Compare jurisdictions, side by side.

Saint Lucia routes:

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

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.

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.

Estonian residency routes:

• Start-up visa - for founders of qualifying start-ups
• Digital nomad visa - for eligible remote workers
• Work permit - employer-sponsored
• Family routes - spouse / dependants

Note: e-Residency is NOT a residence permit - it is a digital identity for managing an Estonian company remotely.

Domestic companies and IBCs are common in international structures.

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.

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.

OÜ (private limited) is the standard structure, formed online via e-Residency or in person. Reporting obligations are real but proportionate; accounting partners are widely available.

Banking is selective. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions through current partners.

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

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.

Estonian banks have tightened KYC for non-resident e-residents; many international founders rely on EMIs (Wise, Revolut Business, Payoneer, etc.) for day-to-day banking. Local bank accounts typically require strong substance evidence.

CBI can include qualifying dependents.

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

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.

Family relocation is supported on the work and start-up visa routes; schooling and healthcare access follow the main applicant's residency.

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 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 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

Common pitfalls Bordercase watches for:

• Confusing e-Residency with physical residency
• Banking-only setups without substance - likely flagged
• Crypto, gambling, and other regulated industries face additional friction
• Tax residence triggered by 183 days even without a residence permit

Typical CBI documents:

• Passport
• Due diligence questionnaires
• Source-of-funds evidence (extensive)
• Family certificates with apostille and translation

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 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

For e-Residency:

• Passport
• Application form
• Biometric collection at the chosen Estonian embassy or pickup point

For physical residency:

• Passport
• Criminal record certificate
• Proof of income
• Accommodation evidence
• Health insurance
• Business plan (start-up visa)