Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the GFSC decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get an investment license in Guernsey.
The Crown Dependency with published clocks: a fast-track POI licence the GFSC considers within 10 business days, and a Private Investment Fund declared registered in one. The regime is the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2020 - a single licence naming the restricted activities and investment categories it covers, net assets from £25,000 for managers and advisers, £100,000 for a designated administrator, two Guernsey-resident directors on the board. Corporate tax is 0% for most licensees, 10% for fund administration and custody, and there is no VAT on the island.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Guernsey in brief
One licence, two published clocks.
Guernsey licenses controlled investment business under the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2020, in force since 1 November 2021 and administered by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. Section 1(3) is the whole test: a restricted activity in connection with a controlled investment. Schedule 1 splits the investments into Category 1, collective investment schemes, and Category 2, general securities and derivatives; the licence names the categories and activities it covers. Capital comes from the Licensees (Capital Adequacy) Rules 2021, rule 2.1(1): net assets of £25,000 for most licensees and £100,000 for a designated administrator, each measured against 25% of annual audited expenditure, whichever is greater; £4,000,000 for the designated trustee or custodian of an open-ended scheme; £10,000 for a licensee with no physical presence in the Bailiwick. There are no K-factors. The board must include two Guernsey-resident directors (Conduct of Business Rules, rule 2.1(7)), and a compliance officer is appointed in Guernsey (rule 3.2(1)).
The commercial case is the clock. The POI Law sets no statutory decision period, and the Commission publishes no statistic for standard files - we say that plainly. What it does publish is a fast-track regime: a fast-track licence application is considered within 10 business days of a fully completed submission, and a Private Investment Fund under the PIF Rules 2025, in force since 19 May 2025, is declared registered one business day after a full application. The PIF costs £1,500 to file and £1,000 a year, needs a designated administrator, and its manager may hold a licence but is not required to. Around it sit 756 closed-ended and 131 open-ended schemes with £270.0 billion of net assets at 30 June 2026, an investment exchange in TISE, and a tax system that charges most licensees 0%, fund administration and custody 10%, with no VAT at all. We build the file from St Peter Port.
One POI licence under the Protection of Investors Law 2020 - net assets £25,000 for managers and advisers, £100,000 for administrators, £4M for open-ended custodians, two Guernsey-resident directors, a compliance officer on the island. Fast-track licence considered in 10 business days; PIF registered in one.
0% standard corporate tax, 10% for administration and custody, no VAT, no dividend withholding for non-residents. £3,200 to apply, £4,580 a year. Built end to end from St Peter Port.
The two builds
The manager's POI licence - or the administrator's.
One law, one licence, priced by role: £25,000 net assets for investment management and advice, £100,000 for a designated administrator, £4 million only for the open-ended custodian. We fix the restricted activities first, then file once.
The £25,000 manager's licence - or the £100,000 administrator with the one-day PIF.
01 - POI LICENCE · MANAGEMENT AND ADVICE
The investment manager
Management and advice in Category 2 securities and Category 1 schemes under one licence - £25,000 net assets or 25% of audited expenditure, two resident directors, a compliance officer on the island, £3,200 to apply and £4,580 a year.
Management and advice in Category 2 securities and Category 1 schemes under one licence - £25,000 net assets or 25% of audited expenditure, two resident directors, a compliance officer on the island, £3,200 to apply and £4,580 a year.
- ✓Discretionary management and advice
- ✓Category 1 and Category 2 investments
- ✓£25,000 net assets or 25% of expenditure
- ✓Two Guernsey-resident directors
- ✓£3,200 application · £4,580 annual
- ✓Fast track considered in 10 business days
02 - FUND ADMINISTRATION · PIF
£100,000 net assetsThe administrator and the private fund
The designated administrator every PIF must appoint - £100,000 net assets or 25% of expenditure, annual fees of £4,965 to £36,000 by turnover - and the fund itself: £1,500 to file, registered in one business day, open to qualifying private investors without a cap on their number.
Designated administrator at £100,000 net assets, annual fee £4,965-£36,000 by turnover - and the PIF registered in one business day for £1,500.
- ✓Designated administrator to schemes
- ✓£100,000 net assets or 25% of expenditure
- ✓Annual fee £4,965-£36,000 by turnover
- ✓PIF registered in one business day
- ✓PIF £1,500 application · £1,000 annual
- ✓QPI: net worth above US$1,000,000
Figures per the Capital Adequacy Rules 2021 and the fee regulations in force from 1 January 2026. The professional indemnity minimum is not published as a figure - we confirm the cover with the Commission before filing.
Why Guernsey
Six reasons managers choose the Bailiwick.
The island sells a published clock and a 0% rate - with a real board expected in return.
✓
10 business days
The fast-track licence is considered within 10 business days of a complete file - a written commitment, not a mood.Fast track, in writing.
✓
The one-day fund
A Private Investment Fund is declared registered one business day after a full application - £1,500 to file, no cap on the number of qualifying investors.PIF registered next morning.
✓
£25,000 to start
Net assets of £25,000 or 25% of audited expenditure for most licensees - the balance sheet is sized to the operation, not to a European tier.Sized to expenditure.
✓
0% and no VAT
Most licensees pay 0% corporate tax; administration and custody pay 10%; there is no VAT or GST on the island at all.Margin kept whole.
✓
A £270 billion neighbourhood
756 closed-ended and 131 open-ended schemes with £270.0 billion of net assets at 30 June 2026, and 43 new investment licences in 2024 - the administrators and custodians are already here.Administrators already here.
✓
The small-island warning
64,781 residents and a rule requiring two Guernsey-resident directors - the bench is real and finite, and we source it before we file.Two resident directors, finite.
How it compares
How Guernsey differs from other routes.
The honest comparison: the shortest published licence clock in the Crown Dependencies - against a total licensee count the Commission does not print.
Guernsey vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Guernsey | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Regime | POI Law 2020 - GFSC | FS(J)L 1998 Jersey · FSA 2008 Isle of Man |
| Capital | £25,000 · £100,000 admin | £25,000 Jersey A-C · £10,000 Class D |
| Scope | Category 1 CIS · Category 2, no passport | Classes A-D Jersey · Class 2/3 IoM, no passport |
| Timeline | Fast track 10 business days · PIF 1 day | ≈6 weeks Jersey · 3 months Isle of Man |
Regime
GuernseyPOI Law 2020 - GFSC
Other jurisdictionsFS(J)L 1998 Jersey · FSA 2008 Isle of Man
Capital
Guernsey£25,000 · £100,000 admin
Other jurisdictions£25,000 Jersey A-C · £10,000 Class D
Scope
GuernseyCategory 1 CIS · Category 2, no passport
Other jurisdictionsClasses A-D Jersey · Class 2/3 IoM, no passport
Timeline
GuernseyFast track 10 business days · PIF 1 day
Other jurisdictions≈6 weeks Jersey · 3 months Isle of Man
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guernsey | GFSC POI licence | 0% · 10% admin/custody | £25,000-£4M net assets, 2 resident directors |
 Jersey | JFSC registration - Classes A-D | 0% · 10% financial services | £25,000 Classes A-C, £10,000 Class D |
 Isle of Man | IOMFSA Class 2 / Class 3 | 0% · 10% banking/retail | Rule Book capital, 2 resident directors |
 Bermuda | BMA standard licence - IBA 2003 | No CIT · 15% large MNE groups | Bermuda principal office, US$2,840 application |
GuernseyLicense typeGFSC POI licence
Taxation0% · 10% admin/custody
Requirements£25,000-£4M net assets, 2 resident directors
JerseyLicense typeJFSC registration - Classes A-D
Taxation0% · 10% financial services
Requirements£25,000 Classes A-C, £10,000 Class D
Isle of ManLicense typeIOMFSA Class 2 / Class 3
Taxation0% · 10% banking/retail
RequirementsRule Book capital, 2 resident directors
BermudaLicense typeBMA standard licence - IBA 2003
TaxationNo CIT · 15% large MNE groups
RequirementsBermuda principal office, US$2,840 application
Before you apply
Requirements for the Guernsey licence.Requirements for the licence.
The Commission licenses against the Schedule 4 minimum criteria and the 2021 rulebooks. The checklist below is what a passing Form RA/1 contains.
01
Guernsey company - incorporated for the licence, with mind and management resting in the Bailiwick as the outsourcing guidance requires.
02
Net assets - £25,000 for most licensees, £100,000 for a designated administrator, £4,000,000 for an open-ended trustee or custodian (Capital Adequacy Rules 2021, rule 2.1(1)).
03
Expenditure test - net assets never below 25% of annual audited expenditure (rule 5.1(2)), computed before filing and reported after.
04
Two resident directors - the board must include at least two Guernsey-resident directors (Conduct of Business Rules, rule 2.1(7)).
05
Bailiwick-based executives - senior staff on the island in a number commensurate with the nature, size and complexity of the business (rule 2.1(8)).
06
Compliance officer - appointed in Guernsey under rule 3.2(1), named in the application.
07
Client money - dedicated client bank accounts (rule 9.2) with the bank's written acknowledgement that balances are held as trustee (rule 9.3(2)).
08
Minimum criteria - Schedule 4 of the POI Law, which section 4(2) requires the Commission to find fulfilled before any licence is granted.
09
Fees paid - £3,200 on application and £4,580 a year for other licensees, or the £4,965-£36,000 administrator scale by turnover.
10
Professional indemnity - cover on the Commission's terms; the minimum figure is not published as a figure, so we confirm it before filing.
01
Guernsey company, managed locally.
02
£25,000 / £100,000 net assets.
03
25% of expenditure test.
04
Two resident directors.
05
Island-based executives.
06
Compliance officer in Guernsey.
07
Client money as trustee.
08
Schedule 4 criteria met.
09
£3,200 application paid.
10
PII confirmed before filing.
Reflects the POI Law 2020, the Conduct of Business and Capital Adequacy Rules 2021 and the fee regulations for 2026.POI Law 2020 + 2021 Rules, as of 2026.
How it works
From first call to the GFSC register.
01
Scope the licence
Category 1 or 2, which restricted activities, PIF or not - the licence named in writing before any drafting.Licence named in writing.
02
Company and bench
Guernsey entity, net assets evidenced, two resident directors and the compliance officer secured.Residents secured.
03
The application
Form RA/1, business plan and policies complete at filing - £3,200 paid.RA/1 complete, £3,200 paid.
04
Commission review
Fast track considered within 10 business days of a complete file; standard files run on no published clock.10 days on fast track.
05
Licence and funds
Register entry, client money accounts open, PIF registered in one business day where the model has one.Accounts open, PIF registered.
Quick facts
RegulatorGFSC
LawPOI Law 2020
Net assets, most licensees£25,000
Designated administrator£100,000
Open-ended custodian£4,000,000
Application fee£3,200
Fast-track decision10 business days
PIF registration1 business day
The POI Law prints no decision period for a standard application - the fast track is the clock, and a complete file is the ticket to it.
On the ground in Guernsey
Run from our office in St Peter Port.
Prifinance - Guernsey
St Peter Port · Guernsey
St Peter Port, Guernsey
01
Activities and capital
The restricted activities and categories fixed first - net assets of £25,000 or £100,000 sized against the expenditure test before the company is built.Fixed before the build.
02
The Form RA/1 file
Business plan, policies and the fit-and-proper pack drafted complete - so the fast-track clock of 10 business days can actually run.Complete for the fast track.
03
The resident bench
Two Guernsey-resident directors and a compliance officer on the island, sourced from the administration cluster before filing.Two directors, one officer.
04
Funds and launch
PIF registration in one business day, client money accounts with trustee acknowledgements, TISE listing where the model needs it.PIF in one day.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of investment firms in Guernsey.
A zero standard rate, a 10% band that catches administration and custody, and no VAT anywhere on the island.
0% standard rate
The company standard rate is 0% - an investment manager or adviser outside the 10% list keeps the whole margin.Whole margin kept.
10% for administration and custody
Administration of controlled investments, custody services and individual-client investment management sit in the 10% band - the fund servicer's rate.The servicer's band.
No dividend withholding
Distributions to non-residents leave without Guernsey withholding once non-residency is evidenced.Clean to non-residents.
No VAT or GST
There is no value added tax on the island - fees carry no indirect layer and no recovery arithmetic.No indirect layer.
Pillar Two at 15%
The QDMTT and IIR apply from 1 January 2025 to groups with revenue of EUR 750 million or more - irrelevant below that line.EUR 750M groups only.
The 20% band
Utilities, large retail above £500,000 of profit and Guernsey land and buildings pay 20% - none of it touches a licensee's fee income.Utilities, retail, land.
Tax summary
Corporate tax0% standard
Administration and custody10%
Dividend withholdingNone to non-residents
VATNone
Pillar Two15% · EUR 750M groups
*Figures as of 2026 per Guernsey law. Which band a licensee falls into depends on its activities - we map it in the quote.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Guernsey company, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a live, licensed firm.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Guernsey · GFSC
Launch your investment firm in Guernsey with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from the Guernsey company and resident bench to the POI licence, fund registration and client money set-up - run through our St Peter Port office.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Guernsey the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Guernsey investment licence, answered.
What licence does an investment firm need in Guernsey?+
A licence under the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2020 from the GFSC, granted for named restricted activities and investment categories - Category 1 collective investment schemes, Category 2 general securities and derivatives. Managers, advisers, administrators and custodians all hold the same instrument.
What capital is required?+
Net assets under the Capital Adequacy Rules 2021, rule 2.1(1): £25,000 for most licensees and £100,000 for a designated administrator, each or 25% of annual audited expenditure, whichever is greater; £4,000,000 for the trustee or custodian of an open-ended scheme; £10,000 for a licensee with no physical presence.
How fast is the fast track?+
The Commission considers a fast-track licence application within 10 business days of receiving a fully completed one. A standard application has no statutory clock and no published statistic - the file's completeness decides it, and we confirm fast-track eligibility with the Commission before filing.
What is a Private Investment Fund?+
A fund under the PIF Rules 2025 for qualifying private investors - net worth above US$1,000,000 or an initial investment of at least US$100,000 - with no cap on their number. It is declared registered one business day after a full application, costs £1,500 to file and £1,000 a year, and must appoint a designated administrator.
Who has to be on the island?+
At least two Guernsey-resident directors (Conduct of Business Rules, rule 2.1(7)), Bailiwick-based senior executives in proportion to the business (rule 2.1(8)) and a compliance officer appointed in Guernsey (rule 3.2(1)). The outsourcing guidance expects mind and management to rest in the Bailiwick.
What are the GFSC fees?+
From 1 January 2026: £3,200 to apply and £4,580 a year for other licensees; designated administrators pay £4,965 to £36,000 a year by audited turnover; a PIF costs £1,500 to file and £1,000 annually. The 2026 schedule rose 3.9% with the island's RPI.
How are Guernsey investment firms taxed?+
0% company tax as the standard rate; 10% for administration of controlled investments, custody and individual-client investment management; 20% only for utilities, large retail and local property. No VAT, no withholding on dividends to evidenced non-residents, Pillar Two at 15% for EUR 750 million groups.
Is there an investor compensation scheme?+
No - Guernsey's compensation scheme covers bank deposits only, and there is no scheme for investment business clients. Protection comes from the client money rules: dedicated accounts, and the bank's written acknowledgement that balances are held as trustee.
Guernsey or Jersey for a new firm?+
Twins with different clocks: Jersey registers investment business at £25,000 (Class D advisers at £10,000) in around six weeks and its private fund in 24 hours; Guernsey's fast-track licence is considered in 10 business days and its PIF registered in one. Jersey has the larger population and service pool; Guernsey has no GST at all. We model both.
Why Prifinance for Guernsey?+
We build the Guernsey company, source the two resident directors and the compliance officer, and file a Form RA/1 complete enough for the 10-day track - run from our St Peter Port office with London behind it. Funds, client money accounts and TISE work follow in the same file.
What licence?+
GFSC POI licence.
Capital?+
£25k · £100k admin.
Fast track?+
10 business days.
PIF?+
Registered in one day.
Who on island?+
Two directors, compliance officer.
Fees?+
£3,200 + £4,580/yr.
Taxes?+
0% · 10% · no VAT.
Compensation scheme?+
None for investors.
Or Jersey?+
Six weeks vs ten days.
Why you?+
RA/1 built for the fast track.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
“I had their assistance in company registration and I would recommend them. They were answering all my clarification during the process and offering all their supportThank you Daniel and Irinia”
Google
“We found PRIFINANCE COMPANYvia the Internet and asked for help in organizing the opening of their company in Estonia. PRIFINANCE COMPANY specialists helped us a lot with this. Their professional, competent approach and knowledge of their business left us with only the best impressions.”
Google
“I'm thrilled with my experience with PriFinance! They helped me obtain a crypto license in Estonia without any hassle. The team was super understanding and always available to answer my questions and assist. It was great to see how they put effort into preparing the documents to ensure everything went smoothly. I'm delighted with the outcome and highly recommend PriFinance to anyone looking to get a license…”
Google
“Opening an account with Prifinance in a Swiss bank was such an easy and quick process that I was shocked. It all started with the first call, where I received detailed guidance on the required documents and the entire procedure.One of the key highlights was their attention to detail. As someone who usually gets tangled up in paperwork, I was pleasantly surprised when they sent me all the documents and…”
Google
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Boris.. and I must say, it was a fantastic experience. Boris went above and beyond to assist me with my residency needs. His professionalism, knowledge, and dedication truly stood out. I highly recommend working with Boris and the team!”
Google
Start today
One message away from your Guernsey investment licence.
Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Guernsey route fits your project and what it will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right licence scope, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.