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A Survivor’s Guide To Living In Ireland - The Honest Report On Moving To Ireland - Don't move to Ireland without reading this report.   What are the real facts about moving to Ireland and living in Ireland? Will you be looking out the window of your own thatched-roof cottage enjoying the view of rolling green hills, quiet country lanes, and neatly trimmed hedgerows?  Or is that just a overly poetic rose colored fantasy? Will you be buying a cottage in the country side for $15,000, or are those prices long gone?  If you've been thinking about moving to Ireland then you should know the facts and this report has the real facts, not poetic nonsense.  Written by an American who has lived in Ireland for over twenty years this report will provide you with the proper information so you will know exactly what to expect. He is not in real estate, he has nothing to sell you. But he can tell you about real estate and the reality of the $15,000 thatched roof cottage. (He did buy a house for around that price...)  Can you buy one for that price today?  The author, Tom Richards wouldn't leave Ireland on a bet.  ...and you can be sure that when you read this report that you'll learn the real facts that you are going to need before moving to Ireland. Written without any punches pulled. If you've everthought about moving to Ireland, this is the report to read.

Jurisdiction	Tax Residence Qualification	Basis of resident taxation	Legal basis of residence	Cost of residence document	Work Permit required?	Work Permit authority
Bahamas	N/A as no income tax	National Insurance and events-based taxation	Home owners and major international investors	Home owners’ residence card: $50 (+ other fees) Annual residence: $1,000 (+ $20 for each dependent) Permanent residence: $5,000	Yes, unless senior, or with special skills; should contact authorities to discuss	Bahamas Investment Authority

THE BAHAMAS
 

The immigration provisions in the Bahamas are designed to protect the resources and economy of the islands and the rights and income of the residents, and as such, although tourism and foreign investment are encouraged, obtaining residence is a difficult proposition although it is possible. Residence permits must be obtained from the Immigration Board, but the purchase of local residential property has been actively encouraged since the enactment of the International Persons Landholding Act of 1993. (It is worth noting that major international investors and persons in possession of, or intending to purchase, local property valued at $500,000 or more receive accelerated consideration of their residence application). Homeowners can obtain an annually renewable Home Owners Residence Card, which acts as a visa for both entry and residence for $50, although other costs are incurred in the process of making this arrangement. For example:

• Application for registration: $25

 
• Application for permit: $25

 
• Certificate of registration for properties worth $50,000 or less: $50

 
• Certificate of registration for properties worth more than $100,000: $100

 
• Home Owners Residence Card: $50

The concept of residence for tax purposes does not apply in the Bahamas, since there is no income tax as such. All employees pay national insurance contributions (although only Bahamian residents are allowed to reap the benefits), but other than that, taxation is mainly events based, with stamp duty and reasonably high customs duties.

In order for a non-Bahamian to work on the islands, they must obtain a work permit, and each work permit is valid only for that specific person and position. This process is accelerated for senior personnel and those with special skills not available locally, but other non-Bahamian individuals seeking employment must undergo a rigorous and laborious process. In order for them to obtain the work permit, the Immigration board must first consider whether they believe that the person will be an asset to the islands. If they find this to be the case, the prospective employer must advertise and interview locally, and obtain a certificate from the Labour Exchange to the effect that there is no equally qualified Bahamian resident available to fill the post.

The group of islands which forms the Bahamas became an independent nation in 1973 (although the Queen is still head of state), and retain a legal and political regime based on English Common Law. English is the official language, although Creole is also spoken. The cost of living is quite high, as the majority of goods are imported, with freight duty adding to their price. Medical and dental treatment, however, are cheaper than in many other countries, for example the US, although you may wait longer to be treated.

In keeping with their status as an international business centre, the Bahamas maintain a good telecommunications infrastructure, and are working on developing their e-commerce capabilities. The official language of the islands is English, although Creole is also spoken, and the main daily newspapers in circulation are the Nassau Guardian, The Tribune, and the Freeport News. The dominant religion on the islands is Christianity, with many denominations represented. The climate is tropical maritime (which basically means that the weather is nice all year round!), and as a consequence of this, the most popular pastimes are water sports ( for example swimming, snorkelling, sailing, etc) and golf. Gambling is also popular. The crime rate is rising, but the majority of crimes are not committed in areas generally frequented by expats and tourists.
 

Jurisdiction	Tax Residence Qualification	Basis of resident taxation	Legal basis of residence	Cost of residence document	Work Permit required?	Work Permit authority
Bermuda	Possession of Work Permit	No direct taxes, but liable for payroll tax and social contri-butions	Work permit allows residence while valid	-	Yes	Minister of Labour and Home Affairs

BERMUDA

Although Bermuda is an attractive location for expatriates, it is also somewhat small and overpopulated, so in order to preserve what resources are left, the islands have, in effect, 'shut the door' on long term residency applications. Immigration is controlled by the strict regulation of work permits and property purchase by foreign nationals.

In order to obtain a work permit, the prospective Bermudian employer must have applied to the minister on your behalf, and it must have been proved that there was no-one locally who could have filled the position, and that no Bermudian was being disadvantaged by the issuance of the permit. They are usually issued for one year periods, although in the case of senior executives, they may be issued for longer periods. The cost of a work period is met by the future employer, and varies according to the proposed length of employment. A rough guide would be:

• 1 Year: $532

 
• 2 Years: $1064

 
• 3 Years: $1596

 
• 4 Years: $2,128

 
• 5 Years: $2,660

Bermuda has been governed since 1968 by the United Bermuda Party, which has a fairly nationalistic and protectionist stance. Affirmative labour legislation is being introduced which will constrain the ability of local businesses to employ expatriates as freely as has been the case until now. 

The island's telecommunications infrastructure is excellent, and it is in the leading offshore jurisdiction for e-commerce development. 

The official business language of Bermuda is English, although Portuguese is also widely spoken, and the main newspapers in circulation are the Royal Gazette (daily), the Bermuda Sun (daily) and The Mid-Ocean News (weekly). The dominant religion is Christianity, and the mild and humid climate makes outdoor pursuits such as golf, water sports and tennis very popular. Crime, and especially crime against persons, is on the increase, and adequate precautions should be taken. There is a variety of entertainment options open to the expatriate, resident, or visitor, although apparently the standard is not as high as in the island's heyday in the 1960's and 1970's!
 
 

Jurisdiction	Tax Residence Qualification	Basis of resident taxation	Legal basis of residence	Cost of residence document	Work Permit required?	Work Permit authority
Gibraltar	Present for 183 days in the tax year	World- wide income	Category 2-HNWI Category 3-Expat Executive Category 4-REPSS	Cat 2: G£500 (indefinite)Cat 3 or 4: G£500 (3-year certificate)	Yes: EU nationals receive 5- year renewable permit, non-EU only eligible if no Gibraltarian willing or able to do job	Governor under Control of Immigration Ordinance

GIBRALTAR

As a member of the EU, Gibraltar must allow members of EU nation states to enter, work, and live on the peninsula. They will initially receive a 6-month visa, and when that expires, a 5-year renewable work permit if they have found suitable employment, or started a business in the meantime.

For non-EU nationals, however, the situation is quite different, although there are several ways of obtaining residence and employment in this situation. The least appealing of these is to find a job that no native Gibraltarian is willing to undertake. A work permit and residence permit will be issued if this is the case, although generally for a considerably shorter period than is usual. (It must also be added that the government does not encourage this, as Gibraltar already has fairly full employment, and there is the Spanish workforce within easy commuting distance should the need arise.)

There are also residence concessions available for those willing to purchase property in Gibraltar (with the government looking more favourably on those planning to purchase luxury residences), High Net Worth Individuals, and employees and executives of exempt or qualifying companies. Briefly, the groups likely to secure residence and tax concessions in Gibraltar are:

• Category 2 individuals. Also known as High Net Worth Individuals. Of recent years, Gibraltar has legislated great concessions for this group, in order to convince them to make ‘The Rock’ their home. For the payment of a one-off application fee of G£500, and on production of 2 letters of reference (one of which must be from a banker), the HNWI receives a permanent Certificate guaranteeing that he/she will only be taxed on the first G£45,000 of assessable income, on a graduated scale without deductions or allowances, which results in a tax bill of £28,750. All further income is tax-free.
• Category 3 individuals. These are usually expatriate executives working for exempt or qualifying companies, their employer can apply for a renewable certificate valid for 3 years (fee £500) which caps the tax payable at £10,000 (equivalent to income of £27,000), whatever their eventual income
• Category 4 individuals. Otherwise known as Relocated Executives Possessing Special Skills. This group will be providing a service or skill not available locally, and will be of benefit to Gibraltar’s economy. On the provision of a G£500 fee, they will receive a renewable certificate, valid for 3 years, limiting their tax bill to G£5,000 if they are earning up to G£50,000, and G£10,000 otherwise. For each REPSS individual taken on, an employer must create one job for a Gibraltarian.

The official language of Gibraltar is English, although Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Russian are also spoken, reflecting the diversity of cultures present on ‘the rock’, and the majority of the population (74%) is Roman Catholic, with Protestant, Muslim and Jewish minorities also present. The climate is mild and Mediterranean. Newspapers currently available include The Gibraltar Chronicle, and Panorama, and there are a wide range of water sports and wild-life pursuits available for visitors and residents alike. The nightlife in Gibraltar can be lively (and at times rowdy!), but the crime rates are generally low, although there has been an increase in theft and violent crime over the past year. Property prices at time of writing are roughly in line with those in European suburban areas, and the cost of living a little below that of the UK.

Jurisdiction	Tax Residence Qualification	Basis of resident taxation	Legal basis of residence	Cost of residence document	Work Permit required?	Work Permit authority
Guernsey	Present for 182 days in calendar year, or possession of a dwelling place	World-wide income if solely and principally resident	RTW permit gives residence permission for limited period, but long term as Jersey	-	Yes, for non-EU nationals	States Defence Committee of the Aliens Office

GUERNSEY

The immigration situation in Guernsey is similar to that of Jersey, with the intention of preventing newcomers to the islands from putting down roots and establishing permanent residence there. As with Jersey, rare exceptions are made in the case of high net worth individuals purchasing large luxury properties, and offering substantial benefits to the island in terms of taxation and investment.

Residence for taxation purposes is determined by the length of time spent resident in any one calendar year (182 days to qualify), and/or by the possession of a dwelling place anywhere in Guernsey. Those individuals who are solely and principally resident face taxation on their world-wide income, but those who are resident but not solely and principally resident (usually meaning not in possession of a dwelling place) will only be taxed on Guernsey source income, or income remitted there.

Apart from the previously mentioned concessions for certain high net worth individuals purchasing substantial properties, there are no other concessions for expatriate individuals or employees of resident exempt or qualifying companies. The Right to Work permit, however, grants residence permission for the permit's period of validity, and conversely, residence status confers the automatic right to a RTW permit.

As with Jersey, Guernsey is a self governing crown dependency, reliant on the United Kingdom only for defence and foreign affairs matters. It is a stringently regulated jurisdiction, and also like Jersey, has no deposit protection scheme set up, relying on its reputation, and the tightness of its regulations to safeguard the assets of its investors. Key activities include:

• Private and corporate banking

 
• Captive and Life Insurance

 
• Collective investment fund administration

 
• Investment Management

 
• Trust and Company formation and administration

The dominant religion is Christianity, with Church of England, Congregational, and Baptist communities all in existence, and the climate is temperate, with mild winters and cool summers. The crime rate is generally low, and water sports, golf, and outdoor pursuits such as walking and cycling rank high on the list of Guernsey pastimes, although there is a variety of entertainment available in the evenings for the socially minded expat!
 
 

Jurisdiction	Tax Residence Qualification	Basis of resident taxation	Legal basis of residence	Cost of residence document	Work Permit required?	Work Permit authority
Hong Kong	N/A	Territorial Basis: Hong Kong source income	Employment Visa: different types (see summary)	-	Employment Visa required	HKSAR Immigration Department (Director of Immigration)

HONG KONG

Hong Kong’s immigration policy allows for foreign nationals to enter, live and work in the area if they possess a special skill, or perform a particular task which is not available locally, and if their activity significantly benefits the local economy. However, if you wish to immigrate to Hong Kong for this purpose, however, you must obtain an employment visa (having first secured an offer of employment subject to your application being successful). There are several different types of visa with which you can gain entry to Hong Kong, some of which are easier to obtain than others. Briefly, these are:

• Employment visas. These will be needed by:

1. Inter-company transferees, who are generally being relocated overseas to work in the Hong Kong branch of their present employer. This type of visa is usually quite readily issued.
2. Locally recruited expatriates, who have been offered employment whilst already staying in Hong Kong, for whatever reason. This is the most difficult type of visa to obtain, as it is necessary to convince the immigration department that there is no one in the SAR at that time that could fill the position.
3. Specially recruited expatriates, who have been specially recruited from abroad to fill a specific position in Hong Kong (although again, the Immigration department must be convinced that there is no one already in the SAR that could do the job as well).

• Dependent Visas (i.e. spouses or dependent children of expatriates)

• Investment based employment visas. This type of visa used to be much more readily available, but the selection criteria have become much stricter of recent times. In order to be able to obtain entry to Hong Kong under this visa, it must be proved that the business is well capitalised, and will be able to set up an office and employ at least some local staff immediately. The enterprise must also have the support and assistance of another well established business concern, either abroad or locally, and it must be proven that it will be of benefit to the Hong Kong economy.

The cost of living in Hong Kong is reasonably high, with housing rental or purchase being the main expense, with food and entertainment less so, and transportation surprisingly cheap. The dominant religions are Buddhism and Taoism, although there are many other religions represented in Hong Kong, including Christianity, Catholicism, and Ancestor Worship.

Hong Kong occupies a leading position in terms of telecommunications, and the infrastructure is both sophisticated and varied. Both Chinese (usually Cantonese) and English are used widely, with most official documents now printed in both, and there are a number of English language dailies in circulation, including the Asian Wall Street Journal, the Eastern Express, the Hong Kong Standard, International Herald Tribune, and the South China Morning Post.

The climate is tropical, and the more popular pursuits include horse racing, golf, water sports, and various contact sports such as football and rugby. The crime rate is generally low, although there has been an increase in petty crime (such as pick-pocketing), and the night life is exceptionally lively, both for locals and expats.

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