Skip to content
Bordercase

Compare

Compare jurisdictions, side by side.

Pick up to 4 countries and see residency, company, banking, family, and risk notes line up. No prices, no marketing packages - just the working notes.

 AG flagAntigua and Barbuda

Central America & Caribbean

PT flagPortugal

Europe

RO flagRomania

Europe

OverviewAntigua and Barbuda is a Caribbean jurisdiction with a long-standing Citizenship by Investment programme and structured residency / corporate options. Bordercase coordinates with authorised local agents.Portugal is a popular EU destination for individuals, families, and remote professionals. Bordercase coordinates assessment across the main residency routes and family relocation logistics, working with licensed Portuguese partners for filings.Romania is an EU member state with structured residency routes, accessible company formation, and competitive costs for founders and remote professionals. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Romanian partners.
Best for
  • Second passport
  • English admin
  • Caribbean residency
  • Families
  • Remote workers
  • Founders
  • EU access
  • Founders
  • Digital nomads
  • EU access
  • Cost of living
CurrencyXCDEURRON
LanguageEnglishPortugueseRomanian
Time zoneUTC-4UTC+1UTC+2
EU memberNoYesYes
SchengenNoYesYes
Residency

Antigua & Barbuda routes:

  • Citizenship by Investment (CBI) via fund contribution or qualifying real-estate investment
  • Standard work permits
  • Family routes including spouse, dependent children and parents under conditions

Common Portuguese residency routes:

  • D7 - passive income / pension
  • D8 - digital nomad / remote work
  • D2 - entrepreneur / self-employed
  • D3 - highly qualified workers
  • Tech Visa - eligible tech roles via accredited companies
  • Golden Visa - restricted in scope after recent reforms
  • Family reunification on most permits

Each has different income, residency-day, and renewal requirements.

Romanian residency routes:

  • Employment-based residence (including the Blue Card)
  • Digital Nomad Visa - remote workers
  • Business / investor routes
  • Family reunification
  • EU citizen-derivative routes
Company setup

IBCs are common in international structures. Reporting and substance frameworks have tightened.

Portugal supports Lda (private limited) and SA (public limited) structures. Tax registration, social security registration, and a Portuguese tax representative are typically required. Substance, accounting, and reporting obligations are real.

SRL (limited liability) is the standard structure. Formation involves notary and trade registry. Microcompany tax regime may apply for small businesses with eligible activities.

Banking

Banking is selective. KYC and source-of-funds documentation are central. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions.

Personal accounts are accessible to residents and many non-residents; documentation is structured and predictable. Corporate banking depends on company structure and intended activity; Bordercase coordinates with banking partners for introductions.

Personal and corporate banking for residents is broadly accessible. Bordercase coordinates introductions for non-standard cross-border structures.

Family

CBI applications can include qualifying dependents under conditions.

Family reunification is supported on most residency routes. Schools (public, private, and international) are widely available; the public system is generally accessible to legal residents.

Family reunification is supported. International schools (English, French, German) are concentrated in Bucharest, Cluj, and Timișoara.

Risks

Risks Bordercase watches for:

  • Programme parameters change
  • Due diligence has tightened
  • Reputational and revocation risks if information is misrepresented

Risks Bordercase watches for in Portuguese cases:

  • AIMA processing delays (formerly SEF)
  • Misalignment between visa type and actual activity
  • Tax residence triggered by accident - NHR window timing matters
  • Past EU Schengen overstays must be disclosed
  • Real estate vs investment routes have changed materially

Risks Bordercase watches for in Romania:

  • Tax residency triggers
  • Microcompany regime eligibility
  • Processing variations between counties
  • Schengen entry / exit rules now apply
Documents

Typical CBI documents:

  • Passport
  • Due diligence questionnaires
  • Source-of-funds evidence (extensive)
  • Family certificates with apostille and translation

Typical document pack for Portuguese residency:

  • Passport
  • NIF (Portuguese tax number)
  • Proof of accommodation (lease, deed, or invitation)
  • Proof of income or assets (varies by route)
  • Criminal record certificate with apostille
  • Health insurance valid in Portugal
  • Marriage / birth certificates for family routes
  • Certified translations where required

Typical Romanian residency documents:

  • Passport
  • Criminal record certificate
  • Proof of address
  • Basis for residence
  • Health insurance
  • Family certificates

Apostilled and translated to Romanian.

Country pages stay the authoritative source. This view is a side-by-side; nothing here promises a particular outcome.