Compare jurisdictions, side by side.

German residency routes:

• Blue Card - high-skilled employees
• Freiberufler / Selbständig - freelancer / self-employed
• Employer-sponsored work permits
• Entrepreneur visa
• Family reunification

Permanent residence typically after 5 years (faster on Blue Card).

Saint Kitts and Nevis routes:

• Citizenship by Investment (CBI) via the Sustainable Growth Fund
• CBI via approved real-estate investment
• Standard work / family routes

Citizenship outcomes remain at the discretion of the Citizenship by Investment Unit.

BVI presence options:

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

GmbH and UG (haftungsbeschränkt) are common structures. Notary involvement is required for formation. Tax registration, trade registration (Gewerbeanmeldung), and German GAAP / tax accounting standards apply.

Nevis IBCs and LLCs are commonly used in international structures. Substance, beneficial ownership disclosure, and AML standards have tightened materially.

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

Personal banking for residents is well established; certain non-resident structures take longer. SCHUFA history is relevant for residents. Bordercase coordinates introductions for cross-border cases.

Domestic and offshore banking options exist but have become more selective on KYC and source of funds. Bordercase coordinates banking pack preparation and partner introductions.

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

Family reunification is well supported. Schools (public, private, bilingual, and international) are widely available; international schools are concentrated in major cities.

CBI applications can include qualifying dependants - spouse, children, and in some cases parents - under specific conditions.

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

Risks Bordercase watches for in Germany:

• Tax residency triggers (183 days + centre of interests)
• Late VAT registration on cross-border services
• Language and bureaucratic friction in some Länder
• Freiberufler vs Gewerbe classification disputes

Risks Bordercase watches for in Saint Kitts:

• Programme parameters change
• Due diligence has tightened materially
• Rejection rates have risen for incomplete or unclear source-of-funds presentations
• Visa-revocation and reputational risks if information is misrepresented

Risks Bordercase watches for in the BVI:

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

Typical German residency documents:

• Passport
• Recognised qualifications (where required)
• Contract or business plan
• Accommodation evidence (Anmeldung)
• Health insurance
• Family certificates

Apostilled and translated to German.

Typical CBI documents:

• Passport
• Due diligence questionnaires
• Source-of-funds evidence (extensive)
• Employment / business documentation
• Family certificates with apostille and certified translation
• Police clearance certificates for all countries of residence in the prior 10 years

Typical BVI documents:

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