A Seychelles Certificate of Incorporation is the founding document of every IBC, CSL and domestic company registered in the jurisdiction. Foreign banks, payment processors, registrars and counterparties almost always ask for a legalised copy before they accept the company as a counterparty. CommercialRegister LTD, based in Victoria, handles the full Apostille for Certificate of Incorporation Seychelles procedure remotely, without requiring you to travel or ship the original.
Seychelles joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1978, and an Apostille issued here is accepted in 120+ countries worldwide. We handle every stage in-house: notarisation by a licensed Seychelles notary, the Apostille from the Supreme Court of Seychelles, and DHL Express dispatch to your address. Standard turnaround is 3 to 6 business days from receipt of your documents.
When You Need an Apostille for Certificate of Incorporation in Seychelles
Most requests we receive come from company directors and corporate service providers who need to prove the legal existence of a Seychelles entity to a foreign institution. The Certificate of Incorporation is the single document those institutions ask for first.
- Opening a foreign bank account — Banks in the EU, UAE, Singapore and Hong Kong require an apostilled Certificate of Incorporation as part of their KYC file before they will issue an account number.
- Registering a branch or representative office abroad — Trade registries require legalised proof that the parent company exists and is in good standing in Seychelles.
- Onboarding with payment processors — Stripe, Wise Business, EMIs and merchant acquirers ask for a legalised incorporation document before approving high-volume accounts.
- Cross-border contracts and tenders — Counterparties signing supply, IP licensing or distribution agreements often require an apostilled copy attached to the executed contract.
- Court proceedings and arbitration — Foreign courts and arbitration panels need legalised proof of corporate capacity before accepting filings from a Seychelles claimant.
Clients typically reach us from Germany, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, South Africa, Singapore, Cyprus and Brazil. The procedure is the same regardless of destination, provided the receiving country is a Hague Convention member.
How the Apostille Process Works for Certificate of Incorporation in Seychelles
You do not need to come to Seychelles, and you do not need to courier the original Certificate of Incorporation to us. The full process runs on a signed PDF and a few supporting items by email.
Step 1. You prepare and sign the Certificate of Incorporation
If you already hold a scanned copy of the Certificate issued by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority or the Registrar of Companies, that is what we work from. If you cannot locate it, we can also request a Certified True Copy from the Registrar on your behalf.
Step 2. You send us a signed PDF
Email us a clear PDF scan of the Certificate together with a passport copy of the director or authorised representative. For corporate orders we also ask for the registered agent details so we can verify the company is in standing.
Step 3. Notarisation by a Seychelles notary
A licensed Seychelles notary certifies the Certificate of Incorporation as a true copy. This is the legal foundation that allows the Apostille to be issued, because the Supreme Court legalises the notary’s signature rather than the underlying corporate document.
Step 4. Apostille by the Supreme Court of Seychelles
The notarised copy is submitted to the Supreme Court of Seychelles, which affixes the Apostille certificate. This is the single legalisation step recognised under the Hague Conference on Private International Law framework, and it is what makes the document valid in all member states.
Step 5. Worldwide DHL Express delivery
The apostilled Certificate is dispatched by DHL Express from Victoria to your address — 149 EUR worldwide, flat rate. You receive a tracking number the day it leaves our office, and most destinations receive delivery within 2 to 5 working days.
Hague Convention or Embassy Attestation: Which Route Do You Need?
For any destination that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, the Apostille issued by the Supreme Court of Seychelles is the final step. No embassy involvement is required, and the standard total of 158 EUR covers notarisation and Apostille.
For non-Hague destinations — primarily the UAE for certain document categories, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Vietnam, Egypt and a handful of African states — the document follows a longer route: notarisation, MFA attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Seychelles (+99 EUR), then attestation by the destination country’s embassy (cost varies). Details of this route are on our embassy attestation page.
If you are not sure which route applies, tell us the destination country and the receiving institution when you submit the request. We confirm the correct path before any work begins.
Pricing
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Notarisation by Seychelles notary | 79 EUR |
| Apostille by Supreme Court of Seychelles | 79 EUR |
| Standard total — Hague Convention countries | From 158 EUR |
| MFA attestation (non-Hague, if required) | + 99 EUR |
| Embassy attestation (non-Hague countries) | Varies by country |
| Worldwide DHL Express shipping | 149 EUR flat rate |
Prices are for a single document. Multi-document orders and complex cases are quoted individually.
Real-World Examples
A Seychelles IBC owned by two Singaporean fintech founders needed to open a corporate account with a digital bank in Singapore. The bank’s onboarding team asked for an apostilled Certificate of Incorporation no older than ninety days. We received the PDF on a Tuesday, the apostilled document was dispatched the following Monday, and DHL delivered to Raffles Place on the Wednesday after that. Total turnaround: six business days.
A holding company registered in Seychelles needed to register a branch office at the Dubai Department of Economic Development. The route required MFA attestation plus UAE embassy attestation in addition to the Apostille. We coordinated all three steps over fourteen working days and shipped the file to the client’s PRO in Dubai for branch filing.
A Johannesburg-based mining equipment trader signed a distribution contract with a Seychelles supplier. The South African counterparty’s legal team required an apostilled Certificate of Incorporation attached to the executed agreement before releasing the first purchase order. The document was apostilled in four business days and couriered to Sandton.
Related Services
- Seychelles Apostille service overview — full description of how we handle every document type.
- Embassy attestation for non-Hague countries — MFA plus embassy route for UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and others.
- Apostille FAQ — answers to common questions about Hague legalisation in Seychelles.
- Submit an apostille request — secure form to start your order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the original Certificate of Incorporation, or is a scan enough?
A clear PDF scan is enough. The notary certifies a true copy from the scan, and the Supreme Court apostilles that notarised copy. The original stays with you.
Can the process be handled remotely from abroad?
Yes. The entire procedure runs by email and DHL. No client has to visit Seychelles for an apostille on a Certificate of Incorporation.
What is the typical turnaround?
Three to six business days from the moment we receive a complete file. DHL delivery to your country adds two to five working days on top.
My company was incorporated twenty years ago. Can the original Certificate still be apostilled?
Yes, the age of the Certificate does not matter. What matters to the receiving institution is usually a recent Certificate of Good Standing alongside it, confirming the company is still active today.
Does the bank need the Certificate of Incorporation translated?
It depends on the destination. Seychelles issues Certificates in English, which most international banks accept directly. For Germany, France, Spain, Brazil and a few other markets, a certified translation into the local language is usually required.
Is there a time limit on how long the apostilled Certificate stays valid?
The Apostille itself does not expire. However, banks and registries often require the legalised document to be no older than three to six months at the time of submission, so timing matters more than legal validity.
Can you also obtain the Certificate of Incorporation from the Registrar if I have lost mine?
Yes. We can request a Certified True Copy from the Seychelles Registrar of Companies and apostille it in the same workflow. Tell us at the start and we will quote the Registrar fee separately.