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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.

 HK flagHong Kong

Asia

LC flagSaint Lucia

Central America & Caribbean

SG flagSingapore

Asia

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.Saint Lucia is a Caribbean jurisdiction with a Citizenship by Investment programme launched in 2016. Bordercase coordinates with authorised local agents.Singapore is a leading regional hub for cross-border founders and family offices. Routes are merit-based and competitive; Bordercase coordinates with licensed Singapore corporate-services and immigration partners.
Best for
  • Founders
  • Banking
  • Holding structures
  • English admin
  • Second passport
  • English admin
  • Caribbean residency
  • Founders
  • Banking
  • Family offices
  • HNW
  • English admin
CurrencyHKDXCDSGD
LanguageCantonese / EnglishEnglishEnglish
Time zoneUTC+8UTC-4UTC+8
EU memberNoNoNo
SchengenNoNoNo
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

Saint Lucia routes:

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

Singapore residency routes:

  • Employment Pass (EP) - professionals; merit-based
  • EntrePass - entrepreneurs in specific sectors
  • Global Investor Programme (GIP) - high-investment
  • Dependant's Pass / LTVP - family routes

Routes are competitive and quota-controlled.

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.

Domestic companies and IBCs are common in international structures.

Private Limited (Pte Ltd) is the standard structure. ACRA registration, a local resident director, and a registered office are required. Substance, accounting, and corporate governance standards are real.

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.

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

Corporate banking has strong KYC and source-of-funds processes; relationship banking is common. Personal banking depends on residency status. Bordercase coordinates introductions through partners.

Family

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

CBI can include qualifying dependents.

Family relocation is well-supported via Dependant's Pass and LTVP routes. Schools (local, private, and international) are widely available; international schools are competitive.

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 Saint Lucia:

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

Risks Bordercase watches for in Singapore:

  • EP / EntrePass approvals are competitive and may be rejected
  • Salary, qualifications, and company substance are scrutinised
  • Tax residency rules - physical presence + centre of interests
  • Equity stakes can trigger structuring needs
Documents

Typical Hong Kong documents:

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

Typical CBI documents:

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

Typical Singapore documents:

  • Passport
  • CV
  • Education certificates
  • Employment history
  • Company documents (for EntrePass / GIP)
  • Family certificates with notarisation

Apostille where required.

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