Guernsey

What is the £60,000 cap?

It is the island’s most attractive scheme, yet the one with the strictest access requirements. The criterion is not the purchase price but the amount of duty paid: one must have paid at least £50,000 in stamp duty on a property listed in Part A of the Open Market Register. This currently corresponds to a purchase price of around £1,400,000, though the threshold fluctuates based on the duty rates set by the States of Guernsey. The property must be purchased within the twelve months preceding or following the establishment of permanent residence, and the applicant must not have resided in Guernsey during the previous three years. The cap applies for the year of arrival and the three subsequent years—four years in total. The difference compared to standard caps is substantial. It is the timing of events—not the financial amount—that causes applications to fail; a mismatch between the purchase date, the move-in date, and the year the scheme is elected results in the loss of the benefit.

What is the difference between the Local Market and the Open Market?

Guernsey regulates housing by dividing its property stock into two distinct markets. The Local Market is reserved for individuals who hold residency rights acquired through birth, length of stay, or an employment permit. The Open Market, which accounts for a small fraction of the total housing stock, is accessible without any prior local connection; purchasing or renting a property there grants the right to reside on the island. For a foreign applicant, only the Open Market is an option, which severely limits choice and keeps prices high. The list of Open Market properties is public, and the scope of the list changes very little. Verifying that a property is listed in this register is the very first step to take, even before negotiations begin.

Guernsey or Jersey: how do you choose? Both islands offer a flat tax rate of 20%, no taxes on capital gains, inheritances, or wealth, and a comparable environment (Government of Jersey and States of Guernsey). The difference lies in the mechanism and the level of commitment required. Jersey requires a minimum annual tax contribution of £250,000 and discretionary approval from the authorities, alongside high property value thresholds (Government of Jersey). Guernsey requires no minimum contribution; it caps the tax liability without setting a floor, and the right to reside stems from purchasing an "Open Market" property. Guernsey is therefore more accessible for those with mid-range incomes and offers a more predictable application process, whereas Jersey remains more efficient for very high earners thanks to its 1% marginal rate above the threshold. Furthermore, Guernsey levies no Value Added Tax (VAT), whereas Jersey does.

What does Brexit mean for a French national?

The Channel Islands were never full members of the European Union, but they benefited from a special arrangement that ended with the UK's withdrawal. French nationals no longer have an automatic right of entry and residence; they are now subject to applicable immigration rules—which differ from those of the UK, as Guernsey sets its own policy. While the right to reside based on purchasing an "Open Market" property remains valid, the interplay with immigration status requires careful verification—an additional step not present in pre-2021 applications. We address this matter upfront with local advisors before commencing the property search.

How does France define a "home" (foyer), and why is this crucial?

A "home" is the place where you and your family habitually reside, regardless of stays elsewhere for professional reasons. This is the primary criterion under Article 4 B of the General Tax Code, and it takes precedence over the day-count test (BOFiP, "Taxable persons and tax domicile"). An executive who establishes a residence in Guernsey while their spouse and children remain in the French family home retains their "household" (*foyer*) in France—and thus their French tax domicile—regardless of their status in Guernsey. No treaty overrides this classification, as none exists between the two territories. Consequently, the relocation of the household must be genuine and involve the family, not merely be an administrative change.

How will my French pension be taxed if I move to Guernsey?

It is subject to withholding tax deducted directly by your pension fund. The scale applicable to French-source pensions paid to non-residents comprises three brackets: 0% up to €17,122; 12% between €17,122 and €49,667; and 20% above that amount (BOFiP, withholding tax scale for non-resident salaries and pensions). In the absence of a France-Guernsey tax treaty, no treaty-based rate applies, and French taxation remains in effect. For a retiree...