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 DE flagGermany

Europe

LC flagSaint Lucia

Central America & Caribbean

RO flagRomania

Europe

OverviewGermany is the largest EU economy and a strong destination for skilled professionals, founders, and remote workers (under specific routes). Bordercase coordinates with licensed German partners for filings.Saint Lucia is a Caribbean jurisdiction with a Citizenship by Investment programme launched in 2016. Bordercase coordinates with authorised local agents.Romania is an EU member state with structured residency routes, accessible company formation, and competitive costs for founders and remote professionals. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Romanian partners.
Best for
  • Founders
  • Skilled workers
  • EU access
  • Families
  • Second passport
  • English admin
  • Caribbean residency
  • Founders
  • Digital nomads
  • EU access
  • Cost of living
CurrencyEURXCDRON
LanguageGermanEnglishRomanian
Time zoneUTC+1UTC-4UTC+2
EU memberYesNoYes
SchengenYesNoYes
Residency

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 Lucia routes:

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

Romanian residency routes:

  • Employment-based residence (including the Blue Card)
  • Digital Nomad Visa - remote workers
  • Business / investor routes
  • Family reunification
  • EU citizen-derivative routes
Company setup

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.

Domestic companies and IBCs are common in international structures.

SRL (limited liability) is the standard structure. Formation involves notary and trade registry. Microcompany tax regime may apply for small businesses with eligible activities.

Banking

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.

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

Personal and corporate banking for residents is broadly accessible. Bordercase coordinates introductions for non-standard cross-border structures.

Family

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

CBI can include qualifying dependents.

Family reunification is supported. International schools (English, French, German) are concentrated in Bucharest, Cluj, and Timișoara.

Risks

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 Lucia:

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

Risks Bordercase watches for in Romania:

  • Tax residency triggers
  • Microcompany regime eligibility
  • Processing variations between counties
  • Schengen entry / exit rules now apply
Documents

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)
  • Family certificates with apostille and translation

Typical Romanian residency documents:

  • Passport
  • Criminal record certificate
  • Proof of address
  • Basis for residence
  • Health insurance
  • Family certificates

Apostilled and translated to Romanian.

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