BVI Nominee Shareholder Services
for BVI Companies
Nominee shareholder services for British Virgin Islands companies with authentic local presence to protect beneficial ownership privacy, fulfill legal requirements, and maintain full compliance with BVI regulations.
Benefits of BVI Nominee Shareholder Services
Understand how nominee shareholding arrangements can support your BVI company's commercial and structural objectives
Commercial Privacy
Your nominee appears as the registered shareholder on company documents used in business dealings—contracts, bank applications, and third-party inquiries—while you retain full economic rights.
Streamlined Ownership Changes
Transfer economic interests through internal arrangements without amending public-facing company documents or triggering third-party notifications.
Structural Separation
Create a clear distinction between legal shareholding and economic ownership, useful for estate planning, corporate reorganizations, and multi-entity structures.
Holding Company Arrangements
Structure investment vehicles and subsidiary holdings with nominee shareholders to simplify organizational charts and inter-company relationships.
Smoother Bank Onboarding
Present a consistent shareholder profile to financial institutions while providing beneficial ownership details through standard KYC processes.
BVI Nominee Shareholder Legality & Regulatory Framework
The BVI Business Companies Act recognizes nominee shareholding as a legitimate corporate structuring tool, with specific disclosure requirements to BVI authorities under the beneficial ownership regime.
Legal Framework for Nominee Shareholders
Recognized Under BVI Law
The BVI Business Companies Act expressly permits nominee shareholding arrangements, subject to compliance with beneficial ownership disclosure requirements to the BVI Registry.
Flexible Shareholder Residency
BVI companies may have shareholders of any nationality or residency. Nominee shareholders can be individuals or corporate entities based anywhere.
Registered Shares Only
BVI abolished bearer shares in 2010. All shares must be registered, with the legal holder's name recorded in the Register of Members.
Trust Documentation
A Declaration of Trust establishes the legal relationship between the nominee (legal holder) and you (economic owner), documenting your entitlement to dividends, voting rights, and transfer proceeds.
Public Information Without Nominees
Direct Ownership Exposure
Without a nominee arrangement, your name appears as the legal shareholder on company documents, contracts, and bank account applications.
Register of Members Access
The company's Register of Members is filed with the BVI Registry and accessible to the company, its registered agent, and BVI competent authorities—though not to the general public.
Third-Party Inquiries
Business counterparties, banks, and service providers often request shareholder information during onboarding and due diligence processes.
Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Regardless of nominee arrangements, beneficial owners controlling 10% or more must be reported to the BVI Register of Beneficial Owners under current regulations.
What a Nominee Shareholder Does
The nominee's name appears on the Register of Members and company documents where shareholder identification is required.
Through a Declaration of Trust, the nominee holds legal title to shares while you retain full economic ownership and control.
Signs share certificates, transfer instruments, and shareholder resolutions according to your written instructions.
Keeps your identity off company documents used in day-to-day business dealings with banks, vendors, and counterparties.
Votes at shareholder meetings, approves dividends, and handles share matters strictly per your documented instructions.
An indemnity agreement protects the nominee from legitimate business risks, ensuring clear liability boundaries.
What a Nominee Shareholder Does Not Do
The nominee has no beneficial interest in the shares — full economic ownership remains with the beneficial owner.
Does not decide on dividends, share sales, or any matters affecting the economic value of the shareholding.
All dividends, distributions, and sale proceeds belong to the beneficial owner, not the nominee.
Never votes, transfers shares, or takes any action without explicit written instructions from the beneficial owner.
Does not offer tax planning guidance or create any tax residency implications for the beneficial owner.
Will not participate in or accept responsibility for any illegal, fraudulent, or unethical share arrangements.
Select the Right Nominee Shareholding Structure for Your BVI Company
Nominee shareholders can be appointed as individuals or through a corporate entity—each option offers distinct advantages depending on your holding structure and commercial objectives.
Common Scenarios for BVI Nominee Shareholder Arrangements
Nominee shareholding serves specific commercial and structural purposes—here are situations where this arrangement is commonly used.
Estate & Succession Planning
Families structuring wealth transfer use nominee arrangements to simplify probate, avoid forced heirship rules, and maintain continuity of corporate holdings across generations.
Joint Venture Structures
Partners in cross-border ventures appoint nominee shareholders to present a unified ownership front to counterparties while maintaining separate economic entitlements internally.
Investment Holding Vehicles
Fund managers and investment groups use nominee shareholding to streamline administrative layers in multi-entity structures holding portfolios of assets.
Corporate Reorganizations
Companies undergoing mergers, spin-offs, or internal restructuring use nominees to hold shares temporarily during transition periods without triggering third-party consent requirements.
Transparent Annual Pricing for Nominee Shareholding
Two nominee shareholder options to match your corporate structure—select based on your holding arrangement and administrative preferences.
Corporate Entity
Nominee Shareholder Service by a Corporate Body
A BVI-registered company holds shares on your behalf—ideal for multi-layered corporate structures and institutional arrangements.
Natural Person
Nominee Shareholder Service by a Natural Person
An individual based in the BVI holds shares as your nominee—suitable when counterparties or banks prefer a named individual on shareholder records.
Individual vs Corporate Nominee Shareholder
Compare individual and corporate nominee options—each serves different purposes depending on your counterparty requirements and holding structure.
Natural Person Nominee
Corporate Body Nominee
What It Is
Share Register Shows
Shareholder Appearance
Documents Provided
Liability Structure
Share Transfer Execution
Perception
When to Choose Natural Person
Best suited for:
- Bank account applications where institutions prefer named individual shareholders
- KYC processes that require personal ID documents from shareholders
- Contracts or deals where counterparties want to see a person on shareholder records
- Simpler structures where a single economic owner needs a straightforward arrangement
When to Choose Corporate Body
Best suited for:
- Situations where banks and counterparties accept a corporate shareholder
- Group structures where subsidiaries are held through corporate vehicles
- Long-term asset holding where institutional appearance is preferred
- Fund structures, SPVs, or layered investment vehicles
How Nominee Shareholding Works — 4 Steps
From initial setup to ongoing administration, here's what to expect when arranging a nominee shareholder for your BVI company.
Structure Assessment
We review your corporate structure, the purpose of the nominee arrangement, and any specific requirements from banks or counterparties.
KYC & Trust Documentation
Standard due diligence is completed on the beneficial owner, and the Declaration of Trust is prepared to document the nominee relationship.
Share Transfer Execution
Shares are transferred to the nominee's name, and the company's Register of Members is updated to reflect the new legal shareholder.
Ongoing Administration
The nominee holds shares per the trust terms—executing transfers, voting, or receiving dividends only upon your written instruction.
Work with Expanship for Your BVI Nominee Shareholding Needs
We coordinate the entire nominee shareholder arrangement—connecting you with qualified BVI-based nominees and handling the documentation from start to finish.
Access to BVI-Based Nominees
We work with qualified BVI-resident individuals and corporate entities who can serve as nominee shareholders for your company.
Proper Documentation
All arrangements are documented through Declaration of Trust and supporting agreements that clearly establish the nominee relationship and your economic rights.
Regulatory Awareness
We stay current with BVI corporate requirements, including beneficial ownership reporting obligations, to ensure your structure remains compliant.
End-to-End Coordination
From initial setup through share transfers, voting matters, and dividend instructions—we manage communication between you and your nominee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about nominee shareholding arrangements, how the trust structure works, and what to expect when using this service for your BVI company.
Nominee shareholders are used for various commercial and structural reasons: keeping your name off company documents shared with banks and business counterparties, simplifying corporate group structures, facilitating estate planning, or providing flexibility during corporate reorganizations.
Two options exist: a natural person (a BVI-resident individual) or a corporate body (a BVI-incorporated entity). Each carries distinct implications for discretion, documentation requirements, and due diligence processes.
A nominee shareholder holds shares and appears on the Register of Members—their role relates to ownership. A nominee director serves as a company officer and appears on director filings—their role relates to governance. These are separate functions, and many companies use both.
Yes, absolutely. The nominee holds shares on trust for you under a Declaration of Trust. All economic benefits — dividends, sale proceeds, and capital appreciation — belong entirely to you as the beneficial owner.
A Declaration of Trust is a legal document where the nominee shareholder confirms they hold shares on behalf of and for the benefit of the actual beneficial owner. It protects your ownership rights and establishes the trust relationship.
The process typically takes 1-3 business days after all documentation is submitted and due diligence is complete. Share transfer documents and Registry updates are handled as part of the engagement.
Yes, shares can be transferred and nominee shareholders can be changed at any time with appropriate documentation. The process follows standard share transfer procedures with updated Declarations of Trust.