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Principality of MonacoMonaco Residency

Residence and the Purchase and Rental of Property, Taxation

Monaco has been an independent state since 1215 and today comprises a total area of 195 hectares (approximately three quarters of a square mile). The official language is French.

RESIDENCE

There are essentially three ways in which a Monaco residence permit ("carte de séjour") may be obtained : firstly, by virtue of the applicant having been offered employment by a company registered in Monaco ; secondly, in conjunction with a request by the applicant to establish a new business in Monaco (in which event, the obtaining of a residence permit will be dependent on the business licence application being approved) ; thirdly, if the applicant is a retired individual who does not propose to carry on any sort of commercial or business activity.

The procedure for applying for a residence permit is dependent on whether or not the applicant is a national of the European Community :

(i) European Community nationals

Since March 1998 a simplified procedure has been introduced whereby application for a residence permit is now made directly to the Foreign Residents Section of the Sûreté Publique in Monaco. The application must be supported by various documents, including evidence of accommodation in Monaco (generally speaking a lease of title deeds to the property in question). In the case of an applicant proposing to take up employment in the Principality a contract of employment duly certified by the Monegasque authorities must also be supplied. In the case of a retired applicant, evidence of financial means (normally a bank reference) must be submitted. The application procedure generally takes four to six weeks, at the end of which a "carte de séjour", initially valid for a one year period, will be issued.

(ii) Application by non E C nationals

Application must first be made for a French visa at the French Consulate in the country in which the applicant is then resident. The documentation to be supplied with the application is essentially the same as for EC nationals (see (i) above) with the exception that, instead of the lease or title deeds of the applicant's accommodation in Monaco, an undertaking to produce, within three months of making the application, evidence of having such accommodation will normally suffice.

The visa process generally takes not less than three months ; once issued the applicant will then be required to attend an interview with the Monegasque authorities.

Providing that the authorities are satisfied with the application generally a "carte de séjour" will then be issued, normally within a fortnight from the date of interview.

PURCHASE AND RENTAL OF PROPERTY

There are no significant restrictions on the purchase or rental of property in the Principality by foreign nationals. In particular, it is not necessary to be a resident of Monaco to own or lease property ; a considerable amount of property is purchased by non-residents purely for investment purposes.

Monegasque conveyancing procedures are largely identical to those in France, title being passed by means of a deed of conveyance ("acte de vente") executed with a local notary.

Property lettings are generally for between one to three years. A significant percentage of property in Monaco is available for letting only, not for purchase, and it should be noted that there is no particular advantage in purchasing rather than leasing as regards an application for a residence permit.

There are no restrictions on the purchase of property by overseas companies ; indeed a considerable amount of property in Monaco is purchased in this way, there being no adverse tax considerations (unlike the situation in France) and potentially some advantages (for example, the ability to place the shares of the company in a trust).

Notary fees and registration duties are payable by the purchaser when property is acquired. These total approximately 9% of the purchase price but there is a reduced rate of approximately 2.5% where property is acquired directly from the original developer.

Estate agency commission is payable by both vendor and purchaser (at a rate of 5% by the Vendor and 3% by the purchaser, in each case plus V.A.T. at 19.6%) and by the tenant as regards a letting (at a rate of 10% on the first year's rental, again plus V.A.T.). The purchaser's commission of 3% is not, however, payable where the property in question is new and is being purchased directly from the developer.

TAXES

a) Income tax and capital gains tax

There is no income tax or capital gains tax in Monaco.

b) Inheritance tax

Foreign residents are subject to inheritance tax on their Monaco assets (including share certificates and securities held in a Monaco bank) but not on foreign assets. The rate of tax depends on the relationship of the deceased to the beneficiary. The rates range between nil as between husband and wife and children, up to a maximum of 16% in respect of unrelated third parties.

c) Value added tax ­ TVA (taxe sur la valeur ajoutée)

Monaco's indirect taxation regime is virtually identical to that of France. The present standard rate of tax is 19.6% with various lower rates for such items as books and food.

d) Property taxes

There are no property taxes as such in Monaco, the only exception being an annual tax payable in respect of rental property, equal to 1% of the annual rent plus estimated service charges. This tax is payable by the tenant, not the landlord.

BANKING, EXCHANGE CONTROL AND CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

By virtue of various treaties between France and Monaco, Monaco is part of the French banking system and the Euro is the local currency. French exchange control regulations, to which Monaco was subject, have now been removed and funds can accordingly be freely transferred in and out of the Principality. There are no restrictions on the opening of bank accounts in Monaco by foreigners (whether or not resident in Monaco) or by overseas companies.

There has been a customs union with France since 1865 as a result of which Monaco is today part of the French customs zone. As a matter of practicality, therefore, the French customs deal with all Monaco's customs requirements and the two countries are considered as a single area for customs purposes.

BUSINESS IN MONACO

The administration and management of an individual's personal affairs and investments from Monaco are not subject to taxation nor is any prior authorisation from the Monegasque government required.

However the establishment of a business in Monaco is subject to prior government authorisation, a process which generally takes at least three months and involves a detailed scrutiny and analysis of the financial soundness of the founders, the commercial viability of the project and the potential benefits which the proposed company can be expected to bring to the Principality.

Since 1963, Monaco has applied a profits tax (at a present rate of 33 1/3%) on any business deriving more that 25% of its turnover outside the Principality. Whilst purely Monegasque businesses (such as hotels, shops, etc) are, therefore, not subject to tax and although there are also favourable tax rates for companies providing administrative and management services to their overseas affiliates, it will be appreciated that Monaco is not a "tax-heaven" as such for businesses generally.

 

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