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 RS flagSerbia

Europe

LC flagSaint Lucia

Central America & Caribbean

MT flagMalta

Europe

OverviewSerbia 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.Saint Lucia is a Caribbean jurisdiction with a Citizenship by Investment programme launched in 2016. Bordercase coordinates with authorised local agents.Malta is an EU member state with established residency, company, and family relocation routes. English is widely spoken and regulatory processes are well documented. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Maltese partners for filings.
Best for
  • Founders
  • IT professionals
  • Cost of living
  • Regional hub
  • Second passport
  • English admin
  • Caribbean residency
  • Founders
  • Holding structures
  • EU access
  • English admin
CurrencyRSDXCDEUR
LanguageSerbianEnglishEnglish / Maltese
Time zoneUTC+1UTC-4UTC+1
EU memberNoNoYes
SchengenNoNoYes
Residency

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.

Saint Lucia routes:

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

Maltese residency routes:

  • Nomad Residence Permit - eligible remote workers
  • Malta Permanent Residency Programme (MPRP) - investor route
  • Employment routes
  • Family reunification

The citizenship-by-naturalisation-for-exceptional-services programme is closed to new applicants.

Company setup

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.

Domestic companies and IBCs are common in international structures.

Maltese companies are commonly used for trading, IP holding, and gaming / fintech structures. Substance, accounting, and tax-refund mechanisms are well established but require careful structuring.

Banking

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

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

Local banking has tightened; EMIs are common supplements. Bordercase coordinates banking introductions through partners with current relationships.

Family

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

CBI can include qualifying dependents.

Family reunification is supported on most routes. Schooling and healthcare are accessible to legal residents.

Risks

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

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 Malta:

  • Substance requirements (real operations, real director time)
  • Tax classification disputes
  • Banking timelines - EU-wide AML pressure
  • EU anti-abuse rules tighten ongoing
Documents

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.

Typical CBI documents:

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

Standard EU residency document pack for Malta:

  • Passport
  • Criminal record certificate
  • Proof of income
  • Health insurance
  • Accommodation evidence
  • Marriage / birth certificates for family routes

Apostille or legalisation where required.

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