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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.

 PT flagPortugal

Europe

AR flagArgentina

Latin America

MX flagMexico

North America

OverviewPortugal is a popular EU destination for individuals, families, and remote professionals. Bordercase coordinates assessment across the main residency routes and family relocation logistics, working with licensed Portuguese partners for filings.Argentina is a major South American economy with structured residency routes and a competitive cost of living for international founders and families. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Argentine partners for filings.Mexico 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.
Best for
  • Families
  • Remote workers
  • Founders
  • EU access
  • Latin America hub
  • Cost of living
  • Founders
  • Families
  • Founders
  • Families
  • Latin America hub
  • Cost of living
CurrencyEURARSMXN
LanguagePortugueseSpanishSpanish
Time zoneUTC+1UTC-3UTC-6
EU memberYesNoNo
SchengenYesNoNo
Residency

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.

Argentine residency routes:

  • Rentista visa - passive income / pension
  • Investor visa - qualifying investment in an Argentine business
  • Worker visa - employer-sponsored
  • Family routes - spouse, children, parents
  • MERCOSUR fast-track for nationals of member states

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.

Company setup

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.

SA (Sociedad Anónima) and SRL (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada) are the standard structures. CUIT, IGJ registration, and AFIP tax registration follow.

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.

Banking

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 banking. Forex controls and currency volatility are part of the landscape; multi-jurisdiction structuring is common.

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.

Family

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. Schools (public, private, English, German, French) are widely available in Buenos Aires.

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.

Risks

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 Argentina:

  • Currency / forex controls
  • Tax residency triggers
  • Document apostille + Spanish translation requirements

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
Documents

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 Argentine documents:

  • Passport
  • Criminal record certificate (apostilled)
  • Marriage / birth certificates for family
  • Proof of income or investment
  • Health insurance

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

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