Offshore
Set up a Cayman Islands company
The jurisdiction of funds and larger structures: zero tax, a 20-year tax undertaking, CIMA regulation.
At a glance
Tax
0%; a 20-year written undertaking available
Regulator
CIMA (funds and financial services)
Formation
1 to 5 working days
Typical use
Funds, holdings, venture top-co
The Cayman Islands are where a significant share of the world's hedge funds and private equity vehicles are formed. The Exempted Company is the standard form for companies operating outside the islands; no corporate, capital gains or withholding tax, and a written 20-year undertaking that taxes will not change can be obtained from the government. The Cayman LLC offers the flexible structure US investors are used to.
More expensive and more prestigious than the BVI. If you form a fund, CIMA registration or licensing, economic substance and annual audit come into play. For technology ventures, a Cayman holding over a Delaware or Singapore operating company is a familiar structure accepted by Asian and US investors alike.
Why here
When this jurisdiction is the right choice.
- The jurisdiction fund investors expect; CIMA assurance.
- A 20-year undertaking that taxes will not change.
- US-style flexibility through the Cayman LLC.
- Strong courts and international banking access.
Entity types
Which structure, for whom.
Exempted Company
Operates outside the islands; no annual general meeting requirement; shareholder details not public.
Cayman LLC
A flexible, agreement-governed structure without capital requirement; familiar to US investors.
Segregated portfolio company
Ring-fenced portfolios for fund platforms.
Process
Formation step by step.
- 01Entity type and name approval
- 02Registered office and agent
- 03KYC documents for directors, shareholders and owners above 10%
- 04Memorandum and registry filing
- 05Certificate of incorporation and optional tax undertaking
- 06CIMA registration if a fund
- 07Bank account
- 08Beneficial ownership and substance filings
After formation
What has to happen every year.
- Annual return and registry fee (higher than the BVI)
- Economic substance filing
- Annual audit and CIMA reporting for funds
- Beneficial ownership register kept current
Same country
Other options.
Set Up a BVI Company
The world's most widely used offshore company: zero tax, formation in 48 hours, the common language of funds and holdings.
Open pageSet Up a Seychelles Company
The lowest-cost offshore: an IBC in a day or two, zero tax on foreign income. For trading and small holdings.
Open pageFrequently asked
The in-country registry, licence and agent steps of the formation file run through our licensed formation partners in the relevant jurisdiction. Structure design, contracts, the bank file and the tax and notification effect on the Turkish side are managed by Defensible. Rates and thresholds summarise the headline rules at the time of writing; we check the current text together on your own file.
Cayman or BVI?
Cayman if you are forming a fund or your investor specifically asks. For a holding or joint venture the BVI is usually sufficient and cheaper. Investor expectation and budget decide.
Let's work out which structure fits you in 15 minutes.
Tell us where you sell, who you are and what you are aiming at; we will say in the call which jurisdiction and entity type make sense. Formation itself is a separate engagement, scoped and priced there.
Book a 15-minute call