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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.

 VG flagBritish Virgin Islands

Central America & Caribbean

BB flagBarbados

Central America & Caribbean

ES flagSpain

Europe

OverviewThe British Virgin Islands is a long-standing jurisdiction for BVI Business Companies used in international structures. Substance and reporting have tightened materially. Bordercase coordinates with licensed BVI partners.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.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.
Best for
  • Holding structures
  • International funds
  • English admin
  • Remote workers
  • HNW
  • English admin
  • Families
  • Remote workers
  • EU access
  • Cost of living
CurrencyUSDBBDEUR
LanguageEnglishEnglishSpanish
Time zoneUTC-4UTC-4UTC+1
EU memberNoNoYes
SchengenNoNoYes
Residency

BVI presence options:

  • Work permits - employer-sponsored
  • Residency for HNW under specific programmes
  • Limited tourist / business visit arrangements

Barbadian residency routes:

  • Welcome Stamp - 12-month remote-worker route, renewable
  • Special Entry Permit - qualifying HNW relocators
  • Standard 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.

Company setup

BVI Business Companies (BVI BC) are the standard structure. Economic substance applies to relevant activities; UBO reporting is mandatory.

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

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.

Banking

Banking access has tightened materially; EMIs are common supplements. Bordercase coordinates introductions for cross-border cases.

Banking is mature but selective. Source-of-funds documentation is central. 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.

Family

Family inclusion follows the main route. International schools are limited.

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

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.

Risks

Risks Bordercase watches for in the BVI:

  • Economic substance reporting
  • UBO disclosure and beneficial ownership reform
  • Reputational handling around offshore structures

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 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
Documents

Typical BVI documents:

  • Passport
  • Source-of-funds evidence
  • KYC for all UBOs
  • Apostilled foreign documents

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 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

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