--- title: "Moving to Monaco 2026: visas, requirements and tax" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Monaco and its harbours along the Riviera coast # Moving to Monaco 5 ways to move to Monaco in our guide: 1 pay-to-stay route, 1 business / startup route, 1 work visa, 1 student visa, 1 spouse visa. No digital nomad visa. Checked against official sources on 12 October 2026. **Longest first stay:** **1 year** Independent means card Monaco is a small, dense place where settling in usually means showing you can live there without taking a local job, or that you have a business or employer already lined up. The residence routes here are mostly about proving a suitable home in Monaco and enough resources, and the paperwork runs through the Monegasque authorities rather than a single visa office. People living on savings, a pension or support from a relative or partner Founders and managers running a business in Monaco Employees hired by a Monaco employer Students supported by a relative or their own funds Spouses and partners of Monaco residents or Monegasque nationals ## Retire or live on savings · 1 ### [Independent means card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-independent-means/) **First stay:** 1 yr Needs a place to live Retirement [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-independent-means/) ## Business / Startup · 1 ### [Business owner card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-business-owner/) **First stay:** 1 yr Needs a place to live [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-business-owner/) ## Work · 1 ### [Employee card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-employee/) **First stay:** 1 yr Needs a place to live [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-employee/) ## Student · 1 ### [Student card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-student/) **First stay:** 1 yr Needs a place to live [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-student/) ## Spouse visas · 1 For people married to, or in a partnership with, a citizen or permanent resident. ### [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) **First stay:** 1 yr Needs a place to live [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) ## Tax Monegasque nationals and residents, other than French nationals, pay no income tax in Monaco; the only direct tax is on the profits of industrial and commercial activities. The exemption turns on genuine establishment in Monaco rather than a day count. For businesses, corporate income tax applies where turnover is earned mostly outside Monaco, and a start-up scheme gives new firms a period without corporate income tax followed by a reduced profit base. Tax and residence are separate questions, so take advice on your own situation. Standard rules ### [Personal tax: no income tax for residents other than French nationals](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/tax/#tax-mc-ordinary-no-income-tax) 0% tax **Details** - On: No personal income tax - Who: The exemption covers activities carried out in Monegasque nationals and residents, except French nationals, pay no income tax in Monaco. #### Taxed on No personal income tax; the only direct tax is the tax on profits of industrial and commercial activities. #### Who it applies to - The exemption covers activities carried out in, and persons genuinely established in, the Principality. - Monaco levies no wealth tax, annual property tax or council tax. #### Exclusions - French nationals are governed by the 1963 France-Monaco tax convention. - The exemption does not affect the rules applied by other States. #### Tax residence The exemption is defined by genuine establishment in Monaco. #### Visas A residence card is the basis of establishment in Monaco; the card itself does not grant the tax position. #### Other taxes VAT is levied on the same basis and at the same rates as in France; registration duty is 0.5% to 7.5% or a fixed EUR 10 (≈ $11); inheritance and gift tax applies only to assets in Monaco. Checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/tax/) Standard rules ### [Corporate income tax: 25% for companies earning over 25% of turnover outside Monaco](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/tax/#tax-mc-corporate-income-tax-25) 25% tax **Details** - On: Taxable profit after deducting expenses Commercial and industrial businesses earning more than 25% of turnover outside Monaco pay corporate income tax at 25% for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2022. #### Taxed on Taxable profit after deducting expenses, including the pay of the entrepreneur and directors who work in the firm. #### Who it applies to - Firms carrying out industrial or commercial activity with more than 25% of turnover generated outside Monaco. #### Exclusions - Income from patents and copyright is outside the tax if received by natural persons, but taxable when received by companies. - Capital gains on asset sales may be exempt if reinvested in the firm under conditions. #### Tax residence The nature of the activity and the location of transactions decide liability, not the legal form. #### Visas Independent of the residence card. #### Other taxes VAT follows French rules and rates. Checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/tax/) Special regime ### [Business start-up scheme: two years without corporate income tax, then reduced profit base](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/tax/#tax-mc-start-up-profit-relief) Tax relief **Details** New businesses are exempt from corporate income tax for two years, then taxed on 25%, 50% and 75% of profit in years 3 to 5. #### Taxed on Profit of the new business: 0% in years 1 and 2, then 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of profit in years 3 to 6. #### Who it applies to - Firms created in Monaco that are within the scope of corporate income tax and carry on a genuinely new business. #### Tax residence Applies to firms created in Monaco. #### Visas Relevant to business owners holding a business permit and residence card. #### Other taxes The standard corporate rate after relief is 25%. Checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/tax/) Checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) **No digital nomad visa in Monaco.** Remote workers usually look at [Independent means card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-independent-means/), or [nomad visas elsewhere](https://settleanywhere.com/visas/digital-nomad/). **Switch to later · 1** Spouse visas ### [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/spouse-of-citizen/) **First stay:** 5 yrs [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/spouse-of-citizen/) **Path to permanent residence · 1** - **PR after 10 years** · Privileged residence card (carte de séjour privilégié) ## Arriving in Monaco: first steps 1. Sort out your entry conditions first, since these differ by nationality and EEA nationals need no visa. 2. Secure a home in Monaco suited to your household, whether as owner, shareholder of the owning company, tenant or guest of a close relative or partner. 3. Gather your resource evidence: a recent Monaco bank attestation for savings, an Employment Service attestation for a job, or a trade register extract for a business. 4. Prepare your identity and status documents, such as a passport with the establishment visa, a recent birth certificate and a sworn statement for first-time applicants. 5. Apply for the temporary residence card that matches your situation and pay the issue fee for a first card. 6. If you have a spouse, partner or children, plan their own card applications, remembering that children under sixteen receive a travel document instead. ## Questions people ask ### Can I retire or live in Monaco on my savings or pension? Monaco has 1 retirement or pay-to-stay route. [Independent means card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-independent-means/) gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. ### Can I move to Monaco by starting a business? Monaco has 1 business or startup route. [Business owner card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-business-owner/) gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. ### What work visas does Monaco offer foreigners? Monaco has 1 work visa. [Employee card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-employee/) gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. ### How do I get a student visa for Monaco? Monaco has 1 student visa. [Student card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-student/) gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. ### Can I join my spouse or partner in Monaco? Yes. Monaco has 1 spouse visa. [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. ## Compare with [🇵🇹 Portugal](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/) [🇪🇸 Spain](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/) [🇬🇪 Georgia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/) [🇮🇹 Italy](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/) [🇬🇷 Greece](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/) [🇩🇪 Germany](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/) [🇫🇷 France](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/) [🇬🇧 United Kingdom](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.