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Bordercase

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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.

 BS flagBahamas

Central America & Caribbean

ES flagSpain

Europe

PA flagPanama

Central America & Caribbean

OverviewThe Bahamas is a Caribbean jurisdiction with structured residency routes including the Economic Permanent Residence and an active fund / family-office sector. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Bahamian partners.Spain offers structured EU residency routes for individuals, families, and entrepreneurs, including the digital nomad visa introduced under the Startups Law. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Spanish partners for filings.Panama is a long-established jurisdiction for residency and offshore company structures with a stable USD economy. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Panamanian lawyers and corporate-services partners.
Best for
  • HNW
  • Funds
  • Family offices
  • English admin
  • Families
  • Remote workers
  • EU access
  • Cost of living
  • Second residency
  • USD economy
  • Asset planning
  • Holding structures
CurrencyBSDEURUSD
LanguageEnglishSpanishSpanish
Time zoneUTC-5UTC+1UTC-5
EU memberNoYesNo
SchengenNoYesNo
Residency

Bahamian residency routes:

  • Economic Permanent Residence - qualifying property investment
  • Annual residence permits for HNW
  • Work permits - employer-sponsored
  • Family routes

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.

Panama residency routes:

  • Friendly Nations Visa - now requires economic tie (employment, real estate, or investment)
  • Qualified Investor Visa - qualifying investment thresholds
  • Pensionado / Retiree Visa - qualifying pension income
  • Family routes
Company setup

IBCs (International Business Companies) are widely used; substance and reporting are now real. Funds and family-office structures are common.

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.

Panamanian corporations (SA) and Private Interest Foundations are widely used. Beneficial ownership reporting, CRS / FATCA compliance, and substance discussions have become material; planning must reflect current standards.

Banking

Banking is selective and source-of-funds focused. Bordercase coordinates introductions through current partners.

Personal banking for residents is straightforward; corporate banking depends on activity and structure. Bordercase coordinates introductions for non-standard cases.

Panamanian banking has tightened KYC and source-of-funds requirements. Non-resident applications take time; Bordercase coordinates introductions through current banking partners.

Family

Family inclusion is supported on most routes. International schools are concentrated on New Providence.

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 reunification is supported on most residency routes. International schools (English-language and Spanish) are available in Panama City.

Risks

Risks Bordercase watches for in the Bahamas:

  • Economic substance reporting
  • Property due diligence
  • Reputational handling around offshore structures

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

Risks Bordercase watches for in Panama:

  • Reputational / de-banking risks for poorly structured offshore-only setups
  • Tax residency analysis for clients with other obligations (CRS / FATCA)
  • Processing delays at Migration
  • UBO reporting is now active
Documents

Typical Bahamian documents:

  • Passport
  • Source-of-funds evidence
  • Health and police clearances
  • Apostilled foreign documents

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

Typical Panama documents:

  • Passport
  • Criminal record certificate (apostilled)
  • Proof of economic tie (employment letter, property deed, or investment evidence)
  • Proof of address
  • Marriage / birth certificates for family

All documents apostilled and translated where required.

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