All provisions · Beneficial Ownership Act (Cap. 251B) · Part I: Preliminary
2 Application
(1) This Act applies to the following—
(a) Legal person being—
(i) a trustee of a trust under the Trusts Act, 2021 (Act 34 of 2021); (Substituted by Act 38 of 2022)
(ii) an association registered under the Registration of Associations Act (Cap. 201). (iii) an international business company incorporated or continued or converted under the International Business Companies Act (Cap. 274).
(iv) a protected cell company incorporated under the Protected Cell Companies Act or the International Business Companies Act (Cap. 300, Cap. 274).
(v) a company incorporated under the Companies (Special Licences) Act (Cap. 253).
(vi) a partnership under the Civil Code of Seychelles Act (Cap. 33), and any partnership formed, incorporated, or otherwise established outside Seychelles but conducting or carrying on business within Seychelles; and (Substituted by Act 18 of 2025)
(vii) a foundation established under the Foundations Act (Cap. 270).
(b) Legal arrangement being—
(i) a trustee of a trust under the Trusts Act (Act 34 of 2021); (Substituted by Act 38 of 2022)
(ii) a general partner of a limited partnership under section 4 of the Limited Partnerships Act (Cap. 281), and
(2) Subject to section 13(5a), this Act shall not apply to—
(a) a listed company that is subject to adequate disclosure requirements in terms of transparency of beneficial ownership;
(b) (i) a legal person, not being a partnership, which is formed, incorporated or established outside Seychelles, unless such legal person is an overseas company registered under the Companies Act; or
(ii) a partnership formed, incorporated or established outside Seychelles which is not conducting or carrying on business within Seychelles; (Substituted by Act 18 of 2025)
(c) any legal person that has been struck-off from the register, under its respective statutory legislation, on the date of commencement of this Act:
Provided that when the legal person is restored to the register under its respective statutory legislation, the provisions of this Act shall be applicable to such legal person including for the period during which it was struck-off. (Amended by Act 38 of 2022)
(3) The Minister may by notice in the Official Gazette apply or vary the provisions of this Act to legal persons and legal arrangements, other than those specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1), from time to time.
(a) Legal person being—
(i) a trustee of a trust under the Trusts Act, 2021 (Act 34 of 2021); (Substituted by Act 38 of 2022)
(ii) an association registered under the Registration of Associations Act (Cap. 201). (iii) an international business company incorporated or continued or converted under the International Business Companies Act (Cap. 274).
(iv) a protected cell company incorporated under the Protected Cell Companies Act or the International Business Companies Act (Cap. 300, Cap. 274).
(v) a company incorporated under the Companies (Special Licences) Act (Cap. 253).
(vi) a partnership under the Civil Code of Seychelles Act (Cap. 33), and any partnership formed, incorporated, or otherwise established outside Seychelles but conducting or carrying on business within Seychelles; and (Substituted by Act 18 of 2025)
(vii) a foundation established under the Foundations Act (Cap. 270).
(b) Legal arrangement being—
(i) a trustee of a trust under the Trusts Act (Act 34 of 2021); (Substituted by Act 38 of 2022)
(ii) a general partner of a limited partnership under section 4 of the Limited Partnerships Act (Cap. 281), and
(2) Subject to section 13(5a), this Act shall not apply to—
(a) a listed company that is subject to adequate disclosure requirements in terms of transparency of beneficial ownership;
(b) (i) a legal person, not being a partnership, which is formed, incorporated or established outside Seychelles, unless such legal person is an overseas company registered under the Companies Act; or
(ii) a partnership formed, incorporated or established outside Seychelles which is not conducting or carrying on business within Seychelles; (Substituted by Act 18 of 2025)
(c) any legal person that has been struck-off from the register, under its respective statutory legislation, on the date of commencement of this Act:
Provided that when the legal person is restored to the register under its respective statutory legislation, the provisions of this Act shall be applicable to such legal person including for the period during which it was struck-off. (Amended by Act 38 of 2022)
(3) The Minister may by notice in the Official Gazette apply or vary the provisions of this Act to legal persons and legal arrangements, other than those specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1), from time to time.
Amendments
Act 18 of 2025, 20.08.2025
in force, included above
Section 2(1)(a)(vi) and 2(2)(b) substituted: foreign partnerships carrying on business in Seychelles are covered by the Act.
Official source: Beneficial Ownership Act (Cap. 251B), Act 4 of 2020, Revised Edition as at 31 May 2024 (Acts 4 of 2020, 6 of 2021, 26 of 2021, 38 of 2022, 28 of 2023); Act 18 of 2025 worked in by us
