Skip to content
Bordercase

Compare

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.

 MU flagMauritius

Africa

CY flagCyprus

Europe

PA flagPanama

Central America & Caribbean

OverviewMauritius is a stable jurisdiction with structured residency and corporate routes, often combined for international families and founders. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Mauritian partners.Cyprus is an EU member state with established routes for residency, company setup, and family relocation. Bordercase coordinates with regulated Cypriot lawyers and corporate-services providers for filings and ongoing compliance.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
  • Trust
  • HNW
  • English admin
  • Founders
  • Holding structures
  • EU access
  • English admin
  • Second residency
  • USD economy
  • Asset planning
  • Holding structures
CurrencyMUREURUSD
LanguageEnglish / FrenchGreek / EnglishSpanish
Time zoneUTC+4UTC+2UTC-5
EU memberNoYesNo
SchengenNoNoNo
Residency

Mauritius residency routes:

  • Premium Visa - remote work
  • Occupation Permit - investor / professional / self-employed
  • Residence Permit by property purchase - within approved schemes
  • Family routes

Cyprus residency routes:

  • Permanent residency by investment (Cat F / Cat 6.2)
  • Digital Nomad Visa
  • Employment routes (including the international headquartering route)
  • Family reunification

The investor citizenship programme is closed.

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

GBC (Global Business Company) and Domestic Companies are the standard structures. Substance requirements following OECD reforms must be considered; the GBC framework has evolved materially.

Cyprus Limited companies are widely used by international groups for IP, holding, and trading structures. Substance, local director, and accounting requirements have tightened in recent years and must be planned at setup.

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 banks support resident and corporate accounts; KYC and source-of-funds requirements are real. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions.

Cypriot banks have strict KYC and source-of-funds processes following past compliance episodes. EMIs are widely used as supplements. Personal and corporate banking introductions go through vetted partners.

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

Family

Family inclusion is supported. International schools are available in major regions.

Family reunification is available on most routes. English-language schools (public and private) and healthcare options are widely accessible to legal residents.

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 Mauritius:

  • Substance reform impacts on Global Business Companies
  • FATCA / CRS reporting on related accounts
  • Mauritian residency vs physical-presence-based tax residence elsewhere
  • Banking introductions vary by activity

Common pitfalls in Cyprus cases:

  • Post-reform substance requirements underestimated
  • Banking timelines longer than expected
  • Permanent residency confused with citizenship (different programmes)
  • Some sectors face additional KYC scrutiny

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 Mauritius documents:

  • Passport
  • Criminal record certificate
  • Proof of income / investment
  • Health insurance
  • Accommodation evidence
  • Marriage / birth certificates for family

Apostille where required.

Typical document pack for Cyprus residency:

  • Passport
  • Criminal record certificate (apostilled)
  • Proof of income / investment
  • Health insurance valid in Cyprus
  • Accommodation evidence
  • Education certificates (for relevant routes)
  • Marriage / birth certificates for family routes

For company formation: business plan, ownership-chain documents, and KYC for all ultimate beneficial owners.

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.

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