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BASIC COUNTRY FACTS

Saint‌ ‌Helena‌

Jamestown

  • English

6,084

Pound sterling Saint Helena pound

.sh

+290

Pound sterling Saint Helena pound

STATUTORY LABOR REQUIREMENTS

Probation Period

  • Probationary period is generally up to 12 months

Annual Leave

  • An employee shall during each annual leave cycle be entitled to a minimum of five days paid annual leave

Public Holidays

  1. New Year's Day (1st January)
  2. Good Friday (10th April)
  3. Easter Monday (13th April)
  4. Saint Helena Day (21st May)
  5. Whit Monday (1st June)
  6. Queen's Birthday (8th June)
  7. Christmas Day (25th December)
  8. Boxing Day (28th December)

Maternity Leave

  • Currently on St Helena, there is no provision within the Employment Rights Ordinance for maternity and paternity pay. 
  • Rather organizations decide whether or not to offer paid maternity and/or paternity leave. 
  • If offered, organizations also determine what their maternity and/or paternity leave policies include.

Paternity Leave

  • Currently on St Helena, there is no provision within the Employment Rights Ordinance for maternity and paternity pay. 
  • Rather organizations decide whether or not to offer paid maternity and/or paternity leave. 
  • If offered, organizations also determine what their maternity and/or paternity leave policies include.

Sick Leave

  • Sick leave with pay shall accrue to all full-time employees and Community Service Officers at the rate of one work day for each calendar month of service, with no limit to its maximum accumulation

Work Hours

  • Eight hours per day and forty hours per week constitute the normal work week for all employees.

Overtime

  • Work in excess of eight (8) hours per day by those employees eligible for overtime pay, shall be paid at the rate of one-and-one-half (1+1/2) times the regular rate of pay; work in excess of twelve (12) hours per day shall be paid at the rate of twice the regular rate of pay.

INCOME TAX

  • Income tax - this tax is charged on the taxable income of a person from; employment, self-employment, trade or business, property and capital gains
  • The company tax was 25% of net distributable profits. 
  • The graduated personal income tax rate ranges from 10% to 30%.
  • 26% on any chargeable income up to £18,000 then 31% on any reminder of chargeable income
  • St Helena will charge income tax only on income earned in St Helena, whether it is earned by a resident or non-resident.

Income Tax Rate

Income

Rate

Up to £18,000

26%

Over £18,000

31%

DEDUCTIBLE EXPENSES 

  • Only individuals get a tax free allowance, a company pays income tax on every £ of profit. 
  • The allowance is available only to residents; nonresidents will not be entitled to a personal allowance.
  • The amount of the Personal Allowance is £7,000 per annum.
  • A Superannuation and Pension Allowance is a little different from other allowances because the amount a person can claim is dependent on how much is contributed to an approved Superannuation and Pension Fund. 
  • No allowance can be claimed unless the fund is approved by the Commissioner of Income Tax.
  • There is no limit on how much a person can contribute to a fund but there is a limit on how much can be claimed as an allowance. 
  • This limit is 30% of income from employment or net profits from self-employment or business, subject to an upper limit of £20,000.

Deductible Expenses

Personal Allowance

  • The allowance is available only to residents; nonresidents will not be entitled to a personal allowance.
  • The amount of the Personal Allowance is £7,000 per annum.

Superannuation and Pension Allowance

  • A Superannuation and Pension Allowance is a little different from other allowances because the amount a person can claim is dependent on how much is contributed to an approved Superannuation and Pension Fund. 
  • No allowance can be claimed unless the fund is approved by the Commissioner of Income Tax.
  • There is no limit on how much a person can contribute to a fund but there is a limit on how much can be claimed as an allowance. 
  • This limit is 30% of income from employment or net profits from self-employment or business, subject to an upper limit of £20,000.

IMMIGRATION 

  • Visitors are advised that they must have the necessary visa or permits to cover all destinations they intend to travel to, including return trips through the UK, Ascension Island and/or South Africa. 
  • There are no foreign embassies or consulates on St Helena that issue visas, so all necessary visas must be obtained in advance.
  • Visitors to St Helena of less than six months require the following upon arrival at St Helena in order that a short-term permit can be issued:
    • Valid Medical Insurance of at least £175,000 (or equivalent) which covers emergency medical treatment including aeromedical evacuation or other means to pay for treatment to cover yourself for the duration of stay is required. 
    • Proof of a ticket for both arrival and departure
    • Payment (cash only) for the short-term permit
    • A St Helena e-Visa
  • Given the remote location of St Helena Island and the single weekly flight to the Island, it is strongly recommended that you purchase travel insurance that includes both missed departure and delayed departure cover, to provide financial coverage in the event that the flight to or from St Helena is significantly delayed.

Type of Permit/Visa

Documentation

Validity

Eligibility

Tourist e-Visa

  • Valid passport
  • Passport-type photograph
  • Itinerary
  • Proof of adequate medical or travel insurance
  • Hotel Reservation
  • Previous travel documents
  • Proof of sufficient funds

90 days           

  • Foreigners must obtain a tourist e-Visa to visit Saint Helena for tourism purposes

Short Term Permit

  • Valid passport
  • Passport-type
  • Valid Medical Insurance of at least £175,000 (or equivalent) which covers emergency medical treatment including aeromedical evacuation or other means to pay for treatment to cover yourself for the duration of stay is required. 
  • Proof of a ticket for both arrival and departure
  • Payment (cash only) for the short-term permit
  • A St Helena e-Visa

90 days              

  • Foreigners who wish to visit Saint Helena for less than 6 months must obtain a short term permit

 VALUE ADDED TAX 

There is no VAT

WITHHOLDING TAX

  • Withholding income - every withholding income payer shall upon making any payment of withholding income of a person (whether resident in St Helena or not) that is in the nature of interest derived from money’s deposited with a financial institution at the rate of 10%

WHT

Rate

10%

 

TERMINATION

An employee is dismissed by his employer if:

    • the employment contract of an employee is terminated, with or without notice by his employer; or 
    • the employment contract of an employee is terminated by the employee in circumstances in which he is entitled to terminate it without notice by reason of the employer's conduct.
  • Fair reasons for dismissal include
    • that the employee is not capable with reference to skill, aptitude, health or any other physical or mental quality or does not possess the academic, technical or professional qualification required to perform work of the kind which he was employed by the employer to do; 
    • that the conduct of the employee is unsatisfactory; 
    • that the employee could not continue to work in the position which he held without contravening (either on his part or on that of his employer) a duty or restriction imposed by or under any law; 
    • redundancy of the employee; 
    • retirement of the employee in accordance with the provisions contained in the contract of employment; or 
    • any other substantial reason, including expiry of a fixed term contract.

STATUTORY BENEFITS 

  • These are mandatory benefits as postulated by law
  • These include probationary period, annual leave, public holidays, sick leave, overtime pay.
  • Statutory benefits also include social security benefits

Statutory Benefits

Probationary Period

Annual Leave

Public Holidays

Sick Leave

Overtime Pay

Social Security Benefits

 PAYMENTS AND INVOICING 

  • Within 15 days of the end of each month each employer should submit to the Tax Office a statement (P6 form) showing the gross amount of income from employment paid during the preceding month and the amount of tax deducted and the amount of tax remitted to the Commissioner.
  • All tax deducted by an employer from the income from employment of employees shall be remitted to the Commissioner not later than the 15th day of the month immediately following the month in which such deduction was made.
  • 30 JUNE is the Submission date for Tax Returns & end of year accounts (three months after the end of the Tax Year) for self-employed individuals and companies
  • 30 SEPTEMBER is the Date for payment of income Tax (three months after the submission of the Tax Return) for self-employed individuals and companies
  • 31 JULY is the Submission date of Tax Return for employees

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