Seychelles IBC 2026 Update: Directors, Nominees & Official Search
The 2026 amendment changes nominee-information filings and, from 1 January 2027, the statutory provisions dealing with current-director names and appointment dates. Here is what clients should review now — and what the amendment does not expressly say.
What changed for Seychelles IBCs in 2026?
Two dates matter: nominee-status and nominator-identity information must be brought into compliance by 31 December 2026, while the amended provisions referring to the name and date of appointment of each company's current directors take effect from 1 January 2027.
The amendment should not be over-read. It does not itself create a new rule making shareholder identities publicly searchable, and it does not expressly state that a nominator's identity will appear in official search results.
What should clients be concerned about?
Check that the names and appointment dates of current directors are accurate and consistent across company records and the registered agent's file.
If a director or alternate director acts as a nominee, confirm the arrangement and prepare the required nominator information.
Current-director names and appointment dates are the express focus of the amended search provisions from 1 January 2027. Do not assume that shareholder identities, home addresses, passport numbers or nominator identity automatically become publicly searchable under the same amendment.
The Amendment Act does not itself provide a complete search-access procedure, eligibility test or fee schedule. Those operational details should be confirmed with the Seychelles registered agent or Registrar.
Do not migrate the company, resign a director or replace a nominee solely because of assumptions about disclosure. Any restructuring should be assessed together with banking, tax, governance and operating consequences.
Key dates
Deadline for compliance with the new section 150(1)(da) and (db) requirements concerning nominee status and nominator identity.
Amendments to sections 346 and 352 take effect, referring to the name and date of appointment of each company's current directors, subject to the statutory provisions.
Nominee directors: what changed?
The amendment does not expressly prohibit nominee directors. Instead, section 150 is amended to require disclosure of the nominee status of a director or alternate director and the identity of the nominator. It also defines “nominee” and “nominator” for this purpose and specifies identity particulars for individual and corporate nominators.
What information is expressly addressed by the official-search amendments?
The amended wording in sections 346 and 352 refers to the name and date of appointment of each company's current directors. The same amendment does not expressly add residential addresses, passport details or national identity numbers to those search particulars.
Does this make shareholders or beneficial owners publicly searchable?
Not by these amendments alone. The 2026 amendment concerns current-director information in the relevant search provisions and separately adds nominee/nominator filing requirements. Shareholder and beneficial-ownership obligations are governed by other provisions and should not be conflated with the director-search changes.
Practical steps before year-end
- Confirm the current board and each director's appointment date.
- Identify any director or alternate director acting under a nominee arrangement.
- Prepare the required nominator identity particulars where applicable.
- Ask the registered agent what documents or forms it requires to update the register.
- Confirm how official director searches will be handled operationally from 1 January 2027.
- Review any proposed restructuring for legal, tax, banking and governance consequences before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Will my name become public if I am a current director?
The amended sections 346 and 352 refer to the name and date of appointment of each company's current directors from 1 January 2027, subject to the statutory provisions. The Act itself does not spell out the full search-access procedure.
Will shareholder information become publicly searchable?
The amendment does not expressly introduce a new requirement making shareholder identities publicly searchable. Separate existing reporting obligations should be considered separately.
Are nominee directors still permitted?
The amendment does not expressly prohibit nominee directors. It adds filing requirements for nominee status and the identity of the nominator.
Will the nominator's identity appear in the official search?
The amendment requires nominator identity information to be filed with the Registrar but does not expressly state that the nominator's identity will appear in official search results.
Should I change my nominee director now?
Not automatically. Review the arrangement first and make changes only where they reflect genuine governance or other business reasons.
Who can request a director search and what will it cost?
The Amendment Act does not provide the full eligibility criteria, procedure or fee schedule for searches. Confirm the implementation details with the Seychelles registered agent or Registrar.
Source documents
Republic of Seychelles — International Business Companies (Amendment) Act, 2026 (Act 13 of 2026) ↗ EWO client reference — Seychelles IBC 2026: Client Questions & Director Official Search ↗Need to Review an Existing Seychelles IBC?
EWO can help you organise the practical questions to raise with the registered agent before you change the structure.