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.
| Program Type | Golden Visa Program |
| Time to citizenship | 6 years |
| Time to permanent residency | 5 years |
| Minimum investment | GBP 200,000 (Entrepreneur) or GBP 750,000 (Investor) |
| Physical presence requirement | 183 days a year |
| Application processing time | 1-2 months |
| Citizenship grants visa-free travel to | (UK passport) 185 destinations, including Schengen countries and the United States |
| Contribution types available | Property Investment, Business Investment, Bank Deposit |
General program requirements
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:
1. £750,000 placed on deposit in a GFSC-regulated Guernsey bank, or;
2. (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, or;
3. 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.
Program benefits
Requirements to qualify for citizenship
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.
Legislation upon which this program is based:
Immigration (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Rules 2008, Part 6, Section 201-224
No statistics available yet for this program.
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Lorenz – the man behind Sark Society – calls the island, which has no cars, no paved roads, and practically no taxes, a “secret European micro-state”.
Programs that offer citizenship within months in exchange for investments or donations, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Programs that offer citizenship in exchange for investments following a 1-2 year period, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Bulgaria Investor Program (discontinued)
Malta MEIN
Programs that offer residence permits within months in exchange for passive investments, with limited physical presence requirements.
Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity
Anguilla Permanent Residency Program
Australia BIIP Investor Streams
Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence
Barbados SERP Program
Bermuda Economic Investment Certificate (EIC) Program
Brazil Investor Visa (VIPER)
Cambodia My 2nd Home
Cayman Islands Investor Visa
Colombia Investor Visas M and R
Costa Rica Investor Visa
Curaçao Investor Permit Program
Cyprus Golden Visa
Georgia Investor Visas
Greece Golden Visa
Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency
Ireland Immigrant Investor Program (discontinued)
Italy Investor Visa
Latvia Investor Visa
Luxembourg Investor Visa
Malaysia M2H Visa
Malta Permanent Residence Program
Mauritius Permanent Residency Program
Monaco Carte de Séjour
Netherlands Investor Visa
New Zealand Investor Visa
Nicaragua Investor Permanent Residency Program
Panama Qualified Investor Visa
Philippines Special Investor Residence Permit
Portugal Golden Visa
Russia Investor Visa
South Korea Investor Visa
Spain Golden Visa
Taiwan Golden Visa (APRC Plum Blossom Card)
Thailand Elite Residence Program
UAE Golden Visa
UK Investor Visa (discontinued)
United States EB-5
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who can demonstrate income or personal wealth above a certain level, usually requiring that the holder not take up employment locally.
Argentina Rentista and Pensionado Residency
Austria Independent Means Visa
Barbados Welcome Stamp
Gibraltar Category 2 HNWI Residence
Greece FIP Visa
Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS)
Ireland Independent Means (Stamp 0)
Italy Elective Residency Visa
Jersey High Value Residency
Mexico Legal Residency Visa
Nicaragua Pensionado and Rentista Visas
Panama Rentista Retirado Visa
Paraguay Permanent Residency Program
Portugal D7 Visa
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
Uruguay Independent Means Visa
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who physically relocate to start and/or run a business. Startup and entrepreneur visas fall under this category.
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