Compare jurisdictions, side by side.

Croatian residency routes:

• Employment-based residence
• Digital Nomad Residence Permit - remote workers
• Business / self-employment
• Family reunification
• EU citizen-derivative routes

Cyprus residency routes:

• Permanent residency by investment (Cat F / Cat 6.2)
• Digital Nomad Visa
• Employment routes (including the international headquartering route)
• Family reunification

The investor citizenship programme is closed.

Saint Lucia routes:

• Citizenship by Investment (CBI) via fund contribution or approved real-estate investment
• Standard work permits
• Family routes

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

d.o.o. (limited liability) is the standard structure; jednostavno d.o.o. is a simplified low-capital variant. Formation involves notary and court registration. Tax and VAT registration follow.

Cyprus Limited companies are widely used by international groups for IP, holding, and trading structures. Substance, local director, and accounting requirements have tightened in recent years and must be planned at setup.

Domestic companies and IBCs are common in international structures.

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

Resident banking is broadly accessible; corporate banking depends on activity. Bordercase coordinates introductions for cross-border cases.

Cypriot banks have strict KYC and source-of-funds processes following past compliance episodes. EMIs are widely used as supplements. Personal and corporate banking introductions go through vetted partners.

Banking is selective. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions through current partners.

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

Family reunification is supported. International schools are available in Zagreb and along the coast.

Family reunification is available on most routes. English-language schools (public and private) and healthcare options are widely accessible to legal residents.

CBI can include qualifying dependents.

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

Risks Bordercase watches for in Croatia:

• Tax residency triggers
• Processing variations
• Digital nomad permit renewal rules and re-entry constraints

Common pitfalls in Cyprus cases:

• Post-reform substance requirements underestimated
• Banking timelines longer than expected
• Permanent residency confused with citizenship (different programmes)
• Some sectors face additional KYC scrutiny

Risks Bordercase watches for in Saint Lucia:

• Programme parameters change
• Due diligence has tightened
• Reputational and revocation risks if information is misrepresented

Risks Bordercase watches for in Brazil:

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

Typical Croatian residency documents:

• Passport
• Criminal record certificate
• Proof of accommodation
• Health insurance
• Employment / income evidence
• Family certificates

Apostilled and translated to Croatian.

Typical document pack for Cyprus residency:

• Passport
• Criminal record certificate (apostilled)
• Proof of income / investment
• Health insurance valid in Cyprus
• Accommodation evidence
• Education certificates (for relevant routes)
• Marriage / birth certificates for family routes

For company formation: business plan, ownership-chain documents, and KYC for all ultimate beneficial owners.

Typical CBI documents:

• Passport
• Due diligence questionnaires
• Source-of-funds evidence (extensive)
• Family certificates with apostille and translation

Typical Brazilian documents:

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