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Saint Helena
Africa
Lucky Nomads World Index
68.50 / 100
Global rank
#72
Corporate tax
25%
Personal tax
31%
Lucky Nomads Proprietary Indices
22 scoring dimensions scored independently using a deterministic methodology built on primary sources and structured analytical inference.
- SafetyShield Index9.0 / 10
- Affordability Index5.5 / 10
- Entry Ease Index6.3 / 10
- Tax Freedom Index8.5 / 10
- WiFi Index5.4 / 10
- Admin Ease Index7.0 / 10
- Healthcare Index7.1 / 10
- City Comfort Index7.6 / 10
- WeatherComfort Index7.0 / 10
- Banking Index8.0 / 10
- GeoStability Index9.4 / 10
- Justice & Order Index8.3 / 10
- Quality of Life Index7.9 / 10
- Open Society Index7.7 / 10
- Flight Index1.8 / 10
- Environmental Quality Index8.9 / 10
- English Index9.4 / 10
- Wealth Protection Index8.3 / 10
- AI Access Index6.3 / 10
- Economic Openness Index8.0 / 10
- Market Depth Index1.4 / 10
- ClimateShield Index7.8 / 10
Country snapshot
- Capital
- Jamestown
- Population (approx.)
- 5,700
- Area (km²)
- 394 km²
- Currency code (ISO 4217)
- SHP
- Currency name
- Saint Helena pound
- Main airport IATA code
- HLE
- Airport name
- Saint Helena Airport
General facts
- Minimum monthly cost
- From $2,244/month
- Main languages
- English
- Jurisdiction type
- Territory
- Region
- Africa
- Web TLD
- .sh
- Phone calling code
- +290
Web TLD and phone codes are general references and can differ for territories or special numbering plans.
Tax system
- Marginal CIT (corporate income tax)
- 25%Very highTerritorial
- Marginal PIT (personal income tax)
- 31%HighTerritorial
Corporate taxation basis: Territorial. The country primarily taxes profits from domestic-source operations, with defined statutory exceptions. Foreign business profits are generally outside the base, subject to anti-abuse rules.
Strict territorial principle. Only income earned, accrued or derived in or from Saint Helena is taxable. Foreign-source profits exempt by default. A foreign person is taxable only with a permanent establishment on the island or by conducting an activity in Saint Helena (e.g. commercial exploitation of the EEZ for fishing).
Flat 25 percent corporate income tax under the Income Tax Ordinance 6 of 2012 (Saint Helena), reduced to 15 percent on chargeable income from nine listed productive sectors (Schedule 1, Approved Investment Activities). Capital gains taxed at 10 percent. Ascension Island operates a separate Income Tax Ordinance 2001 with a flat regime. Tristan da Cunha has no comparable corporate framework.
Personal income tax basis. Territorial. The country taxes income arising in or derived from its territory. Foreign-source income is generally exempt, subject to source-based rules that may vary by income type.
Saint Helena taxes only income earned in Saint Helena, whether received by residents or non-residents (territorial source-based system). Foreign-source income exempt for residents. Ascension Island operates a separate flat 27 percent income tax for non-military staff under the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 (also territorial). Tristan da Cunha has no published income tax legislation.
Progressive 26 percent on first of chargeable income, 31 percent above. Personal allowance . Self-employed individuals in nine listed productive sectors taxed at 21 / 26 percent under the Schedule 1 sectoral concession. Capital gains taxed at 10 percent above a annual exemption (principal residence exempt). Dividends taxed at 8 percent at individual level.
Tax percentages here are editorial reference figures for comparison, not individualized tax advice.
Special tax regimes
For companies
Saint Helena Sectoral Reduced Tax Rate (Approved Investment Activities)
AvailableSectoral concessionary regime under the Income Tax Ordinance, Ordinance 6 of 2012 (Schedule 1) that taxes chargeable income attributable to nine…
For individuals
Saint Helena Sectoral Reduced Tax Rate (Approved Investment Activities)
AvailableSectoral concessionary regime under the Income Tax Ordinance, Ordinance 6 of 2012 (Schedule 1) that taxes chargeable income attributable to nine…
You either qualify for Saint Helena's special tax regimes, or you don't. GeoCompass determines your eligibility, highlights the applicable conditions, and helps estimate your potential tax exposure.
Check my eligibilityVisa and mobility
Your access
Visa need and length of stay for Saint Helena. Saved on your device.
Overview
- Citizenship by investment
Not currently available
- Residence by investment
Not currently available
- Remote work visa (digital nomad visa)
Not currently available
Programmes
Saint Helena lists several residency and mobility routes across work (employer sponsored) and family and dependant routes. Lucky Nomads tracks these programmes as editorial reference points. Thresholds, documents, and personal eligibility are evaluated in GeoCompass against your exact profile.
2 programmes listed · 2 are marked available in our editorial review
Work (employer sponsored)
1 programmeEmployer-linked permits and skilled employment passes for hired professionals.
- Available
Saint Helena Work Permit (with Long-term Entry Permit)
Family and dependant routes
1 programmeSpouse, dependant, and family reunion style permits.
- Available
Saint Helena Long-term Entry Permit (LTEP)
Not all residency routes are accessible. Some require minimum income, investment thresholds, local substance, or strict eligibility conditions. GeoCompass evaluates which options you can actually secure in Saint Helena.
Evaluate my residency optionsVisa and programme labels reflect editorial research, not individualized legal advice. Thresholds, documents, and personal eligibility are evaluated in GeoCompass. Always confirm rules with official government sources before you plan a move.
Dimensions breakdown
Strongest dimensions
- GeoStability Index9.4 / 10Exceptional geostability index
- English Index9.4 / 10Exceptional english index
- SafetyShield Index9.0 / 10High personal and institutional safety
Weakest dimensions
- Market Depth Index1.4 / 10
- Flight Index1.8 / 10
Published ranks by index
One row per leaderboard we publish (the composite index plus each proprietary dimension). A rank appears only when this country is currently in the published top 10 for that list. Open a row to see the full ranking. Hover an index name for the same short definition as elsewhere on the site.
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Founder, Lucky Nomads · Wealth manager
Researched from official sources, leading global indices and Lucky Nomads' own scoring.
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