Spotlight Session: Locate Guernsey | PCD Monaco Conference 2026

Following the relocation panel, Jo Stoddart of Locate Guernsey took to the stage for a spotlight presentation that was part briefing, part love letter to the island she represents. For an audience of international wealth advisors familiar with Monaco, Switzerland, and the UAE, it was a pointed reminder that one of the most compelling relocation propositions in the world is considerably closer to home — and considerably less well known than it deserves to be.

Locate Guernsey is a government-funded agency offering free, tailored guidance and support to high net worth individuals, businesses, and their teams who are considering relocating to the island. Stoddart was clear about its philosophy: the goal is not simply to attract residents, but to help them make genuinely informed decisions — and, once they arrive, to integrate meaningfully into the community. "Guernsey tends to be the kind of jurisdiction where people settle rather than shelter," she said. "That's what we're aiming for."

The tax framework

The facts about Guernsey's tax framework are well established among professionals, but Stoddart presented them with precision. Income tax is levied at a flat rate of 20%, with no higher rate for higher earners. There is no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, no wealth tax, and no VAT. The standard rate of corporation tax is zero. And for those relocating, there are meaningful tax cap arrangements: a standard cap of £320,000 per annum for those with worldwide income, reducing to £160,000 for those with purely non-Guernsey source income.

For property purchasers meeting certain criteria — buying a property at or above approximately £1.4 million within twelve months of arrival — a preferential cap of just £60,000 per annum applies for up to four years of residency. There is also a "resident only" category with a standard charge of £50,000 for those spending 91 to 180 days per year on the island.

Residency and visa routes

What distinguishes Guernsey from many competing propositions, however, is the simplicity and accessibility of its residency framework. Anyone holding a British or Irish passport, BNO passport, UK settled or pre-settled status, or right of abode can live on the island on the open market. There is no minimum wealth requirement, no minimum property spend, and no application process. Open market homeowners may work, establish businesses, or simply live off their investments. "We are near the UK but not in the UK," Stoddart observed. "We're English speaking, in the same time zone, and less than an hour from London by plane."

For non-UK passport holders who are not coming to fill a qualifying employment role, an Entrepreneur Visa is available, requiring the establishment of a trading business and ideally the creation of local employment. After five years, this route leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain, and potentially to naturalisation.

Lifestyle and community

The lifestyle proposition was presented through both statistics and testimonials. Guernsey has 27 beaches, 215 restaurants, and a climate that makes it the sunniest part of the British Isles. The island has no fast food culture, low crime rates — it is genuinely common for residents to leave homes and cars unlocked — and a community ethos that several recently relocated residents described in remarkable terms. Commutes are negligible. Working days end with paddleboarding or a swim. Children walk to school unaccompanied and gain independence that is simply not available in major cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare was another recurring theme. Guernsey's system is not the NHS: GP appointments are charged, but secondary and specialist care is free once referred. There are no junior doctors, meaning consultant-led care at every stage. One resident testified to attending A&E and being seen within five minutes.

Professional services and connectivity

Stoddart noted that Guernsey's world-class financial, professional, and legal services centre is both a practical advantage — meaning clients' advisors are on-island or highly accessible — and a reputational asset. Stephen Lansdown, co-founder of Hargreaves Lansdown and a Guernsey resident, was quoted as describing the island as offering "good security, good governance, and political stability — which is a premium these days."

Connectivity has improved further: Guernsey's government-owned airline runs eight daily rotations to London, BA has commenced a new Heathrow service, and ferry connections serve both France and the UK. As part of the Common Travel Area, residents enjoy free movement between the UK, Channel Islands, Ireland, and the Isle of Man.

A place to settle

Perhaps most striking were the testimonials played in a short video: recent arrivals speaking simply and directly about what the move had meant to them. The phrase that echoed most powerfully was the regret of one resident that he had not made the move four years earlier when he first had the chance. For Stoddart, that sentiment captures everything Locate Guernsey is trying to communicate. The island is not a stopgap or a tax shelter. It is a place where people genuinely want to live.