Registering a SCI or SCP in Monaco: Exploring your Options

A Société Civile Immobilière (SCI) or Société Civile Particulière (SCP) is a civil

company governed by Monegasque law and must, by law, have its registered

office in Monaco.

When incorporating the company, the question of the registered office naturally

comes up. It is, in fact, a key requirement for registering the company with the

Civil Companies Register.

Square Services supports civil companies in the Principality of Monaco with their

administrative formalities.This article outlines the available options and the criteria to consider when domiciling an SCI or SCP in Monaco.

1. Domiciliation options for SCI/SCPs in Monaco

The two main options are domiciliation at a private residence or domiciliation via

a professional service provider in Monaco.

1.1 Domiciliation at a private residence

Registering the company at a rented residence in Monaco is only allowed if the

lease explicitly permits it. In practice, leases in Monaco generally prohibit this.

Domiciliation at the property owner's personal residence is possible unless

restricted by the building’s co-ownership regulations.

The main advantage of using a residential address is that it involves no cost.

However, its principal drawback lies in the risk of important mail not being

received, particularly when the occupants are often absent and no one is

available to collect it. This can have serious consequences, especially if the SCI or SCP owns French real estate and receives a formal notice from the French tax authorities.

For example, in matters relating to the 3% tax, if the SCI/SCP has made a

disclosure commitment and fails to respond within 60 days to an information

request from the French tax administration, the tax becomes immediately due.

Likewise, the Direction de l’Expansion Économique (DEE) now sends formal

notices, sometimes with fines, if a company fails to respond to regularisation

requests within the prescribed timeframes.

Processing official correspondence is therefore a critical issue. A civil company

domiciled in Monaco must respond promptly to requests from administrative

bodies, particularly tax authorities.

Another limitation of residential domiciliation arises when shareholders change

their address. This triggers the need to undertake the formalities to transfer the

company’s registered office and update the address used for correspondence.

The situation becomes even more complex when multiple address changes

occur over time, resulting in various mailing addresses for the SCI or SCP. This can

lead to confusion, particularly with correspondence from French tax authorities.

For all these reasons, domiciliation with a professional service provider is strongly

recommended and often preferable.

1.2 Using a professional registered office service provider in Monaco

The main providers of domiciliation services are business centres and Company

Service Providers (CSPs).

Using a professional registered office service is the most reliable option for an SCI

or SCP. It provides:

● A physical address validated by the Monegasque authorities

● Regular handling of mail

● Greater responsiveness in dealings with administrative bodies

However, business centres often limit their services to receiving and forwarding

mail, without providing administrative support.

2. Why choose Square Services ?

Square Services is a Monegasque company specialising in the administration of

SCIs and SCPs, founded by Frédéric Mege, a French tax adviser with over 20 years’experience advising an international clientele.

We provide comprehensive administrative support to ensure compliance with

Monegasque regulations and French tax obligations applicable to companies

holding French real estate.

We assist our clients with their full range of administrative and tax obligations, in

both Monaco and France.

Our services include:

● Legal and regulatory compliance: RIE, maintenance of shareholder and

beneficial owner registers, annual declarations, legal formalities.

● Tax compliance: support for French tax filings (notably the 3% tax

declaration) when the SCI/SCP owns real estate in France.

● Mail management: receiving and processing correspondence, notifying

clients of important communications, support with exchanges with the

authorities.

● Assistance in preparing annual accounts, certified by a chartered

accountant.

Our approach

Our services are offered at a flat rate, with no hidden costs.When the SCI/SCP owns French property, we are fully versed in the applicable French tax implications and know exactly how to respond.

Annual accounts are prepared by a chartered accountant. This is essential,

particularly when the company owns French real estate.

Our small, dedicated team enables us to offer responsive, high-quality service at

competitive rates.

We own the premises where our SCI/SCP clients are domiciled, ensuring

continuity and independence.

With Square Services, you choose expertise and reliability. This ensures simple,

secure, and fully compliant management of your SCI or SCP in Monaco.

FAQ – Domiciliation of SCI/SCP in Monaco

Is domiciliation in Monaco mandatory for registering an SCI or SCP ?

Yes. A Monegasque SCI or SCP must have its registered office in Monaco. This is a mandatory condition for registration with the civil company registry.

Can a Monegasque SCI/SCP be domiciled at a personal residence in Monaco ?

Why choose a professional domiciliation provider in Monaco ?

What are the risks if an SCI/SCP fails to properly handle its mail ?