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Buying And Moving To Anguilla?

by Tim
(Upstate NY)

My wife and I have a crazy idea to buy a condo or home in eight years in Anguilla and raise a child there. Is this possible?

Are non-belongers prohibited from having babies on island or does this occur? Would this change our status at all to be allowed to find jobs and work?

We may be interested in starting a small business there if it's the only source of employment we can get. We know a bit about the availability and order of jobs to non-belongers, and the hurdles of importing supplies and equipment.

It's a pipe dream of ours but where there's a will there's a way.

Ken's ReplyTim, it's not a crazy idea to buy a condo or home in Anguilla. It's a wonderful place to vacation, so it's an even better place to live.

We know because we did it.

I suppose you could have a baby on the island, too. Would the baby be a Belonger? And how would that affect you. I suspect the baby might be, but that it wouldn't help your status much. I will ask Eustella, our Anguilla lawyer, and get back to you on that one.

Aside from that, it's not that easy to start a small business here. You have to partner with an Anguillian, and there has to be some kind of need for the business, something unique that you bring to the table.

That's the general rule of thumb, but you may find some exceptions to this if you talk to Eustella.

Personally, I have an Internet business with 60+ people who work at our company offshore. So I don't take anybody's job in Anguilla, nor do I make any income "from" Anguilla. That, plus the fact that we own our own home here, enables me to work here with a work permit.

That is the direction I generally recommend. But let's see what Eustella Fontaine says. Will get back to you.

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Apr 16, 2015
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Moving to Anguilla From Venezuela
by: Ken (Nori's Dad)

It may be difficult for you to move to Anguilla, Julio. You need to have a skill that an Anguillian cannot provide, basically. If you are a programmer, for example, your chances would be better (especially if you can support yourself working on the computer for international clients).

There is a Spanish population here for you to plug into. I suggest that you come here on vacation and meet...

1) folks in the Labor Deparatment to find out more

2) fellow ex-pats from (largely from Dominican Republic, and some other Spanish-speaking countries) to get the "on-the-ground" info from those already living here.

Then make a decision. You may find that it's easier to get into some Central American countries. Panama, for example, is very popular amont Venezuelans.

I'm so glad you like Anguilla enough to consider it. Good luck!

Apr 16, 2015
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Move to Anguilla From Venezuela
by: Julio Colmenarez, Venezuela

Congratulation on writing this amazing web site about Anguilla. It's very complete.

My name is Julio Colmenarez. i'm 31 years old Venezuelan guy. i'm seriously thinking relocating to Anguilla.

The first reason is that since early 2014 we're officially in dictatorship. Now no freedom, no work, no food, no future in Venezuela.

I've spend many hours searching the perfect destination to move and i found Anguilla. Beautiful beaches, political stability and a flourishing economy.

Now, i'm waiting for my passport to leave this country. i'm trying to contact and meet people from Anguilla that can help me with practical info and tips, to get job permits, find a job, and a place to live.

Thank you for any help.
Julio Colmenarez
jcca88@gmail.com

Nov 24, 2013
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Researched Other Islands
by: Joseph Bruyere

Great info about buying and moving to Anguilla. I posted a comment some months ago and you gave me the right time of day, so to speak.

Since then I have researched all of the Caribbean Islands and Central America. I have failed to find anything to equal Anguilla. Anguilla is the place for me.

Very happy for anyone who can live yearlong.

Joseph

Jul 26, 2010
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Baby Born in Anguilla
by: Anonymous

Hi Tim,

I asked Eustella Fontaine your question about babies born in Anguilla. Here is her reply...

A baby born in Anguilla of two non-Belonger parents does not obtain Belonger Status in Anguilla. Therefore the baby being born in Anguilla of two non-Belonger parents is of no 'Belonger consequence' to the parents."

I assume that means this would not be helpful moving to Anguilla.

-Ken


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Relocating to Anguilla

by Jay
(Canada)

As a Canadian citizen, I have some questions about relocating to Anguilla. There is so much valuable information on this site and I appreciate any answers!

First, I work from home as a web-preneur. My current income would be sufficient to move and live in Anguilla, but I'm confused about how income taxes come into play.

My web business is currently setup as a sole-proprietor here in Canada, and I pay my fair share of taxes. The majority of income I receive is from the U.S.

I would definitely be interested in learning how I could relocate to Anguilla and take advantage of zero income taxes.

But how does a move like this affect my Canadian citizenship?

Do I still have to pay tax in Canada? Do I close my current sole-proprietorship in Canada, and reopen my web business in Anguilla?

Would I lose my Canada Pension Plan (not for another 22 years, but still)?

Do I lose my citizenship in Canada all together, once I move to Anguilla?

Thanks for the wonderful site and any help you can give : )

Ken's answer: Jay, I'm not an attorney, so take this advice in the spirit of friendly advice. I did not get close to all the details, but I can give you big picture. And I can set you up with my attorneys in Canada and Anguilla should you want to push to the next level of investigation.

We have terminated all ties with Canada (memberships, bank accounts, driver's license, etc., etc., etc). This is a pre-requisite to becoming a non-resident.

Some people do all this as a "show" intending to come back in a few years while they set themselves up tax-free. When you do that, you have to realy, really be sure to dot all your i's. But we were really leaving. With that mindset, there are no tricks. You merely end all the things that tie you to Canada since you will not be using them again.

There are rules about returning that you need to be aware of, should you need to return for a bit, for family or other reasons. They should NOT be work-related.

Once you establish residency in Anguilla and non-residency in Canada, you pay income tax of the country in which you now reside. In Anguilla, that is zero.

(This is true of every country except the U.S. and the Philippines. Citizens of those countries pay tax on the basis of their citizenship, regardless of where they reside. There are, however, certain exemptions for Americans. I'm not sure of the details, I keep hearing different versions.)

You will likely establish an Anguilla company (not expensive, a few hundred dollars per year) to take over your Web business. Your business pays you as an employee of an Anguillian company. Attorney should help you to structure this.

Self-employed work permit costs you $6,000 per year. I'm glad to pay it compared to the tax I used to pay.

As regards your "Canadian-ness"...

Relocating to Anguilla does NOT affect your Canadian citizenship. You remain Canadian. You NEVER lose your citizenship, not unless YOU choose to renounce it (which you cannot do unless you have another one -- one must be a citizen of a country, unfortunately ;-) ).

You will most likely lose your CPP. I was never worried about that since I knew I would never need or collect it. It's a Ponzi scheme that will be clawed back as all us boomers age.

You will also need to purchase private medical insurance. Many people make the mistake of buying insurance that can be cancelled because it is cheaper. BIG mistake. Buy non-cancelable insurance. Why?

You don't want your policy to be cancelled if you get something that is going to be catastrophically expensive over a period of years. Your policy would simply not be renewed as soon as the current annual term expires.

Hope this helps. It is possible nowadays to live in ways our parents could never have imagined. I hope you find your way here!

-Ken

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Feb 22, 2014
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Reply to previous comment
by: Dad (Ken)

The previous posts raises some good points. It also, I believe, needs a bit of elaboration and correction in places.

The Deemed Disposition basically wipes the slate clean when you leave a country to establish residency elsewhere.. Any capital gain thereafter is tax-free. You can post a bond instead of paying the full amount -- consult a lawyer.

-

In addition to capital gains being tax free thereafter, interest income is also tax-free (ex., from bonds).

As for U.S. withholding on dividends from American companies, I believe the rate is actually 15%. That may be different for Americans who are not living in the U.S., but I don't see why they should be treated worse than non-citizens.

See this article for a general discussion on withholding tax. These taxes are set by the government of the country where the company is domiciled, according to their laws.

The actual amounts you pay, though, may be impacted by tax treaties between the countries. This is tax lawyer time, too.

It is a contentious area (especially in the U.S.), one that changes every few years. Seek advice from a tax attorney.

OK, back to the author's post...

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And on the final point...

Yes, earning in Anguilla can save you tens, even hundreds of thousands of dollars in income tax, depending on how much you earn, obviously.

While you're working in Anguilla, you may be, in fact, working for a company anywhere in the world that does not require your physical presence, or work for yourself. This is especially appropriate for digital and knowledge workers (ex., entrepreneurs, programmers, bloggers and other types of writers, etc). Do this by setting up an Anguillian company, which contracts your talents out to one or more companies around the world.

Yes, the cost of living is higher in Anguilla than in the U.S. or Canada. However, most people who move here are not in low-income brackets. The savings in income tax (on work), and paying of less tax on your total investment income from all sources, as well as savings on property taxes (much less, saving many thousands of dollars per year on this)... this will greatly outweigh the cost of living for most.

All in all, cost of living is not a big issue for most who live here, compared to tax savings.

And then, yes, as mentioned, there is the weather and lifestyle. ;-)

Hope this helps.

Feb 22, 2014
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Tax Savings vs. Cost of Living
by: Anonymous

You can receive your Canadian Pension Plan even if you establish Anguilla residency, but it will be taxed at a 25% rate from the first dollar (Canada Withholding tax).

You also need to produce to the TAX Men in Canada a "Deemed Disposition of all your assets" and pay taxes on any Capital gains (ex., stocks, real estate) from the day of purchase to the exact date of your departure.

You do not need to actually sell those assets but fiscally it is the same result (in other words, it is AS IF you had sold).

-

Do not forget that if you do have some savings and they are in Canadian or US Companies paying dividends that Canada will withhold 25% on all dividends paid from Canadian Corporations to you and the US will withhold 30%.

That ends up being a bit higher than the Canadian rate (for those living in Canada) and 50% higher than the US rate.

Capital Gains, however, are tax-free (after the Deemed Disposition).

-

It's the money you can earn in Anguilla that is the most interesting aspect of all this (tax-free).

For those who are not working, it is not as advantageous considering the cost of living in Anguilla. Never forget that they do collect taxes via Duty Taxes on every thing you buy.

If you are able to generate income from Anguilla it beats the snow and Taxes.

Jun 10, 2010
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Attorney re Relocating to Anguilla
by: Ken (Dad)

No problem, Jay. Start by contacting Eustella Fontaine and arrange a phone call.

Eustella is extremely thorough and stepped us through the move meticulously.

You can reach me at my dad@ address if she thinks your situation will permit you to live here. If so, get an estimate as to cost.

Then contact me at my e-mail address if it's still a go. :-)

Good luck!

-Ken

Jun 10, 2010
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Great Info About Moving To Anguilla
by: Jay

Wow! Thanks so much for all the information Ken. You really seem to know your stuff. I would surely buy a book on the subject if I could find a good one about all this.

Honestly, I've been thinking of making my "dream move" for a couple of years now, but I just had no idea where to start.

You have given me a much clearer "big picture" than I had about the whole process.

I think you are right about the Canada Pension plan. I keep putting more and more into it every year, as a self-employed person, but could be saving that money privately for my future in a tax free environment.

I would be interested to know some good attorneys to use as well.

Thanks for the tips and info about a business start up in Anguilla, and purchasing non-cancelable insurance.

I'm hoping to get the ball rolling on this shortly and will likely take some time to visit the island within the next few months.

Thx! Jay

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What Is It Like Moving To and Living In Anguilla?

by Steve
(NY, NY)

What's it like, moving to Anguilla? What did you bring with you? Did you ship your car? Groceries? Rent or buy? I would appreciate getting a snapshot of real day-to-day living.

Thanks very much.

Dad's Reply: Great questions! We moved to Anguilla 3 years ago.

There is no income tax in Anguilla (although there is a "temporary" 3% Stabilization Levy" to eliminate the deficit. However, there are high duties, so new items are more expensive.

For that reason, we found it cheaper to ship all our furniture, etc and pay duty on the shipping, rather than buy everything new.

You can, though, leave your winter clothing behind. Our spring, fall and winter clothing is all kept in our apartment in New York. No need for it here! :-)

We sold our high-end car and bought a 1999 Hilux from Japan. Quite a change, but don't bother buying an expensive new car. Not only will shipping and duties increase the price, where are you going to go on an island 16 miles long? And you won't impress the deci-millionaire ex-pats here! More importantly..

You drive on the "other side" here, so the left-side steering wheel is harder to use in Anguilla. Also, you'll likely be bumping around a lot of unpaved roads.

For all those reasons, it's best to buy a "beater" and just run it into the ground (find a good mechanic!). The Hilux is a beast, very tough. With the hard times that the world is facing now, you can buy a used 4x4 cheap, oftentimes from a bank or at auction.

There is also a glut of apartments. So anguilla apartment rentals are much less expensive than they were years ago, as low as $500-$1000 per month (and up). I suggest you rent before you decide to build.

Living in Anguilla is the best of all worlds. It's one of the sunniest, driest countries. The people are warm and friendly. Tax is near-zero. It has a British governor, so you can count on some stability. It's a 20 minute ferry ride to St. Martin, which is like the French Riviera, with great eating and the cheapest high-end shopping in the Caribbean (and much cheaper than New York).

If and when you need a big city, you're only a few hours from Miami, New York and most east coast U.S. cities. You're a few more non-stop hours from places like Paris and Panama City, all from St. Maarten's international airport (the Dutch side of the same island that is so close by).

There are no big-box stores or chains here. You won't "go shopping" like you do in New York, where everything is at your fingertips. Instead, we go to Amazon. :-)

Stock up on your favorite consumables, such as food (mine is Ben and Jerry's ice cream) when it's on-island, because it may not be back in stock for a while. Different grocery stores have different strengths. Overall, though, they have it covered.

What do we do in a day? I work remotely at home for my Internet company. Bandwidth is slower than the U.S., but is fine (about 4mbps). We take dips in the pool and go to the beach, but not as often as when we were tourists. We eat out more, given the wide selection of great restaurants.

And we rent movies instead of going to them. The nearest theatre is in St. Martin, a bit too far just to see a movie. DishNetwork carries all the channels you're used to. Or you can go cable.

That's about it. For more detail, see the Living in Anguilla home page.

Hope this helps.

All the best,
Ken


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Oct 22, 2011
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Another Anguilla Perspective
by: Anonymous

Anguilla is a peaceful place, warm and full of friendly people who love their country with a passion, the "salt of the earth" caring people.

Our airport is small and easy to get in and out of, no long security lines. Sunny and breezy.

Our ferry dock is the same way, 20 minutes by boat to St. Martin.

Our roads are quite good, none with more than 2 lanes. Many of the main roads recently paved. There are around 8 traffic lights for the whole country. Roundabouts make it easy to get through intersections, no traffic jams, even at rush hour!

Drive carefully, lots of people walk and ride bikes, and our wildlife of goats and chickens are also out and about. Drivers tend to stop in the lane to pick up friends or just chat. So keep your eye on what's in front of you.

Our children are very important. We have lots of schools and sports activities.

We have many stores, it is amazing how much you can find if you look in our stores, I buy locally so I don't have to pay customs, including furniture and household items.

Our grocery stores are modern and clean with food from around the world. Our roadside stands are full of fresh produce including food grown here.

Our crime rate is low, our government is good, and although we have a British governor, we are independent with our own laws. We are struggling with the economy like everyone else in the world. Which is another reason to buy local!

Our beaches are safe and clean and we care about our environment. We live fairly well without deep poverty, no slums or shanty towns, and we have good healthcare.

If you thinking of moving here to live, consider being a real part of this community and give back with whatever talents you have to keep Anguilla the peaceful place that it is!

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Moving/Retiring in Carribean

by Linda
(Virginia Beach, Va. USA)

Hello...I am visiting St.Maarten/St.Martin August 22-29. I am interested in moving/retiring from USA (too costly to live here anymore!), to one of the islands in Carribean.

I found your website on Anguilla, and I noticed that Anguilla is only 20 mins ferry ride from St. Martin. I am interested in visiting the island, and looking around the island, while on vacation. I am also interested in other islands I could check out.

Can you send me, or direct me to people whom I can talk to regarding the "How To's" of moving to Carribean, legalities, cost of living expenses, real estate and healthcare, crime rate etc.

I appreciate your time, and any suggestions/recommendations you may have for me.

Regards,
Linda

Ken's (AKA Dad's) Reply Linda, I've moved your question into this section about moving to, and living in, Anguilla. Our family has been very happy since moving here two years ago. Great weather, people warmer than the weather, superb restaurants, no income tax and near-zero property tax, safe (very low crime rate, you're basically safe everywhere)...

I could go on and one.

Read this section carefully. I think it will answer most of your questions.

The person to contact with more advanced questions is our Anguilla lawyer, Eustella Fontaine.

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Feb 28, 2013
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Moving/Retiring in Anguilla
by: Helen

Hi, My hubby and I are approaching the big 50, we live in Northern Ireland and have British and Irish citizenship.

We have talked about retiring abroad for a good few years now, Anguilla sounds ideal, My husband has a monthly income and we have enough capital to buy a small residence, but how difficult would it be for us to obtain residency status, I am a complementary therapist and could become self employed if required.

Thank-you for taking the time to consider my question

May 13, 2012
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Professsionals in Anguilla
by: Ken

It's quite possible that your skillset could be in demand here. I don't recall seeing chiropractors in Anguilla. But, then again, I've not searched one out. ;-)

Licensing will take a lot of paperwork, but basically, if you're a licensesed professional in the U.S., U.K., or Canada, it should proceed rather routinely. I obtained my license to practice medicine here, based on my license in Canada, but they did (justifiably) want a ton of documentation, references, etc.

You could probably set up by incorporating an Anguillian company and then getting your work permit through it. I don't THINK you'd need an Anguillian partner, but can't promise how this business would be looked upon.

For that type of detail, the person to contact is our Anguilla attorney, Eustella Fontaine.

Hope it all works out for you!

All the best,
Ken

P.S. Owning a home here is another strong sign to the government that you are serious about living here. If you're interested, place take a look at the Anguilla home for sale that we built recently.

May 12, 2012
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Interested in living and working in Anguilla.
by: Anonymous

I have been a Chiropractor in San Diego for 13 years. I am interested in moving to the island to establish a practice. Is there a need for Chiropractors? Competition? Licensing?

Being a professional with a trained skill, could this help me obtain residency and possible citizenship down the road? Would I need to have an Anguillan partner even though I would be establishing a professional business/practice?

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How Much Income And Net Worth to Get a Residency Permit?

I have been a frequent visitor to Anguilla over the years and am thinking of buying a home and living there full-time (well, almost full-time... visiting NYC every couple of months).

I'm not thinking of working on Anguilla. I used to be in finance and am now an aspiring writer. I have arranged my affairs to pay me a month stipend of $6000 (can raise this if necessary).

My question is this: Would that income (plus owning a home) qualify me for a residency permit or would I need to show a higher level of income?

Thanks in advance,
Will

Reply from Ken: This is actually a fairly complex question. I'll simplify by assuming that you will not declare yourself as a self-employed person (i.e., a writer). Until you write your best seller and make millions, let's call that a hobby, OK? :-)

(If you do intend to declare yourself as working, please see the "computer workers" section of Living In Anguilla.)

Basically, you want to live in Anguilla, without working here. You do not need a work permit (which the self-employed need). And you do not want to be a temporary visitor who extends your stay on a regular basis.

If you can pay yourself $6,000 per month as a stipend, you likely have a substantial net worth (assuming you are not eating into capital to do that). Together with owning your own home here, you would have a good chance.

But please do contact Eustella Fontaine, our Anguilla lawyer who I highly recommend, to be sure, and for how to proceed.

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Moving to Anguilla From St. Martin

by Jon Appleton
(Toronto, Canada)

My fiancé and I, also from Canada, made the big move in September 2008. We both work from home and decided to settle in St. Martin. Our translation and web development company is still registered in Canada, where all of our clients are.

However, given the crime situation in St. Martin, Anguilla is looking more and more appealing... I'd like to hear your thoughts about the infrastructure in Anguilla (Internet speed and reliability, power outages, etc.). This is a must for our business, and in St. Martin I have no complaints in this regard.

Also, what did you mean exactly by a "high" work-at-home income?

Where can I find the list of immigration requirements? We have a good income, but I'm not sure what is considered "high" by the government of Anguilla! And lastly, what would be the requirements to import our two standard poodles?

We love Anguilla and visit frequently!

Thanks for any tips.
Julie

Reply from DadHi Julie,

We love St. Martin, especially the French side. But I understand your concerns. Another consideration is that taxes are also near-zero here, although it recently added a 3% "Temporary Stabilization Levy" to eliminate the deficit. Let's hope it's temporary.

You can set up an Anguillian company to contract out to your services to your Canadian company. Of course, you have to terminate all ties with your home country (ex., bank accounts, sell home, close memberships, credit cards). If you have no intent on moving back, that's a bit of work, but not a big deal.

Properly set up, your tax load can be substantially reduced!

Regarding infrastructure, I could not have moved here 6 years ago due to slow bandwidth. Nowadays, you can get a DSL package from Lime with dedicated IP (if you need one) and 4mbps (although it's usually more like 3). That's fine for most professinal needs. For example, video-Skype is fine. (I also keep Cable as backup, but have not needed it.)

Regarding income and net worth requirements, I'd suggest you contact our Anguilla attorney, Eustella Fontaine. It's likely in the ballpark of $80-100,000, and I'm not sure what the net worth needs to be. Given your record of self-sufficiency in St. Martin, you may be fine.

She can also give you the paperwork re Immigration requirements (ex., police report showing no criminal record).

The two poodles won't be a problem (but double-check with Eustella).

Julie, it's a great time to move here, since rents are very low. You can find some nice apartments at very good rates. A few years ago, it was completely different. Now, so many apartments have come on stream due to the expected boom (which collapsed world-wide) that you have a wonderful selection.

You'll be happy and safe here. And just in case you're wondering, there's an outstanding french bakery, Le Bon Pain, to keep you feeling at home! :-)

This is a move we have never regretted. We are not only warm and happy here, we are free. There are so few regulations here compared to Canada or St. Martin (France).

Governments around the world need to learn that people are sick and tired of being hampered and controlled! But I digress... I always promise myself not to "talk politics." Suffice it to say that we have never felt so free as here in Anguilla. :-)

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Jul 08, 2015
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Moving TO Anguilla From St Martin
by: Nori

Sorry Justyna,

This page is about moving to Anguilla from St. Martin and, in a larger context, about moving to, and living in, Anguilla.

For information about moving to St. Martin - you have to contact the French or Dutch authorities (depending on which side you want to live on). But beware...

You'll be subject to local taxes (France's taxation laws, for example, on the french side).

Good luck in your quest for warmer climes!

Warm regards,
Nori

Jul 08, 2015
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Temp live/work
by: Justyna

Wondering if I can get some help:

Looking to move to SXM and work for (6-12 months)

How do I go about this? No idea where to even start.

I have a dual citizenship, Canadian-Polish, 22 yo, no children, not married.

Wondering if someone can give me any info! Thank you!

Justyna

Jul 04, 2014
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Internet business and working in Anguilla
by: Angie

You mentioned you have an internet business.

It sounds like you could work anywhere with something like that. Would you share info or details on how to get started with something like that?

I am looking to relocate to somewhere in the Caribbean but having trouble with the job situation. Thanks!

Reply from Ken: Please see the "computer workers" section of Living In Anguilla.) Creating your own job (working from your computer) is the best of all worlds! Good luck!

Dec 11, 2013
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POEM: ANGUILLA ANGUILLA
by: JOSEPH

A poem that I wrote to express my feelings for Anguilla, I hope you enjoy it...

Anguilla Anguilla I am in love with you
Your sky and waters ever so blue
At night I dream of you
I linger to walk your beaches
white sand through my toes
Feeling that wonderful breeze
Its gentle caress makes me at ease
Anguilla Anguilla many know your joy
One day my dream will happen
Leaving behind a lot of memories
But here in Anguilla I'll make new ones
"Un Canadien errant loin de son pays"
in a new country where he can be happy
Anguilla Anguilla wait for me

Reply by Ken (aka "Nori's Dad") Joseph, that is a beautiful poem about the feeling of many who dream of moving to Anguilla. For those who don't understand French, it translates to...

"A wandering Canadian far from home"

Joseph, thanks very much for taking the time to compose that. I'm sure it captures the emotions of many with wanderlust in their blood.

Dec 28, 2012
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On Power Outages
by: Ken (Dad)

That's a great question, Matt (and thanks for the kind words). I'll answer on 2 levels...

1) When in the Caribbean, slowwwwwwwww down to "Caribbean time." When we lived in Canada, we expected everyone to get it done super-fast, everything to move quickly. Such is not the Caribbean. It wouldn't be the Caribbean if it was. :-)

2) More specifically to your question, I'd estimate, after more than 4 years of living here, that we get 15-20 power outages per year. They last from minutes to hours (the latter usually being scheduled maintenance).

As a general rule of thumb, the easiest way to get past most of these outages is to buy 2 UPS battery backups, a larger one that will keep your computer up for 30-60 minutes (or longer, if you want to cover almost all outages), as well as a smaller one to keep your modem powered (if you must be on the Net at all times).

When we lived in Montreal, we had an ice storm that left us without power for 9 days. Some days went down to -30 degrees! We installed a generator after that. So in Anguilla, when we built our home, we pre-built a separate small building for a massive generator to keep the whole home powered for up to one full week.

Ironically, New York City (where our daughters live) has had more problems with hurricanes than we have. We've had one fair-sized one our first year here. It left the island without power for several days. The aftermath is worse than the actual hurricane.

So, for anyone who really NEEDS to be online, I do recommend a generator (it does not need to be massive). You hook it into the key circuits of your home... fridge/freezer, Internet, etc. Run it periodically, as needed.

The other choice of what to do during a power failure, of course, is...

... go to the beach. :-)

Dec 27, 2012
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Power outages
by: Matt M

I've found your site to be remarkably helpful, thanks for being such an asset to those looking to vaca or relocate to AXA. We have been her a month and were hoping to stay here for another 3 on an extended honeymoon. But I do need to work while I'm here and the power outages are making that trying at best. Is is just the Christmas season or are power outages the norm on the island?
Thx,
Matt

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Can a British citizen Retire to Anguilla on a Pension?

by Katrina
(London, UK)

I am a British citizen, can I retire to Anguilla on my pension?

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Jan 16, 2017
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by: Nori

I believe that you are indeed in a rather lucky position, Katrina!

Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory. As such, not only can Anguillians access the UK, you should be able to establish residency here, especially since you can show a source of recurring income.

Please contact our friend, Eustella Fontaine. Our family's attorney is excellent. She should not only confirm the above, but tell you how to go about living in Anguilla, in the most efficient way possible.

Best of luck to you!

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Is Anguilla REALLY Income-Tax Free for Service Providers?

by Trevor
(Ontario, Canada)

Janice's Home Office Nook in Anguilla

Janice's Home Office Nook in Anguilla

I've been reading your articles about moving to and living in Anguilla with interest.

If it were possible for a Canadian to move to Anguilla, start a global on-line IT business, and be deemed a non-resident by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), that would be fantastic!

But what if the majority of the income came from U.S. sources? I mean, as a Canadian the U.S./Canada tax treaty covers the following scenario...

If you provide services to U.S. companies on Canadian soil, you won't get double taxed. You pay Canadian income tax only.

But if you are a Canadian that moves to Anguilla as a non-resident, there is no tax treaty to protect you from the good old IRS wanting a cut, or is there?

I'm very interested to find out your thoughts on this, as I'd like to bring my Canadian IT company to Anguilla, and make it an Anguillian company (as per your other articles). But if 100% of the income I receive is from U.S. based sources, is Anguilla really tax free?

Ken's Reply:

Great question, Trevor. It's a good example of what I've been talking about. People who earn their living on a computer should look at countries as if they were products on a shelf. Pick the one that best matches your needs and wants.

After all, you are free to live where you want when you have a skill that is not critical for local meetings or provision of goods or services.

Before I answer your questions, I should note that I will assume that you only have ONE tax nexus. In other words, you do not have branches in the U.S. If you do, that changes the answer.

So let's establish that you not only live in Ontario, but your ONLY place of business is in Ontario, too. That would be the case for most "solopreneurs."

In your case, then, there are 3 important pieces of information...

1) you sell a service

2) you sell it remotely, from Ontario, Canada

3) your business is almost 100% to Americans.

Trevor, the general principle is that services are taxed according to where they are provided, NOT according to where your client resides. From your letter, it seems that your IT services are provided remotely, from Ontario.

In that case, if you were to move to Anguilla and arrange your affairs so as to become an Anguillian resident (but still a Canadian citizen) and your place of business became Anguilla (by forming an Anguillian company), then you should be able to work tax-free if you are providing your services from Anguilla (most likely simply by working from home).

However, if you provide services in the U.S., that work would, I believe, be taxable by the United States. If you travel to the U.S. on business, some part of your income may become taxable in their eyes.

It is not necessary for the U.S. to have a treaty. Double taxation applies mostly to Americans who move to Canada and vice-versa. In your case, you are simply LIVING in Anguilla and providing a service remotely. Where your clients are is irrelevant as long as you do not physically visit them.

Now for a caveat...

Remember, the advice here should not be considered final legal advice upon which to form life-changing decisions. To the best of my understanding, things are looking pretty good for you. But...

You MUST consult a Canadian tax attorney who can advise you...

1) how to sever all ties and become considered a non-resident by the CRA (ex., you would terminate your Canadian business), and

2) with absolute certainty, especially considering any business details which may not be in your letter.

And, of course, that attorney should also mention what you canNOT do. For example, if you return to Canada to work with a friend on a special project, you will be taxable in Canada for that and you put some risk on your non-residency status. Or, as regards the U.S., what happens in various scenarios where you do travel to the U.S. for business purposes (ex., provide a service, or simply to meet a client)?

A final general principle: When leaving Canada, it should be with the underlying motive of never coming back. If it's just to avoid tax for a year or two, you will most likely be reassessed when you come back. But if it is truly because you want to live a warm, friendly and tax-free country for the rest of your life, you will be fine as long as all your actions are consistent with that decision.

Best of luck to you. I hope to see you on the beach one day!

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Jul 30, 2017
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Trevor, did you make the move?
by: Mike

Trevor, did you make the move to Anguilla? If so, did you keep your business going and finally, do you need help? I'm in IT and we may have an opportunity for my wife to come down and work so I'm trying to figure out what I may do for employment while living there.

Thank you,
Mike

Mar 26, 2015
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I'm Packing My Paddle Board
by: Trevor

Thanks for the answer Ken. This is exciting! I am getting too old and tired of dealing with these frigged Canadian winters. This last one seemed to be the worst. And Florida (or anywhere in the U.S. for that matter) is out, as I want to keep working! (Their loss).

You are correct in assuming that Ontario has been my only place of business. I've had a U.S. client for nearly 14 years, that I have never met, yet we have worked together remotely all this time without a hitch. Go figure. So why on earth am I sitting around these cold winters why I don't have too? Honestly, because I really didn't think I could do much about it. I just haven't had the knowledge to make such a move. Someone needs to put a guide together to cover all these little details, I'm sure more people would dive into their dreams if they knew how.

I also do not plan on returning to Canada once moved, other than visiting when the time is right. It would be a definite legitimate move to a new lifestyle that I'm seeking.

So thank you very much for this information. I'll be sure to talk to a Canadian tax attorney before making a move, but what you provided here will at least get me to that step.

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American Citizens Retiring in Anguilla

by Ray Fambro
(Puerto Rico)

Can americans retire to Anguilla permanently, year round, without having to exit the country periodically? My wife and I retired from The States in 2017 to Puerto Rico. We are looking to relocate in a small, laid back environment, reasonable cost of living, and balanced demographics of people.

We have our social security, and pensions, so 4 steady, permanent income sources between the two of us. Not looking to ever work again, retired four years ago, wife three years ago. 62 and 61 currently. We may be interested in starting a business with an Anguillan. More research needs to be done on our part for that. We might be interested in buying or building a home. We have been renting in PR.

What would the tax situation look like with social security and pension checks from the states? Utility and food cost? Kinda of high in PR. How hard to ship our vehicle, belongings from PR to Anguilla? They are very close to each other.


Nori's Reply: Thank you for your note, Ray. Anguilla is a beautiful place to retire to. Very calm and quiet :-) Cost of living may be pricier than Puerto Rico as Anguilla is smaller and most goods are imported. The island has a residency by investment program. Under that program you may be able to stay here year-round, or by purchasing a home. There are in's and out's, so I would highly recommend getting in touch with Eustella Fontaine. She is an excellent lawyer on the island and will be able to answer all questions RE process. You can reach her at the form at the bottom of this webpage.

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Economic Citizenship in Anguilla

by Mark
(Knoxville, TN)


Can you please advise on the requirements to become an "economic citizen"' in Anguilla.

What are the individual tax rates are for such a person?

Reply by Dad: Different people can mean different things by the term "economic citizenship." So let's cover a simplified gamut of possibilities...

1) buying citizenship. There are very few countries where you can do this. St. Kitts is one of them. Grenada wanted to do it some time back, but I believe U.S. pressure backed them down.

Anguilla does not have this, nor will it. As a British Overseas Territory, it's doubtful that a new law on this would be approved.

2) passive investing. Does not apply. It's possible that if you invest millions of dollars into a business, you might be able to arrange something privately. But that is speculation only.

3) starting a business. You can start a business locally by taking an Anguillian partner and presenting a plan that is approved.

This last option will get you a work permit, but not citizenship, economic or otherwise.

With a self-employed work permit (renewed annually at a cost of approximately US$5,600), you can live and work here.

Here is some more information about citizenship in Anguilla...

  • Anguilla, given its small size, has one of the strictest requirements in the world to become a "belonger."
  • A "belonger" is not a citizen in name, but does have all the rights of one (i.e., can vote, does not need a work permit, etc.)
  • You must live her for 15 years before you can apply.

And finally, regarding taxes...

There is a "temporary" Stabilization Levy of 6% on total income (half of which caps at about EC$12,000 per month, which is approximately $5000 per month).

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Relocate and Cost Of Living

by Patricia Hartfield
(Melbourne, FL/U.S.)

I am in FLORIDA and I am m curious to know the following...

1) What is needed to relocate/live in Anguilla?

2) How is the cost of living there?

3) I would be interested in Renting.

4) What is the language spoken in Anguilla?

As of this moment I am just inquiring.

Thanks for your time.

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Jul 16, 2016
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Answers to Questions about Moving to Anguilla
by: Ken Evoy

Patricia, the first thing to do (when thinking about living in any foreign country) is to spend some time here.

No place in the world can be captured sufficiently for the actual "LIVING THERE" experience, not even with all the video, pix and descriptions.

And no location is perfect. What bothers you, others may love. And vice-versa. So visit to really know. :-)

With that caveat, I'll answer your questions in the order that you asked them...

1) You need a job (or to start your own business) to live here, although we expect there to be some form of "economic citizenship" policy introduced.

2) Cost of living is high because income and other taxes are so low. So Anguilla government collects the bulk of its income through duties on imports, pushing product prices up.

They are also high because Anguilla is a small island - so high transportation costs are built into just about everything, from food to furniture, that is imported.

If you make more than $100,000 per year in income, you'll most likely save more in income tax than pay in higher expenses. (You do not have to pay your own country's income tax if you become a resident of another one. The exception to that is the U.S., but they give you approximately $100,000 exemption on that).

3) There are many long-term rental opportunities. Contact a real estate broker - we recommend our friend Jackie Pascher who owns Island Dreams Property. Do not rent where you would stay as a tourist. Simulate how you would actually live here in Anguilla.

4) We speak English in Anguilla. It is a British colony.

The "Living in Anguilla" section of this website answers your questions in more depth. Take your time. When you visit, drop into various government agencies and ask even more questions.

Good luck - I hope it works out for you!

Warm regards,
Ken (Nori's Dad)

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Legally Living Year Round

by Brigid
(Portsmouth, NH USA)

Hi,

My husband and I have jumped through the hoops and purchased a retirement on the island a few years ago. As we near retirement (and we probably should have thought about this first) we are curious as to whether we can legally live on the island year round.

We are US citizens. I can't seem to get any answers from the government website about extended visas - etc. Any ideas?

Also, we are planning on shipping down our worldly possessions to furnish our home - taxable? We are very much looking forward to our island home. Any answers that you can provide would be very helpful.

Love the website - thanks!

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Apr 07, 2017
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by: Nori

Brigid,

I have some good luck for you!

The government recently changed the rules. You can now stay on the island for 11 months if you own a home here. Go to Immigration and ask how to proceed.

Regarding shipping your furniture and everything down here, I hope you had better luck than we did. Our stuff did the grand scenic tour. It went from Montreal to the Bahamas and as far south as Trinidad.

it seemd to get lost there for a while, but it finallly showed up. It then did the milk run up North, making several stops until it finallly reached Anguilla. My Dad jokes that our sofa has seen more of the Caribbean than us.

"Luckily," we finished building our villa later than planned, so we saved money on not having to store it for a few months. Just to be clear, it was NOT Anguilla's fault, so there's no reason you should worry.

In fact, the folks here in Anguilla were so nice (they were helping us track it once my Mom came in, asking about it in tears), they let us store it free for the few weeks until we were totally ready to move in!

Anyway, to get to your question...

There was NO duty on used possessions. I think we had a new TV monitor, so we paid duty on that. But that was all.

i haven't heard that things have changed, but it's been almost 10 years now. You might want to double-check with a government Customs office, just to be sure.

Good luck! Hope to see you down here soon!

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About US expats filing US taxes

by Tom Gerlacher
(Atlanta, GA USA)

I am interested in finding out about the current state of services that are in Anguilla for US expats filing their US taxes.

Do they use on-island tax/accounting services, or do the US expats generally use overseas accountants?

If you know of an US expat that I could ask how they go about filing their taxes, please let me know.

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Jun 22, 2017
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About US expats filing US taxes
by: Nori

Hi Tom,

The best folks to get in touch with would be Counsel Limited. I know them well and they have experience in this area.

Thank you, Tom & wishing you all the best!
Nori

Jun 18, 2017
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Follow-up Question
by: Tom Gerlacher

Nori:

Thanks for your reply.

If appropriate, can you share two or three names of the better known local tax preparers/firms on the island who have experience with ex-pats (particularly US residents)?

I understand that you would not be recommending these individuals or firms - just providing information.

Tom

Jun 16, 2017
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by: Nori

A good question, Tom. I'll add a bit of background for those who may not know why you are asking

The U.S. is the only country that taxes you based on your citizenship, not your actual primary place of residence. Most countries (ex., our original home, Canada) don't do that - you only have to pay the income tax of your country of residence (0% in theory, but 3% including the so-called "Temporary" Stabilization Levy).

Americans do get a $100,000 exemption on income, so if you are married, that's $200,000 that you can earn and not pay taxes on. You pay American taxes at the usual rate on anything over that.

That means you have to file a return. I was going to answer that you should probably keep using your local accountant or tax lawyer, but there are some pretty sophisticated people in Anguilla's financial services industry, and quite a few American ex-pats here. It would make sense to just get it done locally if the expertise exists.

I'm not sure how to advise you, so II'll send a note to the head of Anguilla Finance and ask him to reply to this.

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