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.

 MX flagMexico

North America

BB flagBarbados

Central America & Caribbean

ES flagSpain

Europe

OverviewMexico is a large North American economy with established routes for residency, growing remote-worker visa programs, and a strong fit for founders building toward Latin American customers. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Mexican partners for filings.Barbados is a Caribbean jurisdiction with structured residency routes including the Welcome Stamp for remote workers, and an established corporate-services sector. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Barbadian partners.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.
Best for
  • Founders
  • Families
  • Latin America hub
  • Cost of living
  • Remote workers
  • HNW
  • English admin
  • Families
  • Remote workers
  • EU access
  • Cost of living
CurrencyMXNBBDEUR
LanguageSpanishEnglishSpanish
Time zoneUTC-6UTC-4UTC+1
EU memberNoNoYes
SchengenNoNoYes
Residency

Mexican residency routes:

  • Temporary resident visa - via investment, employment, or qualifying income
  • Permanent resident visa - via qualifying assets, retirement income, or after 4 years of temporary residency
  • Family unity routes - for spouse and dependents of permanent residents / citizens
  • Student visa

Permanent residency unlocks indefinite stay with work authorisation.

Barbadian residency routes:

  • Welcome Stamp - 12-month remote-worker route, renewable
  • Special Entry Permit - qualifying HNW relocators
  • Standard work permits - employer-sponsored
  • Family routes

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.

Company setup

SA de CV (Sociedad Anónima) and S de RL de CV are the standard private entity types. Formation involves a notary, RFC (tax registration), and IMSS where staff are involved. Mexican tax residency is triggered by primary home and centre of economic interests.

Corporate entities for international business (formerly IBC) are well established. Substance and reporting requirements apply.

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.

Banking

Resident personal banking is broadly accessible; corporate banking depends on activity and structure. Source of funds and ownership clarity are central. Bordercase coordinates introductions for cross-border cases.

Banking is mature but selective. Source-of-funds documentation is central. Bordercase coordinates introductions through current partners.

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

Family

Family reunification is supported on most residency routes. International schools (English, German, French, Japanese) are widely available in major cities; bilingual public and private schools are common.

Family inclusion is supported. International schools are limited but present.

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.

Risks

Risks Bordercase watches for in Mexico:

  • Centre-of-economic-interests test for tax residency
  • Real-estate restrictions in the "restricted zone" (50 km from coast, 100 km from borders) - fideicomiso or Mexican company structure needed
  • Income thresholds for temporary / permanent routes change with minimum wage indexation
  • Late-stage RFC and CURP registrations

Risks Bordercase watches for in Barbados:

  • Tax residency triggers
  • Substance and reporting under the post-BEPS framework
  • Welcome Stamp renewal conditions

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
Documents

Typical Mexican documents:

  • Passport
  • Apostilled foreign documents (birth, marriage, criminal record)
  • Proof of income or qualifying assets
  • Photographs to specification
  • Mexican consular application abroad for most routes

Typical Barbadian documents:

  • Passport
  • Proof of income or employment
  • Health insurance valid in Barbados
  • Police clearance for longer-stay routes
  • Apostilled foreign documents for family

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

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