Start assessment

Countries

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.

Start your assessment All countries

	Armenia Europe	Malta Europe	Spain Europe	Estonia Europe
Overview	Armenia has become an accessible relocation and operational base since 2022, with a maturing IT sector, simple residency routes, and a competitive tax framework. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Armenian partners for filings.	Malta is an EU member state with established residency, company, and family relocation routes. English is widely spoken and regulatory processes are well documented. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Maltese partners for filings.

Best for	Founders IT professionals Tax simplification Banking diversification Regional hub	Founders Holding structures EU access English admin	Families Remote workers EU access Cost of living	Founders Digital nomads EU access e-Residency

Residency	Common Armenian residency routes: Temporary residence - issued for 1 year, renewable; granted for work, study, business, family, or Armenian ancestry Permanent residence - typically 5 years renewable; available after qualifying temporary stay or other qualifying ground Special residence - 10-year status for individuals of Armenian descent or those of significant value to Armenia Family reunification - spouse, children, dependant parents Many nationalities can enter visa-free or with a simple e-visa for up to 180 days, which is often used to plan the right route.	Maltese residency routes: Nomad Residence Permit - eligible remote workers Malta Permanent Residency Programme (MPRP) - investor route Employment routes Family reunification The citizenship-by-naturalisation-for-exceptional-services programme is closed to new applicants.	Spanish residency routes: Non-Lucrative Visa - passive income, no employment in Spain Digital Nomad Visa - remote workers and self-employed (Startups Law) Self-Employed Visa Entrepreneur Visa EU citizen-derivative routes The Golden Visa has been phased out for real estate purchases.	Estonian residency routes: Start-up visa - for founders of qualifying start-ups Digital nomad visa - for eligible remote workers Work permit - employer-sponsored Family routes - spouse / dependants Note: e-Residency is NOT a residence permit - it is a digital identity for managing an Estonian company remotely.

Company setup	Standard Armenian entities and tax treatment: LLC (Sahmanapak Pataskhanatvut`yamb Enkerut`yun) - the default private entity; fast online formation Individual Entrepreneur (IE) - simple setup; Turnover Tax regime at 5% (or category-specific rates) for qualifying small businesses IT Sector incentives - certified IT companies have historically benefited from reduced corporate tax and payroll incentives (programmes are revised periodically) Standard CIT is 18%; dividend withholding is 5% for residents Bordercase coordinates structure choice to match real activity and current incentive frameworks.	Maltese companies are commonly used for trading, IP holding, and gaming / fintech structures. Substance, accounting, and tax-refund mechanisms are well established but require careful structuring.	SL (Sociedad Limitada) is the standard private company. Registration involves NIE / NIF, notary, mercantile registry, and tax registration. Spanish tax residency triggers worldwide income reporting; the Beckham Law (special tax regime) may apply to eligible relocated workers.	OÜ (private limited) is the standard structure, formed online via e-Residency or in person. Reporting obligations are real but proportionate; accounting partners are widely available.

Banking	Personal and corporate banking is broadly accessible through Ameriabank, ACBA Bank, Ardshinbank, and others - typically with USD, EUR, RUB, and AMD accounts. Onboarding is straightforward for clean cases; expect source-of-funds questions for larger flows. Bordercase coordinates introductions where useful.	Local banking has tightened; EMIs are common supplements. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions through partners with current relationships.	Personal banking for residents is straightforward; corporate banking depends on activity and structure. Bordercase coordinates introductions for non-standard cases.	Estonian banks have tightened KYC for non-resident e-residents; many international founders rely on EMIs (Wise, Revolut Business, Payoneer, etc.) for day-to-day banking. Local bank accounts typically require strong substance evidence.

Family	Family reunification is supported across most routes. English-language international schools are available in Yerevan. Healthcare is a mix of public and private; private cover is recommended for relocating families.	Family reunification is supported on most routes. Schooling and healthcare are accessible to legal residents.	Family reunification is supported on most residency routes after a qualifying period. Schools (public, private, international) are widely available; the public system is generally accessible to legal residents.	Family relocation is supported on the work and start-up visa routes; schooling and healthcare access follow the main applicant's residency.

Risks	Risks Bordercase watches for in Armenia: Tax residency triggers - 183 days makes you tax-resident under Armenian rules IT certification scope - incentives apply only to certified, qualifying activities Russia/EAEU exposure - Armenia is part of EAEU; some structures benefit from this, others raise sanctions/banking flags Source-of-funds scrutiny for non-standard transfer corridors Permit renewals - documentation continuity matters across cycles	Risks Bordercase watches for in Malta: Substance requirements (real operations, real director time) Tax classification disputes Banking timelines - EU-wide AML pressure EU anti-abuse rules tighten ongoing	Risks Bordercase watches for in Spain: Tax residency triggers - 183 days + centre of interests Beckham Law (special regime) eligibility Autonomous-community tax variation Hacienda audits when planning is unclear Past Schengen overstays must be disclosed	Common pitfalls Bordercase watches for: Confusing e-Residency with physical residency Banking-only setups without substance - likely flagged Crypto, gambling, and other regulated industries face additional friction Tax residence triggered by 183 days even without a residence permit

Documents	Typical Armenian residency documents: Passport (6+ months valid) Proof of basis (employment, business, study, ancestry, family) Proof of accommodation Health insurance Bank statements / proof of income Criminal record certificate (apostilled, where required) Marriage / birth certificates for family routes Apostille and certified translation into Armenian where required.	Standard EU residency document pack for Malta: Passport Criminal record certificate Proof of income Health insurance Accommodation evidence Marriage / birth certificates for family routes Apostille or legalisation where required.	Typical Spanish residency documents: Passport NIE (foreigner identification number) Criminal record certificate with apostille Proof of income / assets Health insurance with full cover in Spain Accommodation evidence Marriage / birth certificates for family routes	For e-Residency: Passport Application form Biometric collection at the chosen Estonian embassy or pickup point For physical residency: Passport Criminal record certificate Proof of income Accommodation evidence Health insurance Business plan (start-up visa)