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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.

 BS flagBahamas

Central America & Caribbean

CH flagSwitzerland

Europe

BB flagBarbados

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.Switzerland is a stable, high-quality jurisdiction with structured residency routes - most of them merit-based, contribution-based, or employer-sponsored. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Swiss partners for filings.Barbados is a Caribbean jurisdiction with structured residency routes including the Welcome Stamp for remote workers, and an established corporate-services sector. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Barbadian partners.
Best for
  • HNW
  • Funds
  • Family offices
  • English admin
  • HNW
  • Founders
  • Forfait fiscal
  • Stability
  • Remote workers
  • HNW
  • English admin
CurrencyBSDCHFBBD
LanguageEnglishGerman / French / ItalianEnglish
Time zoneUTC-5UTC+1UTC-4
EU memberNoNoNo
SchengenNoYesNo
Residency

Bahamian residency routes:

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

Swiss residency routes:

  • Work permit - employer-sponsored, quota-controlled for non-EU
  • Lump-sum taxation (forfait fiscal) - HNW individuals in eligible cantons
  • Business / investor routes
  • EU / EFTA routes - under FMP
  • Family reunification

Barbadian residency routes:

  • Welcome Stamp - 12-month remote-worker route, renewable
  • Special Entry Permit - qualifying HNW relocators
  • Standard work permits - employer-sponsored
  • Family routes
Company setup

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

GmbH and AG are the standard structures. Cantonal variation in tax, registration, and substance treatment is real. Federal and cantonal compliance is precise.

Corporate entities for international business (formerly IBC) are well established. Substance and reporting requirements apply.

Banking

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

Swiss banking has tightened materially since the 2010s. Personal accounts require residency or strong nexus; corporate banking requires substance and clear source of funds. Bordercase coordinates introductions through current partners.

Banking is mature but selective. Source-of-funds documentation is central. Bordercase coordinates introductions through current partners.

Family

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

Family reunification is supported on most permits. Schools (public, private, and international) are widely available; international schools are well-established but selective.

Family inclusion is supported. International schools are limited but present.

Risks

Risks Bordercase watches for in the Bahamas:

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

Risks Bordercase watches for in Switzerland:

  • Quotas for non-EU work permits
  • Lump-sum taxation eligibility and cantonal variation
  • Banking gatekeeping for non-residents
  • Substance and arm's-length pricing audits

Risks Bordercase watches for in Barbados:

  • Tax residency triggers
  • Substance and reporting under the post-BEPS framework
  • Welcome Stamp renewal conditions
Documents

Typical Bahamian documents:

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

Typical Swiss residency documents:

  • Passport
  • Employment contract or business plan
  • Criminal record certificate
  • Proof of accommodation
  • Health insurance valid in Switzerland
  • Financial evidence

Apostilled and translated where required.

Typical Barbadian documents:

  • Passport
  • Proof of income or employment
  • Health insurance valid in Barbados
  • Police clearance for longer-stay routes
  • Apostilled foreign documents for family

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