Moving to Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man: tax, residence and real costs (2026)
Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man: Jersey: 20% on the first GBP 1.25 M, 1% above (min. GBP 250k) · Guernsey cap GBP 320k · Isle of Man cap GBP 220k. The cheapest route to residence is high-value residency 2(1)(e): approved property purchase (from ~GBP 1.75 M): USD 2 million that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 15k in fees, in about 6 months. Living costs about USD 3,000 a month for one person in the main city, and around USD 2,150 on a bare-minimum budget.
Key facts
| Tax in one line | Jersey: 20% on the first GBP 1.25 M, 1% above (min. GBP 250k) · Guernsey cap GBP 320k · Isle of Man cap GBP 220k |
| Foreign income | taxed, with caps |
| Gains · dividends | 0 · 20% |
| Wealth · inheritance tax | none · none |
| Cheapest residence | high-value residency 2(1)(e): approved property purchase (from ~GBP 1.75 M) |
| Money needed | USD 2 million that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 15k in fees |
| Time | about 6 months |
| Doable yourself? | Use a licensed agent or lawyer |
| Days you must spend there | - |
| Citizenship | British dependencies |
| Online business | 20% effective, about USD 3,000 a year to run: 20% personal; HVR caps tax |
| Living (one person a month) | main city ~USD 3,000; bare minimum ~USD 2,150; family of four ~USD 7,200 |
| Good for | no capital gains, inheritance or wealth tax; tax caps for the very rich; trust and fund industry; UK nearby |
| Common set-up | high-value residency (Jersey 2(1)(e)) or Guernsey/Isle of Man cap + a family trust in the same island |
Pros and cons
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Questions
- How much does residence in Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man cost?
- High-value residency 2(1)(e): approved property purchase (from ~GBP 1.75 M): USD 2 million that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 15k in fees, about 6 months.
- Does Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man tax foreign income?
- Taxed, with caps. In one line: Jersey: 20% on the first GBP 1.25 M, 1% above (min. GBP 250k) · Guernsey cap GBP 320k · Isle of Man cap GBP 220k.
- What does it cost to live in Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man?
- Living costs about USD 3,000 a month for one person in the main city, and around USD 2,150 on a bare-minimum budget (based on livingcost.org, 2026).
- Can I run an online business from Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man?
- Effective tax about 20% with the cheapest legal set-up, which costs about USD 3,000 a year: 20% personal; HVR caps tax.
- What is the catch in Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man?
- Expensive housing; Small
Compare
- Monaco: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income (French citizens excepted)
- Andorra: 10% on foreign income (credit for tax paid abroad) · 10% on local income · 10% top
- Switzerland (lump-sum taxation): lump-sum: a yearly fixed tax on living costs instead of tax on income (foreign income and gains included)
- Italy (flat tax for new residents): EUR 300k a year flat on all foreign income and gains, whatever the amount · 43% on Italian income
- Greece (non-dom): EUR 100k a year flat on all foreign income (+EUR 20k per family member) · up to 44% on Greek income
- Cyprus (non-dom): 0% on dividends and interest (non-dom, 17 years) · 20-35% on work income · 0% on securities gains
- Malta: foreign income: 0% unless brought to Malta (min. tax EUR 5k) · 35% top on Maltese income
- Portugal (IFICI): 0% on most foreign income (IFICI, 10 years) · 20% flat on qualifying Portuguese work income · 48% otherwise
Compare all 53 places with your own income and budget →
Sources
- https://www.gov.je
- https://www.gov.im
- Living costs: based on livingcost.org (estimate), rounded