Spiritual Sector (GMC Priority Industry): Legal Advisory

Spiritual is the first of the eight priority industries the Gelephu Mindfulness City has published, and the one tied to what no competing jurisdiction can replicate: Bhutan's monastic and contemplative tradition. A retreat operator, a contemplative education venture or a publishing business entering GMC establishes under the city's general rules. Basnet Law Pte. Ltd., the first law firm incorporated in the Gelephu Mindfulness City, advises operators, teachers and institutions on spiritual-sector ventures under the Companies Act 2025, the Income Tax Act 2025 and the Employment of Foreign Workforce Act 2025. This page explains what the framework provides and how we take a venture through it.

Basnet Law Pte. Ltd. advises clients in this pillar on:

• Framing the expression of interest to the Spiritual pillar, the first gate at which the Authority assesses business case and alignment with its core industries
• Choosing the vehicle: a private company limited by shares for a commercial operator, or the public company form used for non-distributing and membership structures
• Advising on incorporation requirements, the registered office and the resident director
• Advising on retreat and teaching sites under lease arrangements
• Work passes for teachers, practitioners and staff, including the pass route for self-employed foreigners
• Founders company applications where the activity is not carried on in GMC at adequate scale, before the 31 December 2030 cut-off
• Philanthropic structuring, including the not-for-profit and philanthropic trust reliefs

Read the full guide: Legal Services for the Spiritual Sector in GMC.