How to Register a Company in Gelephu Mindfulness City

Updated 30 September 2026 · ~7 min read · By Visit Gelephu

Gelephu Mindfulness City doesn't use mainland Bhutan's company law. It runs its own registry, under its own legal framework, purpose-built to be familiar to international investors. Here's how registration actually works, what it costs, and why the tax regime is the real draw.

A different legal system, on purpose

Companies in GMC are formed under a Companies Act adapted from Singapore's Companies Act 1967, adopted through GMC's Application of Laws Act 2024. That's a deliberate choice: international investors and their lawyers already know Singapore company law, so GMC borrowed a familiar, common-law framework instead of asking incoming businesses to learn Bhutanese civil code from scratch. Regulated financial firms get an extra option — an accelerated licensing pathway for companies that already hold a license from an established hub such as Singapore, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), or Hong Kong.

The registration process

1. Initial alignment assessment. Before you file anything, the Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority (GMCA) checks whether your proposed business fits GMC's priority sectors and strategic objectives. This happens before formal registration, not after.
2. Engage a Corporate Service Provider. As of 1 November 2025, you can no longer file the incorporation form yourself — the registry requires you to work with an empanelled Corporate Service Provider (CSP) who submits the application on your behalf.
3. Submit through the Gelephu Corporate Registration Office (GCRO). Your CSP files the required documents through GCRO's online incorporation system.
4. Approval and incorporation. Once your file is complete, incorporating a private company limited by shares typically takes about a week.

What it costs

Registering a private company limited by shares in GMC costs around US$2,000. That figure covers incorporation itself — budget separately for your Corporate Service Provider's fees, which vary by firm and complexity of your structure.

Why go through it: the tax regime

GMC operates a territorial tax system broadly aligned with Singapore and Hong Kong — meaning it taxes domestic income, not worldwide income. The headline numbers:

• 17% corporate income tax, versus mainland Bhutan's standard 25%.
• 0% discretionary rate available for companies in priority sectors that meet GMC's investment commitments.
• No tax on dividends, capital gains, or inheritance.
• Tax holidays of up to ten years for qualifying foreign investors.
• Indefinite carry-forward of losses.
• Personal income tax breaks for foreign employees, currently framed as running through 2030 to encourage real hiring and operations rather than shell presence.

This is the actual pitch: a familiar common-law company structure, paired with a tax regime designed to be materially more competitive than mainland Bhutan's, without giving up proximity to Bhutan's stability and hydropower-backed energy costs.

Before you file

• Confirm your sector fits GMC's priority list — the initial assessment stage exists precisely to filter for this, so know your fit before engaging a CSP.
• Budget for CSP fees on top of the $2,000 registration cost.
• If you're in regulated finance, check whether your existing Singapore/ADGM/Hong Kong license qualifies you for the accelerated pathway — it can materially shorten the timeline.
• Tax incentives above are current as reported; GMC's regulatory framework is still being finalised in places, so confirm current rates and eligibility with GMCA or your CSP before committing.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. GMC's corporate and tax framework is new and actively evolving — verify current requirements, costs, and rates with GMCA, an empanelled Corporate Service Provider, or a qualified lawyer before registering.

Keep learning

Not ready to incorporate yet? Read How to Invest in Gelephu Mindfulness City first. Planning to relocate rather than incorporate? See the GMC Digital Nomad Visa guide.