Compare jurisdictions, side by side.

Brazilian residency routes:

• Investor visa (VIPER / VITEM) - qualifying investment in a Brazilian business
• Digital nomad visa - remote workers
• Retirement visa - qualifying pension income
• Family reunification
• Employer-sponsored work permits

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.

Barbadian residency routes:

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

Mexican residency routes:

• Temporary resident visa - via investment, employment, or qualifying income
• Permanent resident visa - via qualifying assets, retirement income, or after 4 years of temporary residency
• Family unity routes - for spouse and dependents of permanent residents / citizens
• Student visa

Permanent residency unlocks indefinite stay with work authorisation.

Ltda and SA are the standard structures. CNPJ registration, state registrations, and Receita Federal tax registration follow. The MEI regime suits micro-entrepreneurs.

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.

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

SA de CV (Sociedad Anónima) and S de RL de CV are the standard private entity types. Formation involves a notary, RFC (tax registration), and IMSS where staff are involved. Mexican tax residency is triggered by primary home and centre of economic interests.

Residency unlocks personal and corporate banking. Pix has changed everyday payments; SWIFT for international flows still requires careful KYC.

Local banking has tightened; EMIs are common supplements. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions through partners with current relationships.

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

Resident personal banking is broadly accessible; corporate banking depends on activity and structure. Source of funds and ownership clarity are central. Bordercase coordinates introductions for cross-border cases.

Family reunification is supported on most routes. International schools (English, German, French, Japanese) are concentrated in São Paulo, Rio, and Brasília.

Family reunification is supported on most routes. Schooling and healthcare are accessible to legal residents.

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

Family reunification is supported on most residency routes. International schools (English, German, French, Japanese) are widely available in major cities; bilingual public and private schools are common.

Risks Bordercase watches for in Brazil:

• Tax residency rules and worldwide-income reporting
• Real-estate restrictions in certain border regions
• Document apostille + Portuguese translation

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 Barbados:

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

Risks Bordercase watches for in Mexico:

• Centre-of-economic-interests test for tax residency
• Real-estate restrictions in the "restricted zone" (50 km from coast, 100 km from borders) - fideicomiso or Mexican company structure needed
• Income thresholds for temporary / permanent routes change with minimum wage indexation
• Late-stage RFC and CURP registrations

Typical Brazilian documents:

• Passport
• Apostilled foreign documents
• Proof of income or investment
• Photographs to specification
• Brazilian consular application abroad for most routes

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 Barbadian documents:

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

Typical Mexican documents:

• Passport
• Apostilled foreign documents (birth, marriage, criminal record)
• Proof of income or qualifying assets
• Photographs to specification
• Mexican consular application abroad for most routes