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.

 PY flagParaguay

Latin America

CH flagSwitzerland

Europe

PA flagPanama

Central America & Caribbean

OverviewParaguay offers one of the more accessible residency routes in Latin America for individuals seeking a second residence. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Paraguayan partners for filings.Switzerland is a stable, high-quality jurisdiction with structured residency routes - most of them merit-based, contribution-based, or employer-sponsored. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Swiss partners for filings.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
  • Second residency
  • Low day-count
  • Cost of living
  • Latin America
  • HNW
  • Founders
  • Forfait fiscal
  • Stability
  • Second residency
  • USD economy
  • Asset planning
  • Holding structures
CurrencyPYGCHFUSD
LanguageSpanish / GuaraníGerman / French / ItalianSpanish
Time zoneUTC-4UTC+1UTC-5
EU memberNoNoNo
SchengenNoYesNo
Residency

Paraguay residency routes:

  • Permanent residency via proof of solvency / qualifying income - the standard route
  • Family inclusion on the main application

Physical-presence requirements are relatively low compared to other jurisdictions.

Swiss residency routes:

  • Work permit - employer-sponsored, quota-controlled for non-EU
  • Lump-sum taxation (forfait fiscal) - HNW individuals in eligible cantons
  • Business / investor routes
  • EU / EFTA routes - under FMP
  • Family reunification

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

SRL (Limited Liability) and SA (Joint Stock) structures are available; entity setup is well-supported by local partners. Substance and reporting requirements should be confirmed at setup.

GmbH and AG are the standard structures. Cantonal variation in tax, registration, and substance treatment is real. Federal and cantonal compliance is precise.

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

Personal banking for residents is accessible. Bordercase coordinates introductions and documentation prep.

Swiss banking has tightened materially since the 2010s. Personal accounts require residency or strong nexus; corporate banking requires substance and clear source of funds. Bordercase coordinates introductions through current 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 on residency applications is supported. Schools (Spanish-language and limited international) are concentrated in Asunción.

Family reunification is supported on most permits. Schools (public, private, and international) are widely available; international schools are well-established but selective.

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 Paraguay:

  • Residency vs tax residency confusion
  • Document apostille and translation requirements must be tracked carefully
  • Some originating countries are subject to additional scrutiny
  • Real-world banking outside Paraguay may not change because of Paraguayan residency

Risks Bordercase watches for in Switzerland:

  • Quotas for non-EU work permits
  • Lump-sum taxation eligibility and cantonal variation
  • Banking gatekeeping for non-residents
  • Substance and arm's-length pricing audits

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 Paraguay documents:

  • Passport
  • Criminal record certificate (origin country + any country of residence in last 5 years)
  • Marriage / birth certificates for family
  • Proof of income or solvency (savings / pension / business)

All documents apostilled and translated to Spanish.

Typical Swiss residency documents:

  • Passport
  • Employment contract or business plan
  • Criminal record certificate
  • Proof of accommodation
  • Health insurance valid in Switzerland
  • Financial evidence

Apostilled and translated where required.

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.