Region Profile:

Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory located in the West Indies of the Caribbean Sea. It is nicknamed “The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean” both for its resemblance to coastal Ireland and for the Irish ancestry of many of its inhabitants.

(This map is sourced from Nations Online Project)

Capital: Plymouth

Population: 4390(194th)

Area: 102 km²(116th)

Offical Language: English

Currency: East Caribbean dollar( pegged to the United States dollar, at the exchange rate of US$1 = EC$2.70)

GDP per Captial: US$12,384

How To Immigrate To Montserrat:

As a British Overseas Territory, Montserrat offers two immigration options for foreigners: an economic residence with a minimum investment requirement of $150,000 and a digital nomad visa with a minimum annual income requirement of $70,000.

Economic Residence:

Foreigners who complete one of the following three investment options can apply for Montserrat’s Permit of Economic Residence:

1. Deposit funds of more than $150,000 (400,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars) in a local bank;

2. Purchase property in the locale worth more than $150,000;

3. Buy government bonds in the locale valued at more than $150,000.

The processing time for Montserrat’s Economic Residence is very short, requiring only 24 hours. The necessary documents include a criminal record clearance, a valid passport, two passport-sized photos, a medical examination certificate, and proof of investment.

The application fee is 1,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars (at a fixed exchange rate, 1 Eastern Caribbean dollar equals $0.37), and the process fee is 20,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars.

The visa is valid for 5 years. By maintaining the investment, it can be renewed an unlimited number of times, and there’s no minimum residence requirement. However, if a foreigner wishes to apply for the British Overseas Territory Citizenship (BOTC) passport locally, they must have legally resided in the locale for over 5 years.

Remote Worker Stamp:

Montserrat’s Digital Nomad Visa, known as the Montserrat Remote Worker Stamp, was launched in January 2021. The requirements for applicants are as follows: they must work remotely without taking local job opportunities; have an annual income of at least $70,000; possess valid local health and COVID-19 insurance; and provide an arrival declaration three days prior to their entry.

The necessary documents include:

• A completed application form(Apply Here)

• Proof of Employment or Business Incorporation Certificate.

• Proof of the annual income of the applicant, which must exceed USD$70,000 and be derived from outside of Montserrat

• Proof of valid health insurance with Montserrat and COVID-19 cover in respect of the applicant and any family member accompanying him for the period of which the Remote Employment Stamp is to be granted

• Proof of Visas (where applicable) (See all visa requirements HERE)

• A list of the items the applicant wishes to import free of customs duties and consumption tax and which are necessary for or connected to the fulfilment of his employment duties while in Montserrat, if any.

• Proof of relationship to dependants.

Each applicant (as well as each family member) will also submit:

• A passport size photograph 

• A copy of their Birth Certificate

• A copy of the biographical data page of their passport (Passport must have a minimum of 6 months validity)

The application steps are uncomplicated:

1. Preparation: Ready all documents, ensuring they’re notarized in English. Complete and submit the online application form, ensuring all attachments are uploaded (the website provides the relevant link).

2. Fee Submission: Individual applicants pay $500, while families of three or fewer members are charged $750. Each additional applicant incurs a $250 fee. After settling the fee, the application can be submitted.

3. Receiving Approval: The Montserrat Digital Nomad Visa’s processing span is 7 business days. Once approved, an email confirmation is dispatched, which the applicant must present upon arrival in Montserrat.

The visa is valid for one year and can be renewed indefinitely.  The main applicant’s spouse, child or stepchild under the age of eighteen years, and any other relative of the applicant who by reason of physical or mental disability, age or infirmity is reliant on the applicant or his welfare can be considered as dependent when appliy for the remote worker stamp.

Taxation:

In Montserrat, the primary tax categories are income, corporate, property, and withholding taxes.

For income tax, there’s a starting bracket of $15,000, and the rates scale from 5% up to 40%.

If you’re a digital nomad and not a citizen of the U.S. or U.K., you’re exempt from local taxation.

Naturalization:

According to the new regulations effective from January 1, 2023, foreigners who have legally resided in Montserrat for a full 8 years and, in the 6 months leading up to the application, have either a monthly income exceeding $5,000 or own property in the locale worth more than $50,000, are eligible to apply for permanent residency there.

After living in Montserrat for a year as a permanent resident, one can apply for the British Overseas Territory Citizenship (BOTC) passport. Holders of the BOTC can then undergo a certain procedure to directly apply for a British passport.

Useful Links:

Montserrat Permit of Economic Residency Guide：https://www.gov.ms/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Economic-Residence-Guidance-Notes-002.pdf

Montserrat Remote Worker Stamp: https://www.montserratremoteworker.com/

Montserrat Visa Online Platform：https://www.immigration.ms/residents/before_apply

Montserrat Permanent Residence Guide：https://www.gov.ms/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Permanent-Residence-Leaflet-002.pdf