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	Malta Europe	Panama Central America & Caribbean	Antigua and Barbuda Central America & Caribbean
Overview	Malta is an EU member state with established residency, company, and family relocation routes. English is widely spoken and regulatory processes are well documented. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Maltese 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.	Antigua and Barbuda is a Caribbean jurisdiction with a long-standing Citizenship by Investment programme and structured residency / corporate options. Bordercase coordinates with authorised local agents.
Best for	Founders Holding structures EU access English admin	Second residency USD economy Asset planning Holding structures	Second passport English admin Caribbean residency
Currency	EUR	USD	XCD
Language	English / Maltese	Spanish	English
Time zone	UTC+1	UTC-5	UTC-4
EU member	Yes	No	No
Schengen	Yes	No	No
Residency	Maltese residency routes: Nomad Residence Permit - eligible remote workers Malta Permanent Residency Programme (MPRP) - investor route Employment routes Family reunification The citizenship-by-naturalisation-for-exceptional-services programme is closed to new applicants.	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	Antigua & Barbuda routes: Citizenship by Investment (CBI) via fund contribution or qualifying real-estate investment Standard work permits Family routes including spouse, dependent children and parents under conditions
Company setup	Maltese companies are commonly used for trading, IP holding, and gaming / fintech structures. Substance, accounting, and tax-refund mechanisms are well established but require careful structuring.	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.	IBCs are common in international structures. Reporting and substance frameworks have tightened.
Banking	Local banking has tightened; EMIs are common supplements. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions through partners with current relationships.	Panamanian banking has tightened KYC and source-of-funds requirements. Non-resident applications take time; Bordercase coordinates introductions through current banking partners.	Banking is selective. KYC and source-of-funds documentation are central. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions.
Family	Family reunification is supported on most routes. Schooling and healthcare are accessible to legal residents.	Family reunification is supported on most residency routes. International schools (English-language and Spanish) are available in Panama City.	CBI applications can include qualifying dependents under conditions.
Risks	Risks Bordercase watches for in Malta: Substance requirements (real operations, real director time) Tax classification disputes Banking timelines - EU-wide AML pressure EU anti-abuse rules tighten ongoing	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	Risks Bordercase watches for: Programme parameters change Due diligence has tightened Reputational and revocation risks if information is misrepresented
Documents	Standard EU residency document pack for Malta: Passport Criminal record certificate Proof of income Health insurance Accommodation evidence Marriage / birth certificates for family routes Apostille or legalisation where required.	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.	Typical CBI documents: Passport Due diligence questionnaires Source-of-funds evidence (extensive) Family certificates with apostille and translation

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