Guernsey has once again been awarded European Domicile of the Year at the Captive Review Awards 2025 held in Luxembourg.
Guernsey’s history of domiciling captives goes back for more than a century, with the island’s insurance industry continuously evolving to deliver innovative solutions and specialist expertise to a global client base.
James Stewart, Chairman of the Guernsey International Insurance Association (GIIA), said in his closing remarks at the Guernsey Airmic Conference: “Our captive insurance industry has been going for more than 100 years, and while we have recently seen the emergence of new captive regimes across Europe, Guernsey’s position as Europe’s leading captive domicile remains strong. Guernsey will continue to innovate.”
As the pioneer of the Protected Cell Company (PCC), Guernsey has a longstanding history of providing innovative risk solutions, and according to a report published by Frontier Economics, FTSE 100 companies save nearly £100 million annually through the use of Guernsey captives.
The judges for the Captive Review Awards said: “Guernsey stands out for its comprehensive case studies, innovative structures, responsiveness, internal improvements, industry engagement initiatives and support for captives. It has achieved significant growth since 2024 and the regulator's pragmatic approach and fast-track pre-authorisation regime further enhance its position.”
Since last year’s awards, Guernsey has continued to advance its insurance industry and specialist expertise. With the launch of the Certificate in International Insurance Management qualification in 2023, 41 candidates have now enrolled on the certificate programme.
Additionally, the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC) rolled out a new Applications & Authorisations Portal earlier this year, providing a secure online platform which is further streamlining and accelerating the captive insurance licensing process.
Guernsey Finance Chairman Paul Sykes added: “This award is a testament to our insurance industry’s united efforts, with GIIA, the regulator and local service providers working together to continuously enhance Guernsey’s captive offering year on year.
As captives gain more traction globally, it is rewarding to be recognised as the leading captive domicile in Europe for another year.”
This latest accolade reaffirms Guernsey’s role as a trusted and forward-thinking hub for captive insurance, setting the standard for excellence across Europe.
