The Channel islands Investor Visa Programmes

The Channel Islands are an archipelago of eight islands located in the English Channel, west of France. The most well known of the islands are Jersey and Guernsey, which both offer popular tax regimes. Whilst the islands are not strictly part of the United Kingdom, they are dependencies of the British crown and part of the Common Travel Area agreement with the UK and Ireland.

Jersey High-Value Residency Programme

Jersey’s High-Value Residency programme is attractive for high net worth investors looking to benefit from the Islands favourable tax regime. Applicants must be able to prove they earn a annual income of a minimum of £725,000 and can therefore contribute at least £145,000 in annual tax payments. Alongside this, applicants will need to make a real estate investment, generally in excess of £1.75 million.

Residents of Jersey are taxed at 20% for the first £725,000 of worldwide income, with a 1% tax charge for any income above. The island does not have inheritance, wealth, corporate, or capital gains tax, making it a popular tax haven for the wealthy.

Jersey residents benefit from unrestricted travel within the Common Travel Area (CTA), which includes the UK, Ireland, and The Isle of Man. After holding residency in Jersey for five years, applicants can apply for Permanent Residency and British Citizenship and a UK passport after a total of six years. For these reasons alone, Jersey’s programme is an excellent alternative to the UK’s Tier 1 programme.

Guernsey Investor Immigration

Guernsey residents pay a flat 20% tax rate on income up to £200,000. They also benefit from no capital taxes, no wealth taxes, no gift taxes, no inheritance taxes and no indirect sales tax.

Investors looking to reside in Guernsey and benefit from their favourable tax regime can apply by fulfilling all of the following criteria: 

  • Hold at least £1,000,000 in a Guernsey bank account
  • Invest no less than £750,000 in a way that is of benefit to the Bailiwick of Guernsey
  • Purchase or rent a property in Guernsey of a minimum value of £750,000. 

Guernsey Entrepreneur Immigration 

There is also an entrepreneur programme available which requires one of the following:

  • Evidence of at least £200,000 in a Guernsey bank account, which applicants must be prepared to invest in an existing Guernsey business; or
  • Creation of a new Guernsey business by investing a minimum of £200,000.

Applicants are also required to reside in a property on the island, either through purchase or rental.

Please contact us for more detailed information on the available programmes.

Programmes

A selection of residency and citizenship investment programmes.