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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.

 AR flagArgentina

Latin America

LC flagSaint Lucia

Central America & Caribbean

PT flagPortugal

Europe

OverviewArgentina is a major South American economy with structured residency routes and a competitive cost of living for international founders and families. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Argentine partners for filings.Saint Lucia is a Caribbean jurisdiction with a Citizenship by Investment programme launched in 2016. 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.
Best for
  • Latin America hub
  • Cost of living
  • Founders
  • Families
  • Second passport
  • English admin
  • Caribbean residency
  • Families
  • Remote workers
  • Founders
  • EU access
CurrencyARSXCDEUR
LanguageSpanishEnglishPortuguese
Time zoneUTC-3UTC-4UTC+1
EU memberNoNoYes
SchengenNoNoYes
Residency

Argentine residency routes:

  • Rentista visa - passive income / pension
  • Investor visa - qualifying investment in an Argentine business
  • Worker visa - employer-sponsored
  • Family routes - spouse, children, parents
  • MERCOSUR fast-track for nationals of member states

Saint Lucia routes:

  • Citizenship by Investment (CBI) via fund contribution or approved real-estate investment
  • Standard work permits
  • Family routes

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.

Company setup

SA (Sociedad Anónima) and SRL (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada) are the standard structures. CUIT, IGJ registration, and AFIP tax registration follow.

Domestic companies and IBCs are common in international structures.

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.

Banking

Residency unlocks personal banking. Forex controls and currency volatility are part of the landscape; multi-jurisdiction structuring is common.

Banking is selective. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions through current partners.

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.

Family

Family reunification is supported on most routes. Schools (public, private, English, German, French) are widely available in Buenos Aires.

CBI can include qualifying dependents.

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.

Risks

Risks Bordercase watches for in Argentina:

  • Currency / forex controls
  • Tax residency triggers
  • Document apostille + Spanish translation requirements

Risks Bordercase watches for in Saint Lucia:

  • 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
Documents

Typical Argentine documents:

  • Passport
  • Criminal record certificate (apostilled)
  • Marriage / birth certificates for family
  • Proof of income or investment
  • Health insurance

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

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