Investment Broker Licence

Mauritius offers a well-regulated, business-friendly gateway for brokerage and trading services into Africa, Asia and beyond. An “investment broker licence” in Mauritius corresponds to the FSC’s Investment Dealer (Broker) category under the Securities framework.

What is an investment broker licence in Mauritius?
An Investment Dealer (Broker) licence authorises a company to execute client orders, manage client portfolios, and give advice on securities transactions. It sits under the Securities Act and related FSC Rules, and is issued by the Financial Services Commission (FSC).

Renesis delivers end-to-end support to secure a Mauritius Investment Broker Licence: structure and licensing strategy, full application pack, and regulatory liaison with FSC, banks, and auditors. We prepare operational readiness: appointments, substance, client-money segregation, reporting, compliance calendar; provide post-licensing governance and scaling support, including derivatives, platform, liquidity, and client-asset protections.

Why an Investment Broker Licence in Mauritius?

Credible regulator & clear rulebook

The FSC supervises non-bank financial services with a transparent licensing process.

Extensive treaty network

Mauritius has concluded 46 Double Taxation Agreements, supporting efficient cross-border investment flows.

Established funds & capital-markets hub

Mauritius hosts a significant number of global investment funds and is recognised in global financial centre rankings.

What activities can an Investment Broker Licence in Mauritius be used for?

Execute client orders on securities

Manage portfolios on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis

Provide investment advice on securities transactions.

Operationally, the FSC expects clarity on your trading platform (own or third-party), order-execution flow, liquidity providers, and any OTC trading arrangements, including risk-mitigation measures.

Note: Where you intend to operate in commodity or currency derivatives, the FSC provides specific “Investment Dealer – Commodity/Currency Derivatives Segment” categories.

Key features of the Mauritius Investment Broker Licence

Regulatory home

Securities Act (Mauritius) & Securities (Licensing) Rules.

Permitted scope

Execute orders, manage portfolios, advise on securities.

Minimum capital

MUR 700,000 stated unimpaired capital (or equivalent).

Fees (guide)

Processing fee and annual fee as per FSC Codified List (e.g., SEC-2.2). Always check the latest schedule.

People & governance

Appointment of competent officers (incl. Compliance Officer and MLRO), appropriate team capacity, and (for domestic companies) at least one Representative of Investment Dealer.

Client-asset protection & controls

Segregation of client funds, risk management, complaints handling, BCP/DR, and AML/CFT controls.

Substance

Demonstrate local substance in line with FSC guidance.

Regulatory scope & activities

Broker licensees can (i) execute client orders, (ii) manage client portfolios (discretionary or not), and (iii) give advice on securities; your licence will explicitly list the activities you’re authorised to perform.

Minimum capital

Maintain MUR 700,000 stated unimpaired capital (fully paid before starting operations), with evidence/undertakings as set out by the FSC.

Official fees (latest schedule)

Processing fee MUR 5,000 / USD 500; annual fee MUR 60,000 / USD 2,000 (SEC-2.2)

Licensed Representative(s)

The rules require an investment dealer to employ at least one licensed Representative with defined qualifications/experience; the SEC-2.2 criteria note that domestic companies must appoint at least one Representative at application, while GBLs may treat appointment at application as optional—clarify your structure with the FSC.

People & governance

Two full-time officers (for domestic companies), an adequately staffed investment dealer team (at least two members for continuity), plus named Compliance Officer, MLRO & Deputy MLRO meeting FSC competency standards.

Auditor approval

Auditor must be FRC-approved with a signing partner registered with MIPA; names must match FRC lists.

Policies & controls

Provide internal procedures/compliance manual; AML/CFT framework; risk management policy; BCP/DR; IT security & backups.

Professional indemnity insurance

Indicate the PII cover you’ll maintain, with an insurer’s quote.

Client money

Clear arrangements for segregation of client funds.

Trading platform specifics

Full details of the platform (own/third-party), access rights, regulation/exchange linkages, and best-execution arrangements; include liquidity provider due-diligence and contracts.

Substance

Show how you’ll meet Mauritius substance requirements (e.g., per Circular Letter CL1-121018 for GBLs: local spend, staff, office).

Premises

Provide registered office details and (if relevant) draft lease.

Ongoing obligations

Keep appropriate organisation, systems, staffing; obtain prior FSC approval for licence modifications; comply with rules on solicitation and local execution of trades in Mauritian-listed securities.

Possible SRO/exchange membership

The FSC may require membership of a securities exchange or SRO as a licence condition.

FAQs about the Investment Broker Licence in Mauritius

Is “investment broker licence” the same as Investment Dealer (Broker)?

In Mauritius, the commonly used term “investment broker” maps to the Investment Dealer (Broker) category under the FSC.

How is a Broker different from a Discount Broker or Full-Service Dealer?

Broker (SEC-2.2): execute orders, manage portfolios, and advise on securities.
Discount Broker (SEC-2.3): execution-only (no advice).
Full-Service Dealer: may also trade as principal and, if including underwriting, underwrite/distribute securities.

Can I offer forex/CFD products?

Derivatives business typically requires aligning your permissions (e.g., currency/commodity derivatives segments) and meeting platform, liquidity, and risk-management expectations.

Are there solicitation rules for retail investors in Mauritius?

The Securities Act contains specific restrictions on solicitation to retail investors; ensure your marketing and onboarding flows comply.

Do I need local substance and personnel?

Yes—FSC expects adequate local substance (including officers and controls) proportionate to your model.

How Renesis Financials can help in applying for an Investment Broker Licence in Mauritius

Renesis can deliver an end-to-end setup so you launch compliantly and efficiently:

Structuring & licensing strategy: Choose the right category (Broker vs. Discount Broker/Full Service) and any derivatives segment.
Application pack: Business plan, financial forecasts, policies (AML/CFT, risk, onboarding/KYC, execution, conflicts), platform and liquidity arrangements, and client-asset safeguards.
Regulatory liaison: Manage FSC queries, coordinate with auditors and banks, and align to the latest fee schedule.
Operational readiness: Representative/Officer appointments, substance plan, client-money segregation, reporting cadence, and compliance calendar.
Post-licensing support: Ongoing compliance, governance reviews, and enhancements as your model scales.