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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

GB flagUnited Kingdom

Europe

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.The United Kingdom is a major global jurisdiction with structured (and competitive) residency, business, and skilled-worker routes. Bordercase coordinates with licensed UK partners for filings.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
  • Founders
  • Skilled workers
  • Global hub
  • Banking
  • English admin
  • Families
  • Remote workers
  • Founders
  • EU access
CurrencyARSGBPEUR
LanguageSpanishEnglishPortuguese
Time zoneUTC-3UTC+0UTC+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

UK residency routes:

  • Skilled Worker visa - employer-sponsored
  • Innovator Founder visa - for endorsed founders
  • Global Talent visa - for endorsed experts
  • Self-Sponsorship via own company (with substance)
  • Family routes - spouse / partner / dependents
  • Ancestry visa for eligible Commonwealth nationals

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.

UK Limited companies are widely used internationally. HMRC corporation tax, VAT thresholds, and PSC (people with significant control) reporting apply. Substance expectations 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.

Banking

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

Resident banking is mature but onboarding is slow for non-residents. Many international founders use UK EMIs (Revolut, Monzo Business, etc.) alongside high-street accounts. Bordercase coordinates introductions for cross-border cases.

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.

Family reunification is supported. Schools (state, private, international) are widely available; competition for top schools is real.

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 the UK:

  • Tax residency triggers (Statutory Residence Test)
  • Sole-rep / Innovator endorsement standards have tightened
  • Brexit-era operational variation between UK and EU services
  • Sponsorship Compliance for licensed sponsors

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 UK documents:

  • Passport
  • Certificate of Sponsorship (for sponsored routes)
  • TB test (for certain nationalities)
  • Maintenance funds evidence
  • Apostilled / certified documents for family routes

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.