Relocation intelligence
🇻🇦 Moving to Vatican City: tax, residency and cost of living
Vatican City levies no income tax. The effective burden on labor income is zero; the state is funded through donations, museums, investments and the Holy See. As the world's smallest state, Vatican City uses the euro, but it is not a viable emigration destination: citizenship is tied to a role or office within the Holy See and is not obtained through regular immigration. This country is included for completeness.
Thinking of moving to Vatican City? Here is the tax, residency, property and quality-of-life picture in plain numbers, with sources.
Key facts
- Top income tax
- 0%
- Corporate tax
- 0%
- Capital gains
- 0%
- Wealth tax
- No
- Inheritance tax
- No
- Cost of living index
- 70
- Safety
- 5/10
- Internet quality
- 4/10
- Visa-free destinations
- 175
- Foreigners can own property
- No
- Residency in
- 6 months
- Citizenship in
- 5 years
Taxes
No income tax, effectively 0% on labor income. The state is funded through donations, museums, investments and the Holy See.
Residency and visas
Residence is reserved for those with a role or office within the Holy See; regular immigration is not possible.
Property ownership
Property is held by the Holy See; private ownership by foreigners is not applicable.
Cost of living and quality of life
Vatican City is the world's smallest state, safe and culturally unique, but not a viable emigration destination; included for completeness.
Passport and mobility
The Vatican passport is a diplomatic or service document, tied to a role; there is no regular citizenship.
Why people move to Vatican City
No income tax
Vatican City levies no income tax, though it is not a country one can settle in through regular immigration.
Unique and safe
As a spiritual and cultural center Vatican City is unique and very safe, included for completeness.
Honest trade-offs
- Vaticaanstad is geen begaanbare emigratiebestemming: burgerschap en verblijf zijn gebonden aan een functie of ambt binnen de Heilige Stoel.
- Hoewel er geen inkomstenbelasting is, is regulier verblijf of vestiging voor buitenlanders niet mogelijk; het land is opgenomen voor volledigheid.
- Vastgoed is in handen van de Heilige Stoel; privaat eigendom door buitenlanders is niet aan de orde.
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