is filed through a licensed corporate service provider, who performs due diligence and submits the registration to the FSA. The trust capital Seychelles arrangement may consist of cash, securities, real estate held abroad, intellectual property or other transferable assets.
The Seychelles trust cost depends on the complexity of the structure, the volume of assets and the trustee's professional fees. Most public sources cite an initial formation envelope and a recurring annual administration charge.
Below is an indicative range commonly reported across the industry for a standard Seychelles offshore trust without unusual complexity.
| Item | Typical range (USD) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Drafting of the trust deed | 1,500 – 4,000 | One-off |
| Trustee acceptance & onboarding | 1,000 – 3,000 | One-off |
| FSA registration | 200 – 500 | One-off |
| Annual trustee fee | 2,000 – 6,000 | Annual |
| Government renewal duty | ~100 | Annual |
The archipelago has positioned itself as an established offshore centre over the past three decades, combining a common-law heritage with statutory protections specific to non-resident structures. The confidentiality regime, the absence of taxation on foreign-sourced income, and the flexibility of the Seychelles trust company framework explain much of its appeal.
Trusts in Seychelles coexist with other vehicles such as IBCs, limited partnerships and the Seychelles foundation, each serving distinct planning purposes.
Several international and local fiduciary groups hold an FSA licence to act as trustees. Names frequently referenced in public registries and industry directories include Trident Trust Seychelles, Intercontinental Trust (Seychelles) Limited, Mayfair Trust Group Seychelles, Sterling Trust Seychelles, First Island Trust Seychelles Ltd, Carre Trust Seychelles Limited and Seychelles Trust Company (Seychelles) Limited.
Their roles are governed by the same Trusts Act provisions, although service catalogues, pricing structures and minimum asset thresholds may differ from one provider to another.
| Operator | Profile |
|---|---|
| Trident Trust Seychelles | International fiduciary group with multi-jurisdiction footprint |
| Intercontinental Trust Seychelles | Regional trust and corporate services provider |
| Mayfair Trust Seychelles | Boutique private-client and corporate fiduciary firm |
| Sterling Trust Seychelles | Specialist in offshore trust and IBC administration |
| First Island Trust Seychelles | Local licensed corporate service provider |
| Carre Trust Seychelles | Fiduciary services and corporate administration |
A Seychelles international trust is generally treated as tax-neutral when its assets and income arise outside the territory and its beneficiaries are non-resident. No local income tax, capital gains tax or withholding tax applies on foreign-sourced wealth held within such structures.
The general corporate tax rate in Seychelles is 15% on the first SCR 1 million of taxable profit and 25% above that threshold, but this applies to domestic business income rather than to a properly structured Seychelles offshore trust.
Beyond private wealth structures, the country also hosts statutory and charitable arrangements such as the Environment Trust Fund Seychelles and the Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles. These vehicles channel resources towards conservation programmes and ecological preservation.
Specialised arrangements like a trust for construction Seychelles may also be encountered, typically used to ring-fence project funds or to secure obligations between parties in real-estate developments.
Seychelles trust fund details are not entered into a public register; identities of the settlor and beneficiaries remain accessible only to the trustee, the regulator and competent authorities under exchange-of-information agreements. The jurisdiction is a member of the OECD Global Forum and complies with common reporting standards.
The Seychelles has been periodically reviewed by international bodies such as the FATF and the EU; status updates evolve over time, and current listings should be checked directly with the relevant authorities.
| Criterion | Seychelles trust | Seychelles foundation |
|---|---|---|
| Legal nature | Fiduciary relationship | Separate legal entity |
| Governing text | Trusts Act 2021 | Foundations Act 2009 |
| Owner of assets | Trustee (legal title) | The foundation itself |
| Council / trustee | Licensed resident trustee | Foundation council |
| Typical use | Family wealth, succession | Philanthropy, holding |
Under the current Seychelles trust act, a private trust may be established for a maximum of 100 years. Purpose trusts and charitable trusts may benefit from different rules, with no perpetuity limit in some defined cases.
The trust must be registered with the FSA, but the register is not open to the public. The names of the settlor, the beneficiaries and the nature of the trust property are not disclosed in commercial databases.
Yes. For an international or Seychelles offshore trust, the settlor must be non-resident at the time of creation, and the trust property must be situated outside the Seychelles, with limited statutory exceptions.
A Seychelles private trust company (PTC) is a corporate entity established to act as trustee for one specific family or group of connected trusts. It must itself be licensed or exempted under FSA rules and operate through a licensed administrator.
The country's standing with the FATF and the EU has shifted several times in recent years. As policies evolve regularly, the most recent assessments published by these bodies should be consulted for an up-to-date picture.
The Seychelles is classified as a high-income economy by the World Bank, driven by tourism and financial services. Its GDP per capita is among the highest in Africa, which supports its positioning as a regional financial hub.
Public education in the Seychelles is free and compulsory from primary through to secondary level. Tertiary education is also largely state-funded for eligible nationals.
Once due-diligence files are complete and the trust deed has been agreed, formation can usually be finalised within one to three weeks. Delays most often arise from KYC clarifications rather than from the registration step itself.