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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.

 MT flagMalta

Europe

ES flagSpain

Europe

AM flagArmenia

Europe

OverviewMalta 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.Spain offers structured EU residency routes for individuals, families, and entrepreneurs, including the digital nomad visa introduced under the Startups Law. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Spanish partners for filings.Armenia has become an accessible relocation and operational base since 2022, with a maturing IT sector, simple residency routes, and a competitive tax framework. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Armenian partners for filings.
Best for
  • Founders
  • Holding structures
  • EU access
  • English admin
  • Families
  • Remote workers
  • EU access
  • Cost of living
  • Founders
  • IT professionals
  • Tax simplification
  • Banking diversification
  • Regional hub
CurrencyEUREURAMD
LanguageEnglish / MalteseSpanishArmenian
Time zoneUTC+1UTC+1UTC+4
EU memberYesYesNo
SchengenYesYesNo
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.

Spanish residency routes:

  • Non-Lucrative Visa - passive income, no employment in Spain
  • Digital Nomad Visa - remote workers and self-employed (Startups Law)
  • Self-Employed Visa
  • Entrepreneur Visa
  • EU citizen-derivative routes

The Golden Visa has been phased out for real estate purchases.

Common Armenian residency routes:

  • Temporary residence - issued for 1 year, renewable; granted for work, study, business, family, or Armenian ancestry
  • Permanent residence - typically 5 years renewable; available after qualifying temporary stay or other qualifying ground
  • Special residence - 10-year status for individuals of Armenian descent or those of significant value to Armenia
  • Family reunification - spouse, children, dependant parents

Many nationalities can enter visa-free or with a simple e-visa for up to 180 days, which is often used to plan the right route.

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.

SL (Sociedad Limitada) is the standard private company. Registration involves NIE / NIF, notary, mercantile registry, and tax registration. Spanish tax residency triggers worldwide income reporting; the Beckham Law (special tax regime) may apply to eligible relocated workers.

Standard Armenian entities and tax treatment:

  • LLC (Sahmanapak Pataskhanatvutyamb Enkerutyun) - the default private entity; fast online formation
  • Individual Entrepreneur (IE) - simple setup; Turnover Tax regime at 5% (or category-specific rates) for qualifying small businesses
  • IT Sector incentives - certified IT companies have historically benefited from reduced corporate tax and payroll incentives (programmes are revised periodically)
  • Standard CIT is 18%; dividend withholding is 5% for residents

Bordercase coordinates structure choice to match real activity and current incentive frameworks.

Banking

Local banking has tightened; EMIs are common supplements. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions through partners with current relationships.

Personal banking for residents is straightforward; corporate banking depends on activity and structure. Bordercase coordinates introductions for non-standard cases.

Personal and corporate banking is broadly accessible through Ameriabank, ACBA Bank, Ardshinbank, and others - typically with USD, EUR, RUB, and AMD accounts. Onboarding is straightforward for clean cases; expect source-of-funds questions for larger flows. Bordercase coordinates introductions where useful.

Family

Family reunification is supported on most routes. Schooling and healthcare are accessible to legal residents.

Family reunification is supported on most residency routes after a qualifying period. Schools (public, private, international) are widely available; the public system is generally accessible to legal residents.

Family reunification is supported across most routes. English-language international schools are available in Yerevan. Healthcare is a mix of public and private; private cover is recommended for relocating families.

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 Spain:

  • Tax residency triggers - 183 days + centre of interests
  • Beckham Law (special regime) eligibility
  • Autonomous-community tax variation
  • Hacienda audits when planning is unclear
  • Past Schengen overstays must be disclosed

Risks Bordercase watches for in Armenia:

  • Tax residency triggers - 183 days makes you tax-resident under Armenian rules
  • IT certification scope - incentives apply only to certified, qualifying activities
  • Russia/EAEU exposure - Armenia is part of EAEU; some structures benefit from this, others raise sanctions/banking flags
  • Source-of-funds scrutiny for non-standard transfer corridors
  • Permit renewals - documentation continuity matters across cycles
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 Spanish residency documents:

  • Passport
  • NIE (foreigner identification number)
  • Criminal record certificate with apostille
  • Proof of income / assets
  • Health insurance with full cover in Spain
  • Accommodation evidence
  • Marriage / birth certificates for family routes

Typical Armenian residency documents:

  • Passport (6+ months valid)
  • Proof of basis (employment, business, study, ancestry, family)
  • Proof of accommodation
  • Health insurance
  • Bank statements / proof of income
  • Criminal record certificate (apostilled, where required)
  • Marriage / birth certificates for family routes

Apostille and certified translation into Armenian where required.

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