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Seychelles trust: how it works and how to set one up
A Seychelles trust is a trust governed by the Trusts Act 2021, in which an approved trustee holds assets under a written deed for the beneficiaries you name. Start with a quote, then agree the structure with us and your lawyer.
Reviewed by a senior trust administrator, updated
Key facts
- Trust structure
- A Seychelles trust is of no effect unless made in writing (s. 8)[1]
- Governing law
- The Trusts Act (Act 34 of 2021) governs Seychelles trusts[1]
- Perpetuity period
- A Seychelles trust may continue indefinitely; no perpetuity rule applies (s. 15)[1]
- Foreign law rules
- Questions on a Seychelles trust are decided by Seychelles law (s. 66)[1]
- Trustee requirement
- Every trust must have an approved trustee; co-trustees may live abroad (s. 21)[1]
Numbers in brackets point to the Sources list at the end of this page.
Swipe sideways to see the whole diagram.
- SettlorSets up the structure and transfers assets into it
- transfers assets under a trust deedTrusteeHolds the assets and manages them under the trust deed
- holds and distributesBeneficiariesPeople who benefit from the trust under its terms
- Trustee holds legal titleTrust assetsThe property held in the structure
Roles and notes
| Part of the structure | What it does |
|---|---|
| Settlor | Sets up the structure and transfers assets into it |
| Trustee | Holds the assets and manages them under the trust deed |
| Beneficiaries | People who benefit from the trust under its terms |
| Trust assets | The property held in the structure |
- The settlor signs a written trust deed and transfers assets to an approved trustee.
- The trustee holds legal title and keeps the records, minutes and accounts for the beneficiaries.
- A letter of wishes guides the trustee's discretion; it does not bind the trustee.
- The deed may appoint a protector and set its powers.
- A law firm and a bank each take a defined role, named in your documents.
What a trust in Seychelles is
A trust is a relationship set out in a deed, not a company. The settlor gives assets to a trustee, who holds them for the beneficiaries the deed names or describes.
The Trusts Act 2021 (Act 34 of 2021) is the main law. A trust is of no effect unless it is made in writing (source: Trusts Act 2021, s. 8).
Two features of the Act stand out. A trust may continue indefinitely, with no perpetuity rule (s. 15), and a settlor may reserve powers such as revoking or varying the trust (s. 16).
Many families use a discretionary trust. The trustee decides who receives what and when, guided by a letter of wishes that does not bind it.
Who a trust in Seychelles suits
A Seychelles trust is a choice for people who want a trust under a recent statute and have the risks explained in plain terms.
Typical aims are to hold an investment portfolio under one deed, to provide for children, or to hold shares in a family company based outside Seychelles.
The structure tends to suit people who:
- hold financial assets or company shares rather than property in Seychelles, given the land limit described below;
- accept that the trust’s accounting records are kept and lodged in Seychelles (s. 27);
- are comparing places and want each rule tied to a section of the Act.
A trust is not the right tool for every goal. The first review may show that another place or form suits you better.
Your lawyer at home confirms that a Seychelles structure is suitable and lawful where you live.
What the trustee does
Every Seychelles trust must have an approved trustee, and co-trustees may live outside Seychelles (s. 21).
The approved trustee registers a trustee appointment declaration for the trust (s. 11). Day to day, its work includes:
- holding each asset in the trustee’s name, separate from its own;
- recording each distribution or major decision in signed minutes;
- preparing the yearly accounts and an asset report, which we pass to you;
- refreshing identity checks and tax residence forms on the people connected with the trust.
You keep the letter of wishes, any powers the deed reserves to you, and the choice of who manages the investments.
We are your contact.
We work with a local partner where the work is done in Seychelles; your engagement letter sets out its role.
Our part is the identity checks, the documents and coordination with your lawyer. Our trust administration service describes the routes for an existing trust.
What a trust in Seychelles can and cannot hold
Cash, listed securities, shares in private companies and insurance policies can all sit in a trust. Each asset has its own rules for how title passes to the trustee.
One limit is firm. The Trusts Act says the trust cannot own land in Seychelles, or shares in a company that owns it (s. 10).
So the structure suits portfolios and holdings in companies abroad better than local property.
For shares in a family company, the law firm and the company’s own advisers check the transfer rules, and whether the company owns local property, before the shares move.
Banking and other practical points
Banks set their own terms for trust accounts, so ask early which bank will hold the assets.
The accounting records are lodged in Seychelles (s. 27), even where the bank or the assets sit elsewhere. Agree early who sends statements to the trustee, and how often.
Questions on the trust are decided by Seychelles law (s. 66). How a court or a bank in another country treats that rule is a question for your lawyer.
Seychelles compared with other places
Two rules shape a Seychelles trust most: the approved trustee (s. 21) and the land limit described above.
For other models, read our guides to Mauritius and the British Virgin Islands, each with its own sources and dates.
Then weigh three practical points:
- Assets. If most of the wealth is local land, another structure fits better.
- Banks. Ask which banks your advisers have already opened trust accounts with.
- Advisers. A lawyer who already knows the 2021 Act shortens drafting and review.
Tax outcomes turn on residence and assets, not on the place alone, so leave that comparison to your advisers.
Use the side-by-side comparison tool to put Seychelles beside another place, or browse every place we cover.
Documents and steps to start
The trustee asks for papers in three groups: who you are, where the wealth came from, and what goes into the deed.
| Item | Whose | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Passport and a recent proof of address | Settlor, protector, anyone who can direct the trust | Who they are and where they live |
| Source of funds and source of wealth papers | Settlor | How the assets were earned or received |
| Beneficiary names, or a description of the class | Beneficiaries | Who can benefit at payout |
| Register of members and an ownership chart | Each company going into the trust | Who owns and controls it, and whether it holds Seychelles land |
We use this checklist before any draft starts.
A law firm drafts the deed, and you review it with your own lawyer. After signing, the approved trustee files the trustee appointment declaration (s. 11).
Timing depends on your documents and on the law firm, the approved trustee and the bank.
The step-by-step guide walks through every stage, and the cost guide explains who charges for what.
Ready to start? Request a quote, or read the answers to common questions first.
Facts we reviewed, with source and date
The Official Gazette carries the Trusts Act.
| Fact | Section | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A trust is of no effect unless made in writing | s. 8 | Trusts Act |
| A trust cannot hold land in Seychelles or shares in a company owning it | s. 10 | Trusts Act |
| An approved trustee registers a trustee appointment declaration | s. 11 | Trusts Act |
| A trust may continue indefinitely; no perpetuity rule applies | s. 15 | Trusts Act |
| A settlor may reserve powers such as revoking or varying the trust | s. 16 | Trusts Act |
| Every trust must have an approved trustee | s. 21 | Trusts Act |
| A trustee keeps accounting records and lodges them in Seychelles | s. 27 | Trusts Act |
| Questions on the trust are decided by Seychelles law | s. 66 | Trusts Act |
Basis: the Trusts Act (Act 34 of 2021) as published in the Official Gazette. Your lawyer confirms how the Act, as amended, applies to your deed.
Frequently asked questions
Who can set up a trust in Seychelles?
A settlor is usually an adult who owns the assets being settled. Before accepting, the approved trustee verifies who you are and where the assets came from. The assets are screened too, because not every asset can go into the trust.
How do I start in Seychelles?
Tell us the aim, the assets and the countries involved. We reply with the questions that matter, run identity checks and agree the structure with you and your lawyer. Nothing is signed until your lawyer has reviewed the deed and the approved trustee has agreed to act.
Who can help me start in Seychelles?
We coordinate your enquiry, identity checks and documents, with a law firm drafting the deed and an approved trustee accepting office. Your own lawyer and tax adviser review every draft, and nothing is signed before they do. We put each next step in writing.
Can a Seychelles trust hold land in Seychelles?
No. Under s. 10 of the Trusts Act, a trust cannot hold Seychelles land, nor shares in a company that owns it. If you own a house in Seychelles, it stays outside the trust, and your lawyer plans for it separately, for example in a will.
Sources
- Official Gazette: Trusts Act 2021 (Act 34 of 2021), read 2026-11-05.