Jurisdiction comparison
Seychelles, BVI or Belize — a factual comparison
All three are established, non-listed offshore jurisdictions with broadly similar IBC frameworks. The differences that actually matter are narrower than most comparison pages suggest — here's what's genuinely different.
| Factor | Seychelles | BVI | Belize |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU non-cooperative tax list | Removed, Feb 2026 | Not listed | Not listed (removed 2024) |
| FATF increased monitoring | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Bearer shares | Prohibited since 2013 | Prohibited (custodian regime abolished, none issued) | Prohibited since 2019 |
| Minimum share capital | None (practical minimum: 1 unit) | None (standard authorised capital 50,000 shares) | None |
| Public beneficial ownership register | No — held by registered agent & FSA/FIU | No — held by registered agent; limited authority access | No — held by registered agent & IFSC |
| Typical registration time (existing client) | 1–3 working days | 1–2 working days | 2–4 working days |
BVI and Belize figures are provided for general orientation and were not independently re-verified against primary sources to the same depth as our Seychelles data — confirm current BVI/Belize specifics with a locally licensed agent in that jurisdiction before deciding.
Choose Seychelles if…
You want a jurisdiction that has recently strengthened its compliance framework (2024–2025 amendments) and was delisted from the EU's tax list in 2026, with a registered agent you can reach directly and headquartered in the jurisdiction itself.
Choose BVI if…
Your banking or counterparties specifically expect BVI as the most internationally recognised offshore brand — it carries the deepest track record with institutional banks, at a generally higher price point.
Choose Belize if…
You need the lowest headline cost among the three and your banking partners don't have a preference against it — Belize entities can face more banking friction than Seychelles or BVI in practice.