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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.

 MU flagMauritius

Africa

CY flagCyprus

Europe

LC flagSaint Lucia

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.Saint Lucia is a Caribbean jurisdiction with a Citizenship by Investment programme launched in 2016. Bordercase coordinates with authorised local agents.
Best for
  • Founders
  • Banking
  • Trust
  • HNW
  • English admin
  • Founders
  • Holding structures
  • EU access
  • English admin
  • Second passport
  • English admin
  • Caribbean residency
CurrencyMUREURXCD
LanguageEnglish / FrenchGreek / EnglishEnglish
Time zoneUTC+4UTC+2UTC-4
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.

Saint Lucia routes:

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

Domestic companies and IBCs are common in international structures.

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.

Banking is selective. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions through current 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.

CBI can include qualifying dependents.

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 Saint Lucia:

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

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

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