Dmitri Mihhailov
General Partner
Leads Prifinance's corporate practice and oversees client engagements, with senior expertise in international company structuring and bank-account setup.
Register a company in Guernsey, zero, with pedigree.
Set up a Guernsey company remotely: a Crown Dependency vehicle with a standard 0% corporate rate, no VAT, no capital-gains tax and no withholding, in the jurisdiction that invented the protected cell company and built one of Europe's great private-equity and insurance centres. The registry incorporates in 24 hours; express takes fifteen minutes.A Guernsey company set up remotely: 0% standard rate, no VAT, no withholding, in the Crown Dependency that invented the PCC. Registry works in 24 hours; express in 15 minutes.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
6,000+
companies servedcompanies served
Updated
Guernsey · at a glance
Legal formCompany limited by shares
Time to set up24 hours · 15-min express
Corporate tax0% standard
VATNone
Min. share capitalNo minimum
Remote setupYes - via licensed provider
4.7
★★★★★
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Guernsey in brief
The Channel Islands' understated powerhouse.
Guernsey is a British Crown Dependency in the English Channel - self-governing for eight centuries, outside the UK and the EU, with courts blending Norman heritage and English commercial law. Its finance industry punches far above the island's size: hundreds of investment funds, a private-equity ecosystem that lists vehicles on the London Stock Exchange, and the insurance market that invented the protected cell company in 1997.
The tax system is disarmingly simple: company income is taxed at a standard 0%, with 10% reserved for regulated financial operations and 20% for utilities and local property. There is no VAT, no capital-gains tax, no withholding on dividends to non-resident owners and no inheritance tax - only the global minimum top-up for €750M+ groups interrupts the zero. In exchange, Guernsey expects grown-up behaviour: economic substance where it applies, accounts prepared, and licensed local providers on file. That discipline is precisely why banks and institutional investors treat Guernsey paper like Swiss watches.
Guernsey is a self-governing Crown Dependency outside the UK and EU, with eight centuries of autonomy and a finance industry far bigger than the island: funds, LSE-listed PE vehicles, and the insurance market that invented the protected cell company.
Tax is simple: 0% standard, 10% regulated finance, 20% utilities/property. No VAT, no CGT, no withholding. The price is discipline - substance, accounts, licensed providers - and that is why institutions trust it.
Packages & pricing
Guernsey company registration - cost & packages.
01 - COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
Company
from£3,900GBP · all-in
Remote incorporation of a Guernsey company - name reservation, Registry filing, government fees and the first year of the registered office and resident agent included.
✓Company name check & reservation✓Guernsey Registry filing & fees✓Memorandum & articles of association✓Registered office & resident agent - first year✓Corporate documents with apostille✓Free pre-incorporation consultation
Optional add-ons: 15-minute express incorporation - registry surcharge · substance package - scoped individually · annual renewal - from £2,600/year.Add-ons: 15-min express - registry surcharge · substance scoped individually · renewal from £2,600/year.
Start with Company →02 - COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
Most popularCompany + Bank Account
from£5,800GBP · all-in
A working Guernsey company with a bank or fintech account - GBP/EUR/USD balances, cards and online banking, arranged with Channel-Island banks and UK EMIs.
✓Everything in Company✓Account with a Guernsey bank or UK/EU EMI - multi-currency✓Account application & KYC file preparation✓Introduction to 2-3 suitable institutions✓Compliance onboarding support✓Dedicated account manager
Start with Banking →Starting figures, confirmed before engagement. Registry fees and the resident agent are itemised; fund and insurance structures are scoped separately.Starting figures, confirmed before engagement. Registry fees and agent itemised.
What you can do
Popular uses for a Guernsey company.
Guernsey law welcomes foreign founders, and a company may pursue almost any lawful business. Funds and insurance license with the GFSC; the 0% standard rate covers ordinary trading and holding.A company may pursue almost any lawful business; funds and insurance license with the GFSC.
Investment funds & PElicensed
Private-equity and venture vehicles. Including LSE-listed structures. In a top-tier fund centre.
Insurance & PCC captiveslicensed
The home of the protected cell company and one of the world's leading captive markets.
Holding & JVs
Institutional-grade holding companies with 0% tax and no withholding on dividends out.
Private wealth & trusts
Companies alongside trusts and foundations in a 250-year fiduciary tradition.
International trading
Cross-border goods and services from a whitelisted, VAT-free base.
Real estate & assets
UK and international property held through a lender-friendly structure.
Funds & PElicensed
Top-tier fund centre, LSE-listed vehicles.
Insurance & PCClicensed
Birthplace of the protected cell company.
Holding & JVs
0% with no withholding out.
Wealth & trusts
250 years of fiduciary tradition.
Trading
Whitelisted, VAT-free base.
Real estate & assets
Lender-friendly structures.
Why Guernsey
Key advantages of the jurisdiction.
✓
0% standard rate
Ordinary trading and holding income is taxed at zero. Only regulated finance (10%) and utilities/property (20%) pay more.Zero on trading and holding; 10/20 only for special sectors.
✓
No VAT, no CGT
Outside every VAT system, with no capital-gains tax, no withholding on dividends out and no inheritance tax.No withholding on dividends, no inheritance tax.
✓
Institutional pedigree
A Crown Dependency on every whitelist, whose funds and PCCs are accepted by the LSE, lenders and regulators worldwide.Whitelisted everywhere; LSE-grade acceptance.
✓
The PCC invention
Guernsey created the protected cell company. Segregated cells under one roof, now the global standard for captives.Segregated cells. The global captive standard.
✓
Fastest registry in class
Standard incorporation in 24 hours and a 15-minute express. With Companies-House-grade discipline.24 hours standard; 15-minute express.
✓
Grown-up substance
Clear economic-substance rules and licensed providers keep the flag credible where cheaper zeros are questioned.Discipline that keeps the zero credible.
How it compares
Guernsey next to the usual shortlist.
Jersey is the twin with a larger banking sector; the Isle of Man sits in the UK VAT area; Gibraltar trades pedigree for price; Cayman rules funds offshore. Figures current as of 2026.Jersey is the banking twin; IoM sits in the UK VAT area; Gibraltar is cheaper; Cayman rules funds. Figures as of 2026.
| Country | Corporate tax | VAT | Fully remote incorporation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guernsey | 0% standard · 10/20 special | None | Yes - 24h, 15-min express |
| Jersey | 0% standard · 10/20 special | 5% GST | Yes - banking twin |
| Isle of Man | 0% standard | 20% - UK VAT area | Yes |
| Gibraltar | 15% - territorial | None | Yes - cheaper |
| Cayman Islands | 0% | None | Yes - fund offshore standard |
GuernseyRemote ✓
Corporate tax0% · 10/20 special
VATnone
JerseyTwin
Corporate tax0% · 10/20 special
VAT5% GST
Isle of ManUK VAT
Corporate tax0% standard
VAT20%
GibraltarCheaper
Corporate tax15% territorial
VATnone
Cayman IslandsFunds
Corporate tax0%
VATnone
Requirements
What Guernsey law actually demands.
01
Shareholders - One or more shareholders, individuals or companies of any nationality; registers are held locally, not published.
02
Director - At least one director of any nationality; resident directors support substance where the activity needs it. We provide them.
03
Share capital - No minimum. A single share of no par value is enough.
04
Registered office & agent - A registered office and a licensed resident agent in Guernsey are mandatory. We provide both as part of the package.
05
Name - A distinguishable name approved by the Registry; sensitive words such as bank, insurance, fund or trust need consent.
06
Accounts & validation - Accounts are prepared and kept. Not filed publicly. Plus an annual validation and substance confirmation where relevant.
How it works
From application to a live company in days.
A licensed Guernsey provider carries the file; you sign remotely, and the Registry incorporates within 24 hours of a clean submission.Filed through a licensed Guernsey provider; the Registry incorporates clean files in 24 hours, express in 15 minutes.
01Same day
Free consultation
We confirm that Guernsey fits your case. Trading, holding, fund or PCC. And fix the full cost.
021-2 days
KYC & documents
Passports, proof of address and a short description of the business; we prepare the incorporation pack.
03Hours
Name reservation
We check and reserve the company name with the Registry.
041 day
Registry filing
The licensed provider files incorporation. Standard 24 hours, express 15 minutes.
053-5 days
Documents & apostille
You receive the certificate, articles and registers, apostilled for use abroad.
061-3 weeks
Banking
We introduce the company to Channel-Island banks or UK EMIs and support the account opening.
Quick facts
Legal formLtd by shares
Min. share capitalNo minimum
Corporate tax0% standard
VATNone
Standard processing24 hours
Express15 minutes
AccountsPrepared, not published
The 15-minute express incorporation is a genuine registry service - useful when a deal signs today.
On the ground
On the ground in Guernsey.
Prifinance - Guernsey
St Peter Port
St Peter Port, Guernsey
01
Crown-Dependency specialists
Your setup is run by a team that files Channel-Island structures with licensed providers every month.
02
Office & resident agent included
A registered office and licensed agent keep the company in good standing while you operate remotely.
03
Funds & insurance experience
GFSC fund and PCC applications are scoped with local counsel. One team from company to licence.
04
Also in Tallinn, London, Dubai & more
A network of offices across Europe, the Gulf and the Americas. One team for your whole international structure.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
5/F, Yau Lee Centre, 45 Hoi Yuen Road, Kwun Tong
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Berlin
Germany
Rankestraße 26
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Istanbul
Türkiye
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
Toronto
Canada
1110 Finch Avenue West, suite 406
Singapore
Singapore
3 Church Street, #29-68 Samsung Hub
Bangkok
Thailand
Unit P01, Penthouse, VASU1, 1 Sukhumvit 25 Alley
Foshan
China
A-Tower, Yuneng Digital Plaza, 46 Lishui Avenue South
Almaty
Kazakhstan
Republic Square 13
Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan
32 Razzakov Street
Taxation 2026
Zero as the default, discipline as the price.
Guernsey's company standard rate is 0%. Regulated financial operations pay 10%, utilities and local property 20%. Around that: no VAT, no capital-gains tax, no withholding on dividends to non-residents - with the 15% global minimum touching only €750M+ groups from 2025.0% standard; 10% regulated finance; 20% utilities/property. No VAT, no CGT, no withholding. Pillar Two only above €750M.
Standard rate - 0%
Trading, holding and investment income defaults to zero, with no local tax return drama.Trading and holding default to zero.
Special rates - 10/20
Banking, fund administration and fiduciary business pay 10%; utilities and Guernsey property income pay 20%.Regulated finance 10%; utilities/property 20%.
No VAT, no CGT
Nothing to register or charge, and disposals leave the company untaxed.Nothing to charge; disposals untaxed.
Substance & Pillar Two
Economic-substance rules apply to relevant activities, and the 15% top-up reaches only the largest multinational groups.Relevant activities show substance; top-up only for giants.
Levies in 2026
Corporate tax (standard)0%
Regulated finance10%
Utilities / local property20%
VATNone
Withholding on dividendsNone
Annual validationFrom ~£500
Accounts are prepared and the annual validation filed - we run the calendar with the licensed provider.
Your team
The specialists who'll handle your case.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
Corporate services advisor
Advises clients on company formation, VAT and ongoing compliance, coordinating each step of the setup across the EU.
Alex Danila
Company formation specialist
Your day-to-day contact - coordinates incorporation, documents and the bank introduction, from the first call through to launch.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Watch: opening a company in Guernsey with Prifinance
Crown-Dependency zero with institutional pedigree - full support for your Guernsey company, start to finish.
Talk to a specialist →FAQ
Guernsey, for the shortlist.
Can I open a company without visiting Guernsey?+
Yes. KYC and the Registry filing run remotely through our lawyers and a licensed local provider; originals follow by courier.
How much does it cost to set up a Guernsey company?+
Turnkey incorporation starts from £3,900 including registry fees and the first year of the registered office and resident agent. With a bank or EMI account arranged, packages start from £5,800.
How long does incorporation take?+
The Registry incorporates clean files within 24 hours, and a genuine 15-minute express service exists for same-day closings. Apostilled documents follow within a week.
Will the company pay tax in Guernsey?+
The standard corporate rate is 0% - it rises to 10% only for regulated financial operations and 20% for utilities and local property. There is no VAT, no capital-gains tax and no withholding on dividends to non-residents. Your home jurisdiction keeps its own claim; we walk it through in the consultation.
What is a protected cell company?+
A Guernsey invention from 1997: one legal entity whose assets sit in segregated cells, each shielded from the others' liabilities. It became the global standard for captive insurance and multi-strategy structures - and it still works best in its birthplace.
What are the substance requirements?+
Companies in relevant sectors - holding, finance, IP and others - must show direction, people and premises proportionate to their activity. Pure equity holdings face a reduced test. We size the substance package to what your case actually needs.
Does the company file accounts?+
Accounts must be prepared and kept, but they are not filed publicly - the Registry receives an annual validation instead. Audit applies only to larger or regulated companies.
How is banking for a Guernsey company?+
Strong: Channel-Island branches of major banks serve substance-backed companies, and UK EMIs cover operating accounts. Guernsey paper is whitelisted everywhere, which keeps onboarding smooth.
Guernsey or Jersey - which one?+
Twins with different accents: Jersey has the bigger banking sector, Guernsey the deeper insurance and PE ecosystem - and it invented the PCC. Costs are similar; the industry you are in usually decides.
What happens after incorporation each year?+
The annual validation with its fee, renewal of the office and agent, accounts preparation and substance confirmation where relevant - we run the calendar and file everything for you.
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
More from Prifinance
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Free consultation
Start your Guernsey company today.
Tell us about the business, and a specialist replies within one business day: trading, holding, fund or PCC, with a timeline and a fixed quote.A Guernsey specialist replies within one business day: trading, holding, fund or PCC, with a fixed quote.
✓No obligation; the first consultation is free✓A clear recommendation, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU speaking team