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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.

 HK flagHong Kong

Asia

HR flagCroatia

Europe

PA flagPanama

Central America & Caribbean

OverviewHong Kong remains an active jurisdiction for company formation, banking introductions, and selected residency routes. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Hong Kong company-services and immigration partners.Croatia is a Schengen-member EU country with structured residency routes for skilled workers, digital nomads, and family relocation. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Croatian partners for filings.Panama is a long-established jurisdiction for residency and offshore company structures with a stable USD economy. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Panamanian lawyers and corporate-services partners.
Best for
  • Founders
  • Banking
  • Holding structures
  • English admin
  • Digital nomads
  • Families
  • EU access
  • Coastal living
  • Second residency
  • USD economy
  • Asset planning
  • Holding structures
CurrencyHKDEURUSD
LanguageCantonese / EnglishCroatianSpanish
Time zoneUTC+8UTC+1UTC-5
EU memberNoYesNo
SchengenNoYesNo
Residency

Hong Kong residency routes:

  • General Employment Policy (GEP)
  • Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)
  • Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)
  • Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) - recently revived
  • Dependant routes

Croatian residency routes:

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

Panama residency routes:

  • Friendly Nations Visa - now requires economic tie (employment, real estate, or investment)
  • Qualified Investor Visa - qualifying investment thresholds
  • Pensionado / Retiree Visa - qualifying pension income
  • Family routes
Company setup

Hong Kong Limited companies are widely used for trading and holding structures. Annual filings, audited accounts, and a company secretary are required. Substance expectations and BEPS-driven changes affect ongoing planning.

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.

Panamanian corporations (SA) and Private Interest Foundations are widely used. Beneficial ownership reporting, CRS / FATCA compliance, and substance discussions have become material; planning must reflect current standards.

Banking

Local banking has tightened materially; some non-resident structures face long onboarding or rejection. EMIs and Singapore / Dubai banking are common alternatives. Bordercase coordinates introductions through current partners.

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

Panamanian banking has tightened KYC and source-of-funds requirements. Non-resident applications take time; Bordercase coordinates introductions through current banking partners.

Family

Family relocation is supported on most residency routes. Schools (local, private, ESF, international) are competitive; international school waitlists are real.

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

Family reunification is supported on most residency routes. International schools (English-language and Spanish) are available in Panama City.

Risks

Risks Bordercase watches for in Hong Kong:

  • Company-only setups without substance face banking and audit friction
  • Banking has tightened materially
  • Political / policy shifts must be factored into long-horizon planning
  • Annual audit and filing discipline is real

Risks Bordercase watches for in Croatia:

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

Risks Bordercase watches for in Panama:

  • Reputational / de-banking risks for poorly structured offshore-only setups
  • Tax residency analysis for clients with other obligations (CRS / FATCA)
  • Processing delays at Migration
  • UBO reporting is now active
Documents

Typical Hong Kong documents:

  • Passport
  • CV
  • Education certificates
  • Employment history
  • Company documents (where applicable)
  • Family certificates with notarisation

Typical Croatian residency documents:

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

Apostilled and translated to Croatian.

Typical Panama documents:

  • Passport
  • Criminal record certificate (apostilled)
  • Proof of economic tie (employment letter, property deed, or investment evidence)
  • Proof of address
  • Marriage / birth certificates for family

All documents apostilled and translated where required.

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