How to Move to a Tax Haven and Live Tax-Free: A Guide

Do you like the idea of relocating to a tax haven and living tax-free? You are not alone, and the good news is that this is no longer a dream that only the ultra-wealthy can pursue. The number of people seeking global mobility, along with financial freedom and personal privacy, is increasing. Choosing to move to a tax haven is a way to achieve these goals. Tax haven countries offer tremendous opportunities for digital nomads, investors, and all those who simply want to have a better quality of life.

There are different ways of legally reducing an excessive tax burden, and you can choose a zero-tax jurisdiction, a country with a territorial tax system, or comply with certain conditions to achieve desired tax efficiency. And the best part? You don’t need to navigate it alone. We handle everything for you.

Can You Move to Tax Havens and Pay Zero Tax?

Yes, you can, but it’s not as simple as just changing your address. To truly benefit from living in a tax haven and paying zero tax, you need to become a legal tax resident in the country of your choice and ensure that your income qualifies for exemption under local laws.

Each tax haven country has its own rules for establishing tax residency. In most cases, this involves spending a minimum number of days in the country (often 183 or more), maintaining a local residence, and showing economic or personal ties. You must also cut your tax residency ties with your home country. Otherwise, you risk being taxed by both jurisdictions.

It is crucial to understand the type of tax haven you are relocating to. There are some zero tax countries, like the Cayman Islands or St Kitts and Nevis, where you will not have to pay any tax on your income. Territorial tax countries like Panama or Comoros will only tax income earned locally. Tax-exempt countries like Portugal may offer partial exemptions for a limited time.

A common misconception is that moving offshore automatically means you eliminate your taxes. That’s not always true. However, many of the tax haven jurisdictions do not apply any taxes on income or at least overseas income, and/or have double taxation treaties to minimize the tax burden. Some locations can offer some nationalities particularly advantageous tax regimes as well. 

The complexity explains why you should adopt a strategic approach. We evaluate your nationality, income sources, and goals, and create a custom relocation plan that ensures legal compliance and maximum tax savings. 

Types of Tax Havens

Each tax haven has unique features; however, there are three categories of tax haven countries.  The categorization depends on the way they tax their residents or foreign income: zero-tax countries, territorial tax countries, and tax-exempt countries. We will provide an overview of the differences and break down each type below to help you understand which option might suit your personal or business needs best. If you are still uncertain, our team can help guide you. 

Zero-Tax Countries

Zero-tax countries are called this because they do not tax individuals on their personal income. These are the most attractive options for anyone seeking to live tax-free. Examples include:

• Marshall Islands
• St Kitts and Nevis
• British Virgin Islands
• St Lucia

These countries attract individuals, business owners, and investors with promises of low bureaucracy, asset protection, offshore company registration, and high privacy. Their favorable corporate tax laws also make it ideal to incorporate your business. These are top destinations you can choose to enjoy high living standards and reduce your tax burden to a legal minimum at the same time.

Territorial Tax Countries

Territorial tax countries only tax income earned within their borders. This means you can earn international income and pay zero tax on it. You become a tax resident, live in the country, but only pay tax on locally sourced income.

Popular territorial tax countries include:

• Panama
• Hong Kong
• Gibraltar
• Belize

These jurisdictions are, as you can imagine, particularly useful for remote workers, digital nomads, and business owners with international clients. If you incorporate your business offshore and keep your revenue outside the territorial country, you can pay zero in personal income tax.

Generally, for those earning income abroad, these countries offer a legal and simple way to eliminate their taxes while living in strategic nations with significant business opportunities.

Tax Exemption Countries

These countries do not offer as extensive tax benefits, but they offer tax exemptions for specific types of foreign income or for a set number of years. These incentives attract individuals and investors looking to relocate to strategic locations while maintaining favorable tax treatment. 

Top countries with tax exemptions:

• Portugal (NHR Regime)
• Seychelles
• Comoros
• UK (on overseas permanent establishments or in certain crown territories, i.e., Jersey)

These jurisdictions might still have some reporting requirements. However, their tax treaty exemptions or local laws provide major advantages, for example, in some cases, even pensions and dividends from abroad may be tax-free. The goal is to legally reduce your tax burden while enjoying the benefits of a well-connected, established location with access to major markets. 

Popular Tax Haven Jurisdictions

Choosing the right jurisdiction is an important decision. To help you, below is a comparative overview of some of the most reliable, popular, and attractive tax havens in the world. This provides you with a solid understanding of the range of choices and some of the quality, reputable, and reliable jurisdictions you can relocate to. 

Tax Haven Jurisdiction Comparison

All of these jurisdictions are popular not only for their tax advantages but also for their ease of company formation, financial privacy, and growing international reputations. The rest have specific advantages, and specifics which may or may not suit your goals. 

For example, BVI, Nevis, Seychelles, Belize, and the Marshall Islands are standout zero-tax jurisdictions where foreign income is entirely exempt. That makes these countries, in our opinion, ideal for asset protection, holding structures, or e-commerce. Whereas the Comoros offers a low-cost, low-regulation alternative, though it’s less commonly used and isn’t as respected.

St Lucia and Panama offer conditional or territorial tax regimes. These generous tax policies make them suitable for entrepreneurs seeking foreign income exemptions with accessible residency or second passport options. 

Hong Kong, with its world-class banking and infrastructure. This is why it remains a top pick for serious international operators who want 0% tax on foreign income without compromising on legitimacy.

Meanwhile, countries like the UK, USA, Portugal, Cyprus, and Gibraltar tax global income, but provide nuanced paths to optimize tax, for instance, the UK’s remittance basis, Portugal’s NHR regime, and Cyprus’s non-dom exemptions. These are ideal if you want to combine EU presence, lifestyle, and strategic access with smart tax structuring.

Choosing the right jurisdiction depends on your goals: do you want to incorporate your business? Protect personal wealth? Obtain a second passport? Whatever your situation, we’ll guide you to the most fitting option.

Do these tax havens sound like a good fit? Or at least piqued your interest?  Contact our team. We handle everything from planning and paperwork to incorporation and relocation, ensuring your transition is smooth and fully compliant. Want to know what to expect? Well, read on!

How to Move to a Tax Haven: A Step-by-Step Guide

Relocating to a tax haven doesn’t have to be stressful. Here’s how we handle the entire process for you.

Choose the Right Tax Haven for Your Needs

When choosing where to go, we help you evaluate:

• Your citizenship and passport strength
• Your income sources
• Whether you need to incorporate your business
• Your desired lifestyle (urban vs island, quiet retreat vs bustling hub)

Based on this, we match you with a jurisdiction that offers favorable corporate tax laws and a clear path to becoming a tax resident or citizen.

Meet Legal Requirements and Residency Rules

Once we’ve found the right country, we manage all legal requirements. Becoming a tax resident means spending enough time in the country, renting or buying property, and following the country’s reporting rules.

Apply for Citizenship or Residency

We take care of your entire application process. Whether you need a residence permit or want to get citizenship in a country like St Kitts and Nevis, we make it seamless.

Some countries offer residency through real estate investment. Others, like St Kitts, let you get your citizenship directly through economic contribution. 

Open a Bank Account and Set Up a Business

Once you are settled, we help open local or offshore bank accounts and incorporate your business. We also ensure it complies with local corporate tax laws.

Whether you want to open a company offshore, expand an existing business, or restructure your finances, we handle it for you.

Steps to Relocate to a Tax Haven

• Select jurisdiction
• Get your citizenship or legal residency
• Become a tax resident
• Open an offshore bank account
• Incorporate your business
• Report according to local law

Citizenship and Residency Considerations

You don’t need to give up your passport in many cases. Several tax haven countries allow you to live tax-free while keeping your home country citizenship.

Second citizenship adds security, visa-free travel, and easier access to banking. We help you navigate programs that offer favorable corporate tax laws, including those in the Caribbean.

Citizenship by investment programs in places like St Kitts and Nevis are especially popular, while others, like Panama, offer friendly residency options without renunciation.

What If You Don’t Want to Renounce Your US Citizenship?

If you don’t want to renounce your US citizenship, that’s completely fine. US citizens pay taxes on their worldwide income, even if they live in a tax haven. But there are exceptions.

While U.S. citizens face ongoing tax obligations no matter where they live, most other nationalities do not. Citizens of countries with territorial or residence-based taxation can often move to a zero- or low-tax jurisdiction and legally eliminate income tax altogether, without needing to renounce their passports. This may mean that if you’re a US citizen, you might want to consider changing citizenship. However, you do not have to in order to relocate at all.  

Even if you’re a U.S. citizen and want to retain your passport, living in a tax haven can still offer significant lifestyle and financial benefits:

• Lower cost of living: Countries like Panama, Comoros, and Seychelles offer a far more affordable lifestyle than most U.S. cities.
• Financial privacy: Many jurisdictions have no public registries and limited data-sharing with foreign governments.
• Stronger asset protection: Trusts, LLCs, and foundations formed in places like Nevis or Belize can shield wealth from lawsuits and creditors.
• Strategic estate planning: Offshore structures can help simplify succession and avoid probate across borders.
• Diversified banking: Access to global banking systems outside the U.S. can provide stability and currency diversification.

So, no. You don’t need to renounce your citizenship to benefit from a tax haven lifestyle. You just need the right plan. Whether through international trusts, foreign companies, or strategic residency, we’ll help you structure your affairs to gain privacy, protection, and financial freedom—wherever you are. Of course, if you do seek to change citizenship, jurisdictions such as Nevis are excellent choices to reside in, due to their tax policies. 

Is Moving to a Tax Haven Right for You?

Relocating to a tax haven is not just about tax rates. It’s about lifestyle, security, and freedom. If you want to eliminate your taxes, protect your assets, and overall enjoy a better quality of life, this is your chance.

Our experts will evaluate your situation, help you choose the right offshore jurisdiction, get your citizenship, and set everything up.

Take the First Step Toward Relocation — Contact Our Tax Haven Experts Today!

We’ll help you choose the best tax haven, handle the paperwork, and set up your business and accounts. You don’t need to stress. We do everything for you.

Get in touch today to receive your custom step-by-step relocation plan!

Tax Havens: Frequently Asked Questions