Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency

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Program Type:

Residence by Investment

Processing Time:

1-2 months

Citizenship Timeline:

6 years

Permanent Residency Timeline:

5 years

Physical Presence Required:

183 days a year

Citizenship Visa-Free Access:

185 countries

Minimum Contribution:

£200,000

Contribution Options:

Bank Deposit, Business Investment, Property Investment

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Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency IMI

Program Overview

Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency

The Bailiwick of Guernsey, the second-largest of the Channel Islands and home to some 63,000 inhabitants, offers a path to permanent residency and citizenship in the UK for both investors and entrepreneurs.

Guernsey’s Investor and Entrepreneur visas, respectively, have a structure similar to the UK’s Investor Visa and Startup/Innovator visa, though the investment amount required in Guernsey is half that of the UK’s Investor Visa.

Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency

How to Qualify

Investors:

Deposit of £1m in a Guernsey bank account, £750,000 should subsequently be invested “to the benefit of the Bailiwick”.

Guernsey’s Committee for Economic Development considers the three following options as ‘suitable’ investments:

  •  £750,000 placed on deposit in a GFSC-regulated Guernsey bank
  • (In addition to the property in which the applicant lives), the purchase and retention of an Open Market property of a value no less than £750,000
  • Investment of £750,000 into another Guernsey opportunity of the applicant’s choosing that is
    considered satisfactory by the States of Guernsey.

Entrepreneurs

Individuals who intend to live in Guernsey and take an active role in the running of a business in Guernsey can qualify for residency.

The applicant must be able to show they have at least £200,000 in their name in a bank account and which they must be prepared to invest into an existing Guernsey business. Creating a new Guernsey business, again with a minimum £200,000, is also acceptable.

Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency

Salient Benefits

  • Path to citizenship
  • Permits dual/multiple citizenship
  • Lower taxes
  • Lower cost of living
  • Safety and security
  • Enhanced education opportunities
  • Enhanced business access to large economies
  • Short processing time
  • English as official language

Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency

Citizenship Timeline and Requirements

The initial residency is a two- year permit that can be extended by another three years if the investment is held or the entrepreneurial business is still operational and the financial investment is maintained.

After five years, the participant may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which is a permanent residency for Guernsey. Following one year as a holder of ILR in Guernsey, the investor/entrepreneur is eligible to apply for British citizenship.

Applicants aged 18 to 65 must pass a citizenship test to demonstrate they have sufficient knowledge of English and life in the UK and Guernsey. Dual citizenship is allowed.

Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.

Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency

Program Authority and Legal Basis

Applications for this program may be directed to Guernsey’s Committee for Economic Development.

Legislation upon which this program is based Immigration (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Rules 2008, Part 6, Section 201-224.

Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency

IMI Pros Who Can Help You

Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency

Qualifying Real Estate

As noted in the program qualifications above, an investor can qualify for this program with a local property purchase above the minimum investment threshold. View eligible properties curated by IMI and our real estate partners:

Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency

Recent Stories About This Destination

Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency

Program Statistics

See more statistics on this program and others in the IMI Data Center.

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