Moving to the Channel Islands
The traditional arguments made for relocating to the Channel Islands used to revolve around unspoiled beaches, sunshine, great restaurants, golf courses and low tax rates.
Today, those arguments still hold true – but more and more the things that are swaying people towards Jersey and Guernsey are about the high quality of lifestyle, healthcare and education, strong and reliable travel links, a thriving entrepreneurial culture and the availability of quality property
The process of moving offshore needs specialist advice, which is why our relocation teams are called in to assist on the residency process, wealth structuring, and buying property – as well as being able to guide clients to trusted contacts in the property, tax and banking fields for expert bespoke advice.
In recent years, the islands have reformed HNWI tax arrangements to be even more attractive to wealthy newcomers.
Our specialist relocation teams have seen an increase in inquiries both from businesses and families – partly driven by the establishment of government agencies in both Jersey and Guernsey to market the islands as a relocation destination – who are looking for a base to operate from, or a new home. While the favourable tax rates are a factor, the deciding reasons more often relate to island life, and everything i
As well as the traditional market of retirees, the Channel Islands are drawing more and more entrepreneurs and people with young families, lured by a combination of the lifestyle and sports on offer, as well as the friendly and secure environment, and the infrastructure in terms of travel, health and education services.
Navigating through the process of moving offshore requires expertise in the residency process itself, the process of finding and buying (and often extending or adapting) a property, and in terms of wealth structuring advice. Ogier's specialist relocation teams offer a discreet, knowledgeable and proactive service to navigate through the unfamiliar process and deliver the bespoke outcome that fulfils and surpasses client's expectations.
About the Channel Islands...
Jersey and Guernsey sit outside of the UK and the EU and are just a few miles from the French coast. The islands are the sunniest part of the British Isles.
The fact that you can be at home or on the beach within minutes of leaving work, the absence of capital gains or inheritance taxes, and an enviable work-life balance are still key drivers both for inward investment and decisions by high net-worth individuals, but today, the reasons that the relocation shortlist is so often whittled down to the Channel Islands go much further than tax and lifestyle
Jersey and Guernsey's travel and transport links enable residents to get to some parts of the UK quicker than they could from London, some of the highest fibreoptic broadband connection rates on the planet underpin an emerging digital sector, and topclass education and health services and very low crime rates make the islands an attractive community environment.
In addition to that comes the exceptionally high quality of professional services, including some of the world's leading banks, financial institutions and law firms, offering the same quality of advice and professionalism that you would expect from the top London institutions.
A huge and often decisive factor in decisions by high net-worth individuals in particular is finding the perfect home. The local legal sector have long-established connections with professionals in the islands' property sector, and provide a range of services to both domestic and international clients relating to the purchase and ownership of Jersey and Guernsey property assets, guiding them through every step of the process.
Many clients also spend substantial sums on developing and renovating Jersey and Guernsey properties, and legal teams assist and advise on the negotiation and appointment of designers, architects and other professionals – not to mention offering guidance through a planning system that can be particularly complex where older properties are concerned.
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