How to Re-Domicile Your Company to a New Jurisdiction

Your company may have started in one country — but that doesn’t mean it has to stay there forever.

As regulations shift, taxes rise, or banking access gets restricted, more entrepreneurs are realizing that where your company is legally based has a massive impact on how you operate, raise capital, protect assets, and pay taxes.

The good news? In many cases, you don’t have to shut down and start over.

You can re-domicile your company — that is, move it from one jurisdiction to another — without losing its legal identity, bank accounts, assets, or contracts.

This article breaks down what re-domiciliation is, how it works, when to use it, and which jurisdictions support it — so you can make a smart, strategic move if your current setup no longer fits your business.

What Is Company Re-Domiciliation?

Re-domiciliation (also called continuation or migration) is the legal process of transferring a company’s place of incorporation from one jurisdiction to another — without dissolving or liquidating the company.

The company keeps:

• Its name (or a close variation)
• Its bank accounts (if the bank supports it)
• Its contracts and legal obligations
• Its historical corporate records
• Its EIN or tax ID (if applicable)
• Its assets and liabilities

In simple terms, you’re moving the company’s “legal home,” not starting a new business from scratch.

Why Re-Domicile Instead of Starting Over?

Here’s why re-domiciling is often smarter than forming a new company:

• Keep legacy contracts: Avoid renegotiating or re-signing deals under a new entity
• Preserve banking relationships: No need to open a new account if your bank supports the move
• Maintain reputation and history: A company with a track record may appear more credible
• Avoid triggering tax consequences: Liquidating a company may be treated as a taxable event
• Streamline licensing and ownership: No need to transfer IP, shares, or licenses between entities

Done properly, re-domiciling gives you a cleaner, faster, and more flexible way to evolve your structure — especially in a tightening compliance environment.

When to Consider Re-Domiciling Your Company

Here are common situations where re-domiciliation makes sense:

1. Your current jurisdiction is blacklisted

If your company is incorporated in a jurisdiction that has landed on the EU blacklist or faces banking restrictions (e.g., Belize, Seychelles, Dominica), you may face:

• Difficulties opening or keeping bank accounts
• Problems with payment processors like Stripe
• Suspicion from partners or clients

Moving to a cleaner jurisdiction like the BVI, Cayman, UAE, or Singapore can restore credibility.

2. You’re relocating your business operations

If your physical operations, customers, or team have shifted, you may want your company based somewhere more aligned with your current footprint.

This can also help with:

• Substance requirements
• Banking and licensing
• Tax residency and compliance

3. You want to benefit from better tax laws

Maybe you started your company in a high-tax country. If you re-domicile it to a zero-tax or territorial-tax jurisdiction, you may reduce or eliminate corporate tax — as long as it’s structured legally and transparently.

4. You’re preparing for investment or exit

Some investors won’t touch a company from certain jurisdictions. Or your acquirer may require you to flip the company to a cleaner jurisdiction before closing.

Re-domiciling in advance of a deal can streamline due diligence and avoid delays.

How Re-Domiciliation Actually Works

Not all jurisdictions allow re-domiciliation. You need to move your company from a jurisdiction that permits outbound continuation to one that accepts inbound re-domiciliation.

Here’s how the process usually goes:

Step 1: Confirm eligibility

Check that:

• The current jurisdiction allows outbound re-domiciliation
• The destination jurisdiction allows inbound continuation
• Your company is in good standing (all fees paid, no legal disputes)

Step 2: Prepare required documents

You’ll typically need:

• Certificate of good standing from current registrar
• Resolution from directors/shareholders approving the move
• Updated Memorandum & Articles to comply with the new jurisdiction
• KYC documentation for beneficial owners
• Declaration of solvency (proving no outstanding debts or legal actions)

Step 3: File with the new jurisdiction

Submit your continuation application to the registrar in the destination country. If approved, you’ll receive:

• New Certificate of Continuation
• Confirmation of your company’s new registered office
• Local compliance obligations (e.g. annual filings)

Step 4: Deregister from the old jurisdiction

Once the move is finalized, you may (in some jurisdictions) be required to deregister the company from its original registry.

In other cases, the continuation is seamless and automatic — with your agent handling all correspondence.

Step 5: Notify banks, partners, and tax authorities

Update:

• Bank account records (to reflect the new jurisdiction)
• Contracts and invoices
• Corporate website, stationery, and digital presence
• Any tax reporting obligations (especially in CFC-reporting countries)

Jurisdictions That Allow Re-Domiciliation

Here are some of the most popular and reputable jurisdictions that support inbound continuation:

• British Virgin Islands (BVI)
• Cayman Islands
• Bermuda
• Seychelles
• Belize
• Barbados
• Isle of Man
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Singapore
• Hong Kong
• United Arab Emirates (RAK ICC)
• Panama

And here are some common outbound jurisdictions that allow companies to migrate:

• Seychelles
• Belize
• Cyprus
• Barbados
• Marshall Islands
• Gibraltar
• Cook Islands
• Anguilla

Note: The US, UK, and Germany do not support corporate continuation in or out.

How Long Does Re-Domiciliation Take?

The process generally takes 2 to 6 weeks, depending on:

• The jurisdictions involved
• The responsiveness of your existing agent
• How clean your documentation is
• Whether your company requires special licensing

Some agents offer “express” handling, but it’s always smarter to plan for a full month or more.

Costs of Re-Domiciling a Company

Expect to pay:

• $3,000–$6,000 USD for legal, filing, and agent fees
• Additional KYC review or notary costs
• Ongoing annual fees in your new jurisdiction

Banking support (if needed) may cost extra — especially if you want to switch or reopen under the new company profile.

What Happens to Bank Accounts and Contracts?

Banking

Most banks allow you to keep your account open after re-domiciling, as long as the underlying company remains the same. You’ll likely need to:

• Update company documents
• Provide proof of the continuation
• Re-complete KYC

That said, some banks are sensitive to jurisdiction changes — especially if moving from a risky country to a higher-compliance one. In some cases, they’ll require you to open a new account.

Contracts and Clients

Re-domiciliation is legally structured to avoid breaking continuity. This means:

• Existing contracts remain valid
• You don’t need to re-sign agreements
• The company retains its obligations and liabilities

Still, it’s smart to notify major clients or partners that your legal domicile has changed, especially if invoices or tax profiles are affected.

Redomiciliation vs. New Entity: Which Is Better?

Consideration	Re-Domiciliation	New Entity
Retain contracts	✅ Yes	❌ No
Keep same bank account	✅ Sometimes	❌ No
Maintain legal history	✅ Yes	❌ No
Faster to set up	❌ Slower	✅ Faster
Cleaner for compliance	✅ Often	✅ Often

If your existing company is clean, well-documented, and active, re-domiciliation is often the smarter long-term move. But if your current entity is messy, unbankable, or expired — starting fresh may be easier.

Final Thoughts

Re-domiciling your offshore company is a powerful way to adapt your structure without losing your foundation. It lets you move into a better jurisdiction, meet new regulatory demands, improve banking access, and clean up your international presence — all without starting over.

But this isn’t a DIY process. Every jurisdiction has its own quirks, and one mistake could mean compliance issues, banking friction, or tax trouble.