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Countries

	Panama Central America & Caribbean	Saint Lucia Central America & Caribbean	Bahamas Central America & Caribbean	Barbados Central America & Caribbean
Overview	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.	Saint Lucia is a Caribbean jurisdiction with a Citizenship by Investment programme launched in 2016. Bordercase coordinates with authorised local agents.	The Bahamas is a Caribbean jurisdiction with structured residency routes including the Economic Permanent Residence and an active fund / family-office sector. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Bahamian partners.	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.
Best for	Second residency USD economy Asset planning Holding structures	Second passport English admin Caribbean residency	HNW Funds Family offices English admin	Remote workers HNW English admin
Currency	USD	XCD	BSD	BBD
Language	Spanish	English	English	English
Time zone	UTC-5	UTC-4	UTC-5	UTC-4
EU member	No	No	No	No
Schengen	No	No	No	No
Residency	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	Saint Lucia routes: Citizenship by Investment (CBI) via fund contribution or approved real-estate investment Standard work permits Family routes	Bahamian residency routes: Economic Permanent Residence - qualifying property investment Annual residence permits for HNW Work permits - employer-sponsored Family routes	Barbadian residency routes: Welcome Stamp - 12-month remote-worker route, renewable Special Entry Permit - qualifying HNW relocators Standard work permits - employer-sponsored Family routes
Company 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.	Domestic companies and IBCs are common in international structures.	IBCs (International Business Companies) are widely used; substance and reporting are now real. Funds and family-office structures are common.	Corporate entities for international business (formerly IBC) are well established. Substance and reporting requirements apply.
Banking	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. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions through current partners.	Banking is selective and source-of-funds focused. Bordercase coordinates introductions through current partners.	Banking is mature but selective. Source-of-funds documentation is central. Bordercase coordinates introductions through current partners.
Family	Family reunification is supported on most residency routes. International schools (English-language and Spanish) are available in Panama City.	CBI can include qualifying dependents.	Family inclusion is supported on most routes. International schools are concentrated on New Providence.	Family inclusion is supported. International schools are limited but present.
Risks	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 in Saint Lucia: Programme parameters change Due diligence has tightened Reputational and revocation risks if information is misrepresented	Risks Bordercase watches for in the Bahamas: Economic substance reporting Property due diligence Reputational handling around offshore structures	Risks Bordercase watches for in Barbados: Tax residency triggers Substance and reporting under the post-BEPS framework Welcome Stamp renewal conditions
Documents	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	Typical Bahamian documents: Passport Source-of-funds evidence Health and police clearances Apostilled foreign documents	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

Panama

Central America & Caribbean

Saint Lucia

Central America & Caribbean

Bahamas

Central America & Caribbean

Barbados

Central America & Caribbean

Overview

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.

Saint Lucia is a Caribbean jurisdiction with a Citizenship by Investment programme launched in 2016. Bordercase coordinates with authorised local agents.

The Bahamas is a Caribbean jurisdiction with structured residency routes including the Economic Permanent Residence and an active fund / family-office sector. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Bahamian partners.

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.

Best for

Second residency
USD economy
Asset planning
Holding structures

Second passport
English admin
Caribbean residency

HNW
Funds
Family offices
English admin

Remote workers
HNW
English admin

Currency

USD

XCD

BSD

BBD

Language

Spanish

English

Time zone

UTC-5

UTC-4

UTC-5

UTC-4

EU member

Schengen

Residency

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

Saint Lucia routes:

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

Bahamian residency routes:

Economic Permanent Residence - qualifying property investment
Annual residence permits for HNW
Work permits - employer-sponsored
Family routes

Barbadian residency routes:

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

Company 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.

Domestic companies and IBCs are common in international structures.

IBCs (International Business Companies) are widely used; substance and reporting are now real. Funds and family-office structures are common.

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

Banking

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. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions through current partners.

Banking is selective and source-of-funds focused. Bordercase coordinates introductions through current partners.

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

Family

Family reunification is supported on most residency routes. International schools (English-language and Spanish) are available in Panama City.

CBI can include qualifying dependents.

Family inclusion is supported on most routes. International schools are concentrated on New Providence.

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

Risks

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 in Saint Lucia:

Programme parameters change
Due diligence has tightened
Reputational and revocation risks if information is misrepresented

Risks Bordercase watches for in the Bahamas:

Economic substance reporting
Property due diligence
Reputational handling around offshore structures

Risks Bordercase watches for in Barbados:

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

Documents

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

Typical Bahamian documents:

Passport
Source-of-funds evidence
Health and police clearances
Apostilled foreign documents

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