Marshall Islands Company Registration
The Marshall Islands is a globally recognised offshore financial centre, offering zero tax on offshore income, strict privacy protections, and the world's 3rd largest ship registry. Registration requires only one natural person with no nationality restrictions, and is completed in 7–10 business days. Marshall Islands companies support bearer shares and are widely used for shipping, cross-border investment, and US capital market listing structures.
Key Advantages of a Marshall Islands Company
Zero Offshore Tax
Marshall Islands companies conducting business outside the islands pay no corporate income tax, capital gains tax, or withholding tax on offshore income.
Strict Confidentiality
Shareholder and director information is strictly protected. The Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act provides robust privacy for corporate beneficial ownership.
Bearer Shares Permitted
Unlike most offshore jurisdictions, the Marshall Islands permits the issuance of bearer shares, providing an additional layer of ownership privacy.
World-Class Ship Registry
As the world's 3rd largest ship registry, the Marshall Islands offers mature maritime regulations, low registration costs, and high efficiency — the preferred choice for global shipping companies.
US Listing Structure
Over 40 companies have used Marshall Islands structures to list on US capital markets (NYSE, NASDAQ). The jurisdiction is well-recognised by US securities regulators.
Flexible Corporate Law
The Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act is modelled on Delaware corporate law, providing a familiar and flexible legal framework for international businesses.
Who Uses a Marshall Islands Company?
Shipping & Maritime Operations
The Marshall Islands is the preferred jurisdiction for ship-owning companies. Its mature maritime law, low costs, and global recognition make it ideal for managing international shipping fleets.
US Capital Market Listings
Marshall Islands holding companies are used as the listing vehicle for companies seeking to list on NYSE or NASDAQ, with over 40 successful listings to date.
Cross-Border Investment & Asset Protection
Marshall Islands companies are used for cross-border investment structures, asset protection, and international joint ventures, leveraging the jurisdiction's zero-tax and privacy advantages.
Offshore Holding Structures
Marshall Islands companies serve as offshore holding entities for operating businesses in Asia, Europe, and the Americas, providing tax efficiency and structural flexibility.
Registration Process
Free Consultation
We assess your business goals and recommend the optimal Marshall Islands structure — IBC, LLC, or limited partnership.
Name Reservation
We conduct a company name search and reserve your preferred name with the Marshall Islands Registrar of Corporations.
Document Preparation
We prepare the Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, and all required KYC documentation.
Registration & Delivery
We file with the Registrar and deliver your Certificate of Incorporation and corporate documents within 7–10 business days.
Real Clients. Real Results.
How Echo Olesen Global helped international businesses establish their Marshall Islands company and achieve their offshore goals.
OceanRoute Shipping Holdings, a Piraeus-based dry bulk shipping group operating a fleet of six Panamax vessels, needed to restructure its vessel ownership into individual Marshall Islands corporations (MICs) to comply with international maritime finance requirements and facilitate a refinancing of its fleet with a European shipping bank. The Marshall Islands is the world's second-largest ship registry and the preferred domicile for vessel-owning entities in international shipping finance.
OceanRoute needed to incorporate six separate Marshall Islands corporations within 3 weeks, each to hold title to one vessel, and to transfer the existing mortgages to the new MIC entities as part of the refinancing. Each MIC required a registered agent in the Marshall Islands, a corporate resolution authorising the mortgage, and a certificate of good standing for the bank's legal due diligence.
Echo Olesen Global incorporated six Marshall Islands corporations within 5 business days, coordinated with the Marshall Islands registered agent for the mortgage documentation, prepared the corporate resolutions and certificates of good standing, and liaised with the shipping bank's legal counsel throughout the refinancing process. All six vessel transfers and mortgage registrations were completed within the 3-week deadline.
TerraVentures Capital Ltd, a Perth-based junior mining company listed on the ASX, was acquiring a portfolio of gold exploration licences in West Africa from a Canadian vendor. The acquisition structure required a Marshall Islands holding company to sit between the ASX-listed entity and the African operating subsidiaries, providing a neutral, internationally recognised holding jurisdiction acceptable to both the Canadian vendor and the African regulatory authorities.
TerraVentures needed a Marshall Islands holding company incorporated within 2 weeks to meet the conditions precedent in the Share Purchase Agreement. The entity required a specific authorised share capital structure to accommodate the vendor's deferred consideration shares, a power of attorney for the African subsidiary transfers, and apostilled corporate documents for submission to the West African mining authorities.
Echo Olesen Global incorporated the Marshall Islands holding company in 3 business days, structured the authorised share capital to accommodate the deferred consideration mechanism, prepared the power of attorney and apostilled corporate documents, and coordinated with the client's Australian and African legal counsel throughout the transaction. The conditions precedent were satisfied on schedule and the acquisition completed.
Marshall Islands Company FAQs
Common questions about registering a Marshall Islands company