Relocation intelligence
🇬🇫 Moving to French Guiana: tax, residency and cost of living
French Guiana is a French overseas department and outermost EU region that applies the full French tax system, with progressive income tax up to 45%, corporate tax of about 25% and a flat 30% levy on capital gains. Residents receive a 40% income-tax réfaction capped at EUR 4,050, and VAT is provisionally not applicable. The currency is the euro and the territory is part of the EU and EEA, but it faces high costs, insecurity and isolation on the edge of the Amazon rainforest.
Thinking of moving to French Guiana? Here is the tax, residency, property and quality-of-life picture in plain numbers, with sources.
Key facts
- Top income tax
- 45%
- Corporate tax
- 25%
- Capital gains
- 30%
- Wealth tax
- Yes
- Inheritance tax
- Yes
- Cost of living index
- 82
- Safety
- 3/10
- Internet quality
- 6/10
- Visa-free destinations
- 194
- Foreigners can own property
- Yes
- Residency in
- 6 months
- Citizenship in
- 5 years
Taxes
The full French tax system with a top rate of 45% plus social charges (CSG/CRDS), but residents receive a 40% income-tax réfaction capped at EUR 4,050. VAT is provisionally not applicable and corporate tax is about 25%.
Residency and visas
As an outermost EU region, EU citizens reside freely; non-EU nationals follow French residence frameworks. The labor market is small and centered on the space sector (Kourou), gold, public service and construction.
Property ownership
Foreigners may freely buy real estate under French law, with no nationality-based restrictions. The market is small and much of the territory is protected Amazon rainforest.
Cost of living and quality of life
Guiana offers spectacular nature and French services, but faces high living costs, high crime, a tropical climate and isolation.
Passport and mobility
Residents are French citizens and travel on a French passport with visa-free access to about 194 destinations, and enjoy free movement within the EU and the Schengen area.
Why people move to French Guiana
French and EU services
As an overseas department and outermost EU region, Guiana benefits from French healthcare, education, institutions and the euro.
Tax réfaction and no VAT
Residents receive a 40% income-tax reduction (up to EUR 4,050) and VAT is provisionally not applicable, easing the burden.
Honest trade-offs
- Frans-Guyana kent hoge criminaliteit en onveiligheid, met een van de hoogste moordcijfers van het Franse grondgebied.
- Het Franse toptarief van 45% plus sociale premies (CSG/CRDS) maakt de belastingdruk hoog, ondanks de réfaction van 40% die op EUR 4.050 is gemaximeerd.
- De kosten van levensonderhoud zijn hoog door afhankelijkheid van import, en het gebied is geïsoleerd aan de rand van het Amazonewoud.
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