Compare jurisdictions, side by side.

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.

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

Common Portuguese residency routes:

• D7 - passive income / pension
• D8 - digital nomad / remote work
• D2 - entrepreneur / self-employed
• D3 - highly qualified workers
• Tech Visa - eligible tech roles via accredited companies
• Golden Visa - restricted in scope after recent reforms
• Family reunification on most permits

Each has different income, residency-day, and renewal requirements.

Brazilian residency routes:

• Investor visa (VIPER / VITEM) - qualifying investment in a Brazilian business
• Digital nomad visa - remote workers
• Retirement visa - qualifying pension income
• Family reunification
• Employer-sponsored work permits

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.

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

Portugal supports Lda (private limited) and SA (public limited) structures. Tax registration, social security registration, and a Portuguese tax representative are typically required. Substance, accounting, and reporting obligations are real.

Ltda and SA are the standard structures. CNPJ registration, state registrations, and Receita Federal tax registration follow. The MEI regime suits micro-entrepreneurs.

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

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.

Personal accounts are accessible to residents and many non-residents; documentation is structured and predictable. Corporate banking depends on company structure and intended activity; Bordercase coordinates with banking partners for introductions.

Residency unlocks personal and corporate banking. Pix has changed everyday payments; SWIFT for international flows still requires careful KYC.

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

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. Schools (public, private, and international) are widely available; the public system is generally accessible to legal residents.

Family reunification is supported on most routes. International schools (English, German, French, Japanese) are concentrated in São Paulo, Rio, and Brasília.

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 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 Portuguese cases:

• AIMA processing delays (formerly SEF)
• Misalignment between visa type and actual activity
• Tax residence triggered by accident - NHR window timing matters
• Past EU Schengen overstays must be disclosed
• Real estate vs investment routes have changed materially

Risks Bordercase watches for in Brazil:

• Tax residency rules and worldwide-income reporting
• Real-estate restrictions in certain border regions
• Document apostille + Portuguese translation

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 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 document pack for Portuguese residency:

• Passport
• NIF (Portuguese tax number)
• Proof of accommodation (lease, deed, or invitation)
• Proof of income or assets (varies by route)
• Criminal record certificate with apostille
• Health insurance valid in Portugal
• Marriage / birth certificates for family routes
• Certified translations where required

Typical Brazilian documents:

• Passport
• Apostilled foreign documents
• Proof of income or investment
• Photographs to specification
• Brazilian consular application abroad for most routes