Low‑Tax Destinations for Nomads: What “Zero Tax” Really Means (2025)

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“Zero tax” never means “no rules.” Several jurisdictions levy no personal income tax on salary or freelance income. You can often live there on a remote‑work or long‑stay visa without local tax liability if your income is earned abroad and you avoid creating a permanent establishment. Corporate tax, VAT, local fees, and immigration requirements still apply. Use this guide to shortlist options, then confirm with a qualified advisor.

How to read this

• Zero or near‑zero refers to personal income tax on wages/independent income for individuals.
• Assumes you are a non‑citizen working remotely for foreign clients/employers and not running a local business that triggers source‑based tax.
• Policies change. Treat this as orientation, not legal or tax advice.

Selection criteria we used

1. No personal income tax on employment/independent income by default, or a practical path to nil local liability for foreign‑sourced earnings.
2. Usable immigration path for remote workers: a digital nomad visa, long‑stay entry, or residence permit by proof‑of‑means.
3. Operational practicality: banking, housing, flights, broadband, safety.
4. Portfolio value: pairing potential with EU, Americas, or Asia residencies in a Residency Insurance plan.

The short list

Below are 10 destinations with no personal income tax on wages and practical paths for remote workers. Each card includes immigration notes and gotchas.

1) United Arab Emirates (Dubai/Abu Dhabi)

• Tax: No personal income tax.
• Visa: Remote Work Visa (1‑year, renewable) or standard residence via employment/company.
• Gotchas: 5% VAT on local consumption. Corporate tax applies to local entities. PE risk if you run an on‑the‑ground business.

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2) Bahrain

• Tax: No personal income tax.
• Visa: Work‑from‑Bahrain style schemes and standard residence options; sponsorship requirements vary.
• Gotchas: Social insurance rules can apply in employment scenarios.

3) Qatar (Doha)

• Tax: No tax on employment income for individuals.
• Visa: Long‑stay and employer‑sponsored residence common; remote‑work options evolving.
• Gotchas: Running a local business can trigger corporate tax and PE.

4) Oman

• Tax: No personal income tax.
• Visa: Long‑stay and residence pathways; policy cadence evolving.
• Gotchas: Business activity can change tax posture.

5) Monaco

• Tax: No personal income tax for most individuals (French nationals have special rules).
• Visa: Residence by proof of accommodation and sufficient means. No classic “nomad visa.”
• Gotchas: High cost of living; banking and KYC are stringent.

6) Cayman Islands

• Tax: No personal income tax.
• Visa: Global Citizen Concierge Programme (remote‑work stay) and other residence categories.
• Gotchas: Minimum income thresholds; import duties and high service costs.

7) Bahamas

• Tax: No personal income tax.
• Visa: BEATS remote‑work permit.
• Gotchas: VAT on consumption; hurricane season resiliency planning recommended.

8) Bermuda

• Tax: No personal income tax; payroll tax borne by employers; other levies apply.
• Visa: Work From Bermuda certificate.
• Gotchas: High rents and cost of goods; limited housing stock.

9) Anguilla

• Tax: No personal income tax.
• Visa: Digital Nomad visa for remote workers.
• Gotchas: Island scale limits some services; import and stamp duties.

10) St. Kitts & Nevis

• Tax: No personal income tax.
• Visa: Long‑stay options; traditional business or property routes more common than “nomad visas.”
• Gotchas: Banking/KYC can be conservative; corporate or local activity may change tax outcome.

Comparison snapshot

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What “zero tax” does not cover

• Corporate tax if you create or manage a company locally.
• VAT/GST/import duties on what you buy and ship.
• Withholding or source‑based taxes if you perform services locally for local clients.
• Home‑country obligations: exit taxes, CFC rules, and reporting remain your responsibility.
• Permanent establishment risk: teams, offices, agents, or repeated local sales can make you taxable.

How to use this in a Residency Insurance plan

• Pair one zero‑tax base (e.g., UAE or Cayman) with 1–2 access residencies in the EU, UK, or APAC for mobility, healthcare, and education options.
• Keep revenue foreign‑sourced and operationally remote to avoid local source rules.
• Build a paper trail: foreign contracts, remote‑work policy, cloud systems, and no local client revenues.
• Add a contingency jurisdiction that tolerates extended stays if flights or policies change.

Next steps with GlobalPassport

1. Run the Mobility Profile to see if a zero‑tax base fits your goals.
2. Use Atlas to compare immigration paths, income thresholds, and renewal rules.
3. In Plan → PassportFolios, model a three‑country Residency Insurance stack that balances tax efficiency, banking access, and quality‑of‑life.
4. Book a 30‑minute consult with a vetted tax advisor to validate PE, CFC, and reporting exposure.

Compliance note: This article is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rules change. Confirm details with licensed professionals before acting.

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