Cayman Islands Company Registration | Set Up an Exempted Company in the Cayman Islands
Planning a Cayman Islands company registration, or want to set up a company in the Cayman Islands as a listing, fund or international holding vehicle? The entity most international investors use is the exempted company. It must be registered with the Cayman General Registry through a licensed corporate service provider, with a declaration that it will operate mainly outside the Cayman Islands. Shareholders and directors can be foreign individuals or foreign companies.
Under the General Registry fee schedule, an exempted company with share capital of CI$42,000 or less pays a CI$700 incorporation fee (about US$853.66) and a CI$925 annual fee (about US$1,128.05, rising to CI$1,025 from 2027). The Cayman Islands does not levy corporate income tax, but each year a company must file an annual return, an economic substance notification and beneficial ownership information. NSS Group (戰國策集團) offers end-to-end Cayman company registration, from structure assessment and introductions to licensed service providers to document preparation, bank account opening and annual maintenance, so you can build a compliant Cayman structure.
Cayman Islands companies are a common listing and holding vehicle in international capital markets. Major stock exchanges, including those in the United States and Hong Kong, accept Cayman companies as listing applicants. They are often used for startup fundraising, overseas listings and cross-border restructuring.
The Cayman Islands has no corporate tax, income tax, capital gains tax, withholding tax or estate tax. This tax neutrality puts investors from different countries on an equal tax footing, avoids the complexity of double taxation, and lets capital pool and move efficiently.
The Cayman legal system is based on English common law. A large pool of experienced lawyers, accountants and fund administrators supports complex financial transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, structured finance and securitization.
The Cayman Islands is a common domicile for international investment funds. The Mutual Funds Act and the Private Funds Act give funds a clear regulatory framework, and fund setup and registration follow the rules of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA).
your international strategy
The Cayman Islands offers an ecosystem built for international business and investment:
In the Cayman Islands, the company type best suited to international investors and businesses is the exempted company, and it must be set up through a locally licensed corporate service provider. NSS Group connects you with licensed Cayman service providers and professional advisers, prepares shareholder and director documents, and plans the annual fee, annual return, economic substance and beneficial ownership filings after incorporation, so your Cayman company stays clear and compliant from setup to maintenance.
The registration process is clear and has five core steps:
The licensed service provider checks and reserves the name with the General Registry. An exempted company name does not need to include Limited or Ltd.
Provide passports and proof of address for directors, shareholders and beneficial owners, plus a description of the business and the source of funds. The licensed service provider reviews them under Cayman anti-money laundering rules.
The service provider drafts the memorandum and articles of association and prepares a declaration that the company will operate mainly outside the Cayman Islands.
File the documents with the General Registry and pay the incorporation fee (CI$700 for share capital of CI$42,000 or less). Once approved, you receive the certificate of incorporation.
Each year, file the annual return and pay the annual fee (CI$925, or CI$1,025 from 2027), submit the economic substance notification (ESN), and maintain and report beneficial ownership information under the Beneficial Ownership Transparency Act.
every step
- Company name search and reservation
- Registration document preparation and filing
- Drafting the articles of association
- Collecting the certificate of incorporation
- Bank selection advice for offshore companies
- Account opening documents
- Appointment booking and accompaniment
- Post-opening support
- Registered address
- Company secretary appointment
- Annual return filing
- Record keeping and document management
- Bookkeeping
- Tax filing and planning
- Financial statements
- Audit arrangements
- Trademark search and assessment
- Trademark application filing
- Trademark maintenance and renewal
- Infringement protection advice
- Company change filings
- Share transfers
- Company deregistration
- Legal advisory support
To help you sell internationally, we offer Stripe application consulting, so your customers can pay you easily and you can win more sales.
Good customer service is key to a successful business. We include a free AI customer service system that answers customer questions in real time and raises customer satisfaction.
A professional, attractive website is your company’s storefront online. Our full web design services make sure your site looks good and works well.
Online marketing is a key part of business success today. We offer professional online marketing services, including SEO, social media marketing and content marketing.
Register your company with NSS Group and receive a free all-in-one AI business management system––valued at NT$360,000
One AI system to run your company: 12 core systems, 75+ feature modules and 15 AI tools covering the full business workflow, so a new company can start operating quickly.
- Structure assessment and name check
- Introduction to a licensed Cayman service provider and registered office
- Memorandum and articles of association, plus offshore operations declaration
- KYC document preparation and incorporation filing
- First-year registered office service
Cayman government incorporation fee CI$700 (about US$853.66, for share capital of CI$42,000 or less); annual fee CI$925 (about US$1,128.05, CI$1,025 from 2027). Licensed service provider and advisory fees are quoted based on your structure and scope of service. See the cost breakdown below. No hidden fees.
How much does Cayman company formation cost? Cost breakdown
The total cost of setting up a company in the Cayman Islands is made up of government fees paid to the Cayman General Registry, registered office provider fees, and annual maintenance. The table lists the exempted company fees on the General Registry fee schedule (effective January 1, 2025). Fees are charged in Cayman Islands dollars (CI$), with the official US dollar equivalent in brackets.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Exempted company incorporation fee (share capital of CI$42,000 or less) | CI$700 (about US$853.66) | Under section 26(4)(b) of the Companies Act, the fee is CI$1,000 for share capital of CI$42,001 to CI$820,000. The higher the share capital, the higher the fee. |
| Exempted company annual fee (share capital of CI$42,000 or less) | CI$925 (about US$1,128.05) | Under section 169 of the Companies Act. SL 38 of 2026 raises it to CI$1,025 from January 1, 2027. |
| Late annual fee penalty | 33% to 100% of the annual fee | Payment from April 1 to June 30 adds 33%, July to September adds 66.67%, and October to December adds 100%. |
| Registered office and licensed service provider | Quoted by scope of service | A Cayman company must have a local registered office. In practice, a licensed corporate service provider handles incorporation and annual filings. |
| Economic substance notification and beneficial ownership | Quoted by business type | Depends on whether the company carries on a relevant activity under the economic substance law and whether it must maintain beneficial ownership information. |
| NSS Group advisory fee | Written quote after a free assessment | Based on shareholder structure, number of directors, bank account needs, and listing or fund structure planning. Every item is listed in the quote, with no hidden fees. |
Government fees follow the Cayman General Registry fee schedule and the Companies (Amendment of Schedule 5) Order, 2026. The latest official notices prevail.
Cayman Islands company tax and compliance
The Cayman Islands does not levy income tax on companies, but an exempted company must still pay the annual fee and file an annual return, an economic substance notification and beneficial ownership information each year. Shareholders should also check the controlled foreign company (CFC) rules of their home country.
| Item | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax, capital gains tax | None | The Cayman Islands has no corporate income tax, capital gains tax or dividend withholding tax. |
| Place of operations | Mainly outside the Cayman Islands | An exempted company must declare to the Registrar at incorporation that it will operate mainly outside the Cayman Islands, and declare it again in each annual return. |
| Annual return and annual fee | Every year | File the annual return with the Registrar of Companies and pay the annual fee. Payment after March 31 incurs a penalty. |
| Economic substance | Economic substance notification (ESN) every year | Under the International Tax Co-operation (Economic Substance) Act, a company must tell the Department for International Tax Cooperation each year whether it carries on a relevant activity. Companies that do must meet the substance requirements and report. |
| Beneficial ownership | Beneficial Ownership Transparency Act, 2023 | A company must maintain beneficial ownership information, provide it to the authorities and update it when it changes. |
| Home-country CFC rules | Depends on shareholder tax residence | The Cayman Islands is a low-tax jurisdiction. Shareholders who directly or indirectly control a Cayman company may need to include its profits in their own tax return under their home country's controlled foreign company rules. |
Tax and filing rules follow Cayman law and official notices. Ask an accountant to assess how they apply to your structure.
Cayman, BVI or Samoa company: which to choose?
Cayman, BVI and Samoa companies are widely used offshore entities. The table compares the government fees and main rules in each jurisdiction.
| Item | Cayman exempted company | BVI Business Company (BC) | Samoa International Company (IC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authority | Cayman General Registry | BVI Financial Services Commission (FSC) | Samoa International Finance Authority (SIFA) |
| Incorporation fee (lowest band) | CI$700 (about US$853.66) | US$450 | US$300 |
| Annual fee (lowest band) | CI$925 (CI$1,025 from 2027) | US$450 | US$300 |
| Common uses | Listing structures, funds, venture capital and large holding companies | Holding, investment and special purpose vehicles (SPV) | Small and mid-sized holding companies and international trade |
| Company name | An exempted company name does not need Limited | Must end with Limited, Corp, Inc or a similar word | May use a word meaning company in another language |
Compiled from the notices of the three authorities. Choose based on fundraising, listing plans, bank account opening and tax planning.
What foreign founders should know before setting up a Cayman company
- Foreign ownership is allowed: Shareholders and directors of a Cayman exempted company can be foreign individuals or foreign companies, and they do not need to live in the Cayman Islands.
- Work through a licensed service provider: A Cayman company must have a local registered office. Incorporation, annual returns and economic substance notifications are usually handled by a licensed service provider.
- Bank account opening is strict: Offshore companies need a business description, ownership structure, source of funds and beneficial owner documents to open an account, and some banks require a meeting with the directors.
- Home-country CFC rules: If you directly or indirectly control a company in a low-tax jurisdiction, check whether your home country's controlled foreign company rules require you to include its profits in your income.
- Plan listing structures early: If you plan to list through a Cayman company, organize shareholdings and fund flows early and keep supporting records.
- Pay the annual fee on time: Paying the annual fee after March 31 adds a penalty of 33% to 100%, and a company that stays unpaid may be struck off.
Further reading
Sources: Cayman General Registry Companies Act fee schedule (effective January 1, 2025); Companies (Amendment of Schedule 5) Order, 2026 (SL 38 of 2026); General Registry: exempted company; Department for International Tax Cooperation economic substance guidance; General Registry beneficial ownership transparency guidance. The latest official notices prevail. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
How long does it take to set up a company in the Cayman Islands?
What documents do I need to register a Cayman Islands company?
To set up a Cayman Islands company, you usually need to prepare the following:
- 1. Identity documents for shareholders, directors and ultimate beneficial owners
- 2. Proof of address dated within the last three months, plus contact details
- 3. The Cayman Islands company name, company type and registered address arrangements
- 4. A description of the business model, main trading regions and source of funds
- 5. Shareholding percentages, director appointments, KYC and required authorization documents
Do I need to be in the Cayman Islands in person to register a company?
Most of the Cayman company setup process can be completed remotely through document preparation, signing under authorization and a local agent, so you do not have to be there in person for every step. Bank account opening, identity verification, special licenses or certain government procedures may require directors, shareholders or authorized persons to attend in person, join a video call or provide more documents. We confirm the requirements in advance and help arrange them.
What tax and filing obligations does a Cayman company have after incorporation?
- 1. The Cayman Islands does not levy corporate income tax, but shareholders should check the controlled foreign company (CFC) rules of the country where they are tax resident
- 2. Annual returns, company register maintenance, and registered agent or secretary services
- 3. Accounting records, audit, and economic substance or beneficial ownership maintenance
For the Cayman Islands, the main ongoing items are the annual return and government annual fee (CI$925 for share capital of CI$42,000 or less, CI$1,025 from 2027), registered office renewal, the economic substance notification, beneficial ownership maintenance, and reporting requirements for fund or financial licenses. We can plan your bookkeeping, filings and annual maintenance calendar around your operating model.
What businesses and structures is a Cayman company suited for?
Who can help me register a company in the Cayman Islands?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) can help. We provide one-stop support for Cayman Islands companies, from pre-incorporation assessment to post-incorporation maintenance, reducing uncertainty in cross-border setup and compliance.
Our main services include:
- 1. Cayman Islands company type and structure assessment
- 2. Company name search, document preparation and registration application
- 3. Bank account opening, KYC and cross-border payment documents
- 4. Bookkeeping, tax filing and annual compliance
- 5. Changes to shareholders, directors, address, shares and company details
- 6. Trademark registration, contract review and IP planning
- 7. Website build, digital marketing and AI customer service setup
- 8. Ongoing business advisory and cross-border support
We arrange Cayman Islands company setup, maintenance and ongoing support around your industry, customer locations, banking needs and tax planning, so you can focus on growing your market.