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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.

 PL flagPoland

Europe

BG flagBulgaria

Europe

RS flagSerbia

Europe

OverviewPoland is a large EU economy with structured routes for skilled workers, founders, and remote professionals - and a growing role as a regional hub for Eastern European operations. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Polish partners for filings.Bulgaria is an EU member state with competitive corporate tax, structured residency routes, and a well-developed digital infrastructure. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Bulgarian partners for filings.Serbia is an attractive non-EU European jurisdiction for founders, IT professionals, and remote workers - with accessible residency and competitive costs. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Serbian partners for filings.
Best for
  • Founders
  • Skilled workers
  • EU access
  • Cost-effective hub
  • Founders
  • EU access
  • Cost of living
  • Founders
  • IT professionals
  • Cost of living
  • Regional hub
CurrencyPLNBGN / EUR transitionRSD
LanguagePolishBulgarianSerbian
Time zoneUTC+1UTC+2UTC+1
EU memberYesYesNo
SchengenYesYesNo
Residency

Polish residency routes:

  • Blue Card - high-skilled employees
  • Temporary residence via employment
  • Self-employment / entrepreneur routes
  • Family reunification
  • EU citizen-derivative routes

Permanent residence typically after 5 years.

Bulgarian residency routes:

  • Employment-based residence
  • Business / self-employment routes
  • Retirement / pensioner residency
  • Family reunification
  • EU citizen-derivative routes

Permanent residence typically after 5 years.

Serbian residency routes:

  • Temporary residence via employment
  • Self-employment / business
  • Real-estate ownership
  • Family reunification
  • IT-focused residency framework

Permanent residence typically after 3 years of continuous temporary residence.

Company setup

Sp. z o.o. (limited liability) is the standard private entity. Online formation via S24 is possible; otherwise notary registration. Tax registration, VAT, and ZUS (social contributions) follow. CIT and the new estonian-style lump-sum CIT regime may apply.

OOD (LLC) and EOOD (single-shareholder LLC) are common structures. Formation is well-documented. Corporate tax is at a flat rate; VAT registration depends on activity.

DOO (limited liability) is the standard structure. Formation is well-documented, with online steps available. Tax registration (PIB) and APR (Business Registers Agency) registration follow.

Banking

Personal and corporate banking for residents is widely accessible. Non-resident structures take longer; documentation must be tight. Bordercase coordinates introductions where useful.

Personal and corporate banking for residents is broadly accessible. Source-of-funds documentation matters for non-standard cases. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions.

Personal and corporate banking for residents is broadly accessible. Source-of-funds documentation matters for non-standard cases. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions.

Family

Family reunification is supported on most residency routes. International schools (English, German, French) are concentrated in Warsaw, Kraków, and Wrocław.

Family reunification is supported. Schools (public, private, English, German, French) are concentrated in Sofia, Plovdiv, and Varna.

Family reunification is supported. International schools (English, French, Russian) are available in Belgrade.

Risks

Risks Bordercase watches for in Poland:

  • Long visa processing in some voivodeships
  • CIT and ZUS planning often gets done late
  • Centre-of-interests analysis for tax residency
  • Estonian-style lump-sum CIT regime eligibility

Risks Bordercase watches for in Bulgaria:

  • Tax residency triggers
  • VAT classification on cross-border services
  • Processing variations between regions
  • Euro adoption is in progress - operational planning needed

Risks Bordercase watches for in Serbia:

  • Tax residency triggers
  • VAT registration timing
  • Processing variations between MUP offices
  • EU Schengen access requires planning for cross-border travel
Documents

Typical Polish residency documents:

  • Passport
  • Criminal record certificate
  • Proof of address
  • Employment contract or business plan
  • Health insurance
  • Marriage / birth certificates for family

Apostilled and translated to Polish.

Typical Bulgarian residency documents:

  • Passport
  • Criminal record certificate
  • Proof of address
  • Basis for residence (employment, business, etc.)
  • Health insurance
  • Family certificates

Apostilled and translated to Bulgarian.

Typical Serbian residency documents:

  • Passport
  • Criminal record certificate
  • Proof of address
  • Basis for residence (employment, business, etc.)
  • Health insurance
  • Family certificates

Apostilled and translated to Serbian.

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