Mauritius or Singapore: where should you start a business?
Singapore ranks higher in the index, 07 against 12. Which suits you depends on where the owners live, what the company is for and how it will be run.
Pillar by pillar
Doing business, side by side
Tax
Companies pay 15%, with an 80% partial exemption on specified foreign income where substance requirements are met. VAT is charged at 15%.
A start-up exemption applies to the first S$200,000 of income for three years of assessment. Goods and services tax is charged at 9%.
Set-up
The Registrar charges Rs 3,200 to incorporate a Global Business Company and Rs 18,000 a year, plus licence fees. No minimum capital is stated.
Registration costs S$315 in total and is usually approved within 15 minutes of payment. Share capital can be S$1, and the annual return costs S$60.
On the ground
A Global Business Company needs at least two resident directors, a secretary and a licensed management company to administer it.
At least one director must be ordinarily resident in Singapore, and the company must appoint a company secretary within six months.
Ownership
Access to beneficial ownership information is limited to the authorities. The information is not available to the public.
ACRA's central register of controllers is available only to law enforcement agencies, and members of the public cannot access it.
Residence
The Investor Occupation Permit requires US$100,000 transferred from abroad and a business plan. It is valid for 10 years, and dependants are eligible.
The EntrePass is open to an applicant holding at least 30% of a venture-backed or innovative company, who must also meet one of five further criteria.
Living and working
Currency
Mauritian rupee.
Singapore dollar.
Time zone
UTC+4.
UTC+8.
Personal tax
Income tax bands of 0%, 10% and 20% under the Finance Act 2026. No capital gains, inheritance, gift or wealth tax.
Estate duty does not apply to deaths on or after 15 February 2008.
Flights
Air Mauritius flies direct to 13 destinations, including London Gatwick (12 hours 40 minutes, five days a week).
Changi connects Singapore to over 170 cities (January 2026); Singapore Airlines takes about 13 hrs 45 mins to 14 hrs to London and 18 hrs 25 mins to New York.
Language
English is the language of the Assembly and the Supreme Court; French can also be used in the Intermediate and District Courts.
English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil are official languages, and all court proceedings are conducted in English.
Mauritius vs Singapore: common questions
Mauritius: Companies pay 15%, with an 80% partial exemption on specified foreign income where substance requirements are met. VAT is charged at 15%. Singapore: A start-up exemption applies to the first S$200,000 of income for three years of assessment. Goods and services tax is charged at 9%.
Mauritius: The Registrar charges Rs 3,200 to incorporate a Global Business Company and Rs 18,000 a year, plus licence fees. No minimum capital is stated. Singapore: Registration costs S$315 in total and is usually approved within 15 minutes of payment. Share capital can be S$1, and the annual return costs S$60.
Mauritius: A Global Business Company needs at least two resident directors, a secretary and a licensed management company to administer it. Singapore: At least one director must be ordinarily resident in Singapore, and the company must appoint a company secretary within six months.
Mauritius: Access to beneficial ownership information is limited to the authorities. The information is not available to the public. Singapore: ACRA's central register of controllers is available only to law enforcement agencies, and members of the public cannot access it.
Mauritius: The Investor Occupation Permit requires US$100,000 transferred from abroad and a business plan. It is valid for 10 years, and dependants are eligible. Singapore: The EntrePass is open to an applicant holding at least 30% of a venture-backed or innovative company, who must also meet one of five further criteria.
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