How to start a business in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as a foreigner (2026)
Starting a business in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as a foreigner: easy.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines offers one of the Caribbean's most accessible company formation regimes for foreigners. Business Companies (BCs) and Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) permit 100% foreign ownership with no local-director requirements, no minimum capital, and incorporation completed within 24 hours via a licensed Registered Agent. Domestic company formation for non-nationals operating locally requires a Prime Minister's Office licence to hold more than 50% equity, but the offshore BC/LLC route faces no such restriction.
Legal framework
Business Companies Act (2007, as amended) and Limited Liability Companies Act (2008), regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA); domestic companies and business names registered via the Commerce and Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
Key points: starting a business in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Foreign-ownership limits
BCs and LLCs: 100% foreign ownership is permitted; no local shareholder or director is required. For domestic companies, non-nationals must obtain a Cabinet-approved licence from the Prime Minister's Office to acquire more than 50% of the entity.
Incorporation steps
(1) Reserve a company name via FSA entity-name search; (2) engage a licensed Registered Agent; (3) file Articles of Incorporation, Notice of Directors and Members, and pay the prescribed fee with the FSA Registrar of Business Companies. For domestic incorporation, documents and fees are filed directly with CIPO.
Timeline
BCs and LLCs are typically incorporated within 24 hours of a complete application being received by the FSA. Domestic company incorporation at CIPO generally issues a Certificate of Incorporation within 2 working days; business-name registration is processed within 2 working days.
Minimum capital
There is no statutory minimum paid-up capital requirement for BCs or LLCs. The standard nominal share capital for LLCs is USD 10,000 but can be set as low as USD 1. Domestic company incorporation fee at CIPO is XCD 950.
Registered agent requirement
Every BC and LLC must maintain a licensed Registered Agent and a registered office address within SVG as an ongoing obligation; annual government renewal fees apply to keep the entity in good standing.
Tax treatment
SVG applies a territorial tax system: BCs pay 30% corporate tax only on SVG-sourced income; foreign-source income is exempt. LLCs are fully exempt from SVG income tax. External (foreign) companies carrying on business locally must register with CIPO before commencing operations.
Sources
Next for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Crypto & Digital AssetsDeveloping
Next topicOrientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 24 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026