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Countries

	Slovakia Europe	Spain Europe	Montenegro Europe	Serbia Europe
Overview	Slovakia offers EU residency and corporate structures with a stable regulatory environment and competitive costs. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Slovak partners for filings.	Spain offers structured EU residency routes for individuals, families, and entrepreneurs, including the digital nomad visa introduced under the Startups Law. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Spanish partners for filings.	Montenegro is a non-EU European country with structured residency routes, EU candidate status, and a growing role as a base for founders and remote workers in the region. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Montenegrin partners.	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 EU access Cost of living	Families Remote workers EU access Cost of living	Cost of living Coastal living Regional residency	Founders IT professionals Cost of living Regional hub
Currency	EUR	EUR	EUR	RSD
Language	Slovak	Spanish	Montenegrin / Serbian	Serbian
Time zone	UTC+1	UTC+1	UTC+1	UTC+1
EU member	Yes	Yes	No	No
Schengen	Yes	Yes	No	No
Residency	Slovak residency routes: Employment-based residence Start-up visa - innovative businesses Business / self-employment Family reunification EU citizen-derivative routes	Spanish residency routes: Non-Lucrative Visa - passive income, no employment in Spain Digital Nomad Visa - remote workers and self-employed (Startups Law) Self-Employed Visa Entrepreneur Visa EU citizen-derivative routes The Golden Visa has been phased out for real estate purchases.	Montenegrin residency routes: Temporary residence via employment Business / self-employment Real-estate ownership Family reunification 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	S.R.O. (private limited) is the standard entity, with relatively low minimum capital and well-established formation processes. VAT registration depends on activity.	SL (Sociedad Limitada) is the standard private company. Registration involves NIE / NIF, notary, mercantile registry, and tax registration. Spanish tax residency triggers worldwide income reporting; the Beckham Law (special tax regime) may apply to eligible relocated workers.	DOO (limited liability) is the standard structure. Formation is well-documented and reasonably fast. Tax and VAT registration follow.	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	Resident banking is straightforward; corporate banking varies by activity. Bordercase coordinates introductions for cross-border cases.	Personal banking for residents is straightforward; corporate banking depends on activity and structure. Bordercase coordinates introductions for non-standard cases.	Personal banking for residents is accessible. Corporate banking depends on activity. 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.
Family	Family reunification is supported. International schools are available in Bratislava.	Family reunification is supported on most residency routes after a qualifying period. Schools (public, private, international) are widely available; the public system is generally accessible to legal residents.	Family inclusion on residency applications is supported. International schools are available in Podgorica and on the coast.	Family reunification is supported. International schools (English, French, Russian) are available in Belgrade.
Risks	Risks Bordercase watches for in Slovakia: Tax residency triggers VAT registration timing for cross-border services Processing variations between districts	Risks Bordercase watches for in Spain: Tax residency triggers - 183 days + centre of interests Beckham Law (special regime) eligibility Autonomous-community tax variation Hacienda audits when planning is unclear Past Schengen overstays must be disclosed	Risks Bordercase watches for in Montenegro: Tax residency triggers EU accession dynamics may change rules over time Processing variations between municipalities Schengen entry / exit considerations for travel planning	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 Slovak residency documents: Passport Criminal record certificate Proof of address Health insurance Employment or business documentation Family certificates with apostille and translation	Typical Spanish residency documents: Passport NIE (foreigner identification number) Criminal record certificate with apostille Proof of income / assets Health insurance with full cover in Spain Accommodation evidence Marriage / birth certificates for family routes	Typical Montenegrin residency documents: Passport Criminal record certificate Proof of accommodation Basis for residence Health insurance Family certificates Apostilled and translated.	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.

Europe

Europe

Europe

Europe

Overview

Slovakia offers EU residency and corporate structures with a stable regulatory environment and competitive costs. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Slovak partners for filings.

Spain offers structured EU residency routes for individuals, families, and entrepreneurs, including the digital nomad visa introduced under the Startups Law. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Spanish partners for filings.

Montenegro is a non-EU European country with structured residency routes, EU candidate status, and a growing role as a base for founders and remote workers in the region. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Montenegrin partners.

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
EU access
Cost of living

Families
Remote workers
EU access
Cost of living

Cost of living
Coastal living
Regional residency

Founders
IT professionals
Cost of living
Regional hub

Currency

EUR

RSD

Language

Slovak

Spanish

Montenegrin / Serbian

Serbian

Time zone

UTC+1

EU member

Yes

Schengen

Yes

Residency

Slovak residency routes:

Employment-based residence
Start-up visa - innovative businesses
Business / self-employment
Family reunification
EU citizen-derivative routes

Spanish residency routes:

Non-Lucrative Visa - passive income, no employment in Spain
Digital Nomad Visa - remote workers and self-employed (Startups Law)
Self-Employed Visa
Entrepreneur Visa
EU citizen-derivative routes

The Golden Visa has been phased out for real estate purchases.

Montenegrin residency routes:

Temporary residence via employment
Business / self-employment
Real-estate ownership
Family reunification

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

S.R.O. (private limited) is the standard entity, with relatively low minimum capital and well-established formation processes. VAT registration depends on activity.

SL (Sociedad Limitada) is the standard private company. Registration involves NIE / NIF, notary, mercantile registry, and tax registration. Spanish tax residency triggers worldwide income reporting; the Beckham Law (special tax regime) may apply to eligible relocated workers.

DOO (limited liability) is the standard structure. Formation is well-documented and reasonably fast. Tax and VAT registration follow.

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

Resident banking is straightforward; corporate banking varies by activity. Bordercase coordinates introductions for cross-border cases.

Personal banking for residents is straightforward; corporate banking depends on activity and structure. Bordercase coordinates introductions for non-standard cases.

Personal banking for residents is accessible. Corporate banking depends on activity. 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.

Family

Family reunification is supported. International schools are available in Bratislava.

Family reunification is supported on most residency routes after a qualifying period. Schools (public, private, international) are widely available; the public system is generally accessible to legal residents.

Family inclusion on residency applications is supported. International schools are available in Podgorica and on the coast.

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

Risks

Risks Bordercase watches for in Slovakia:

Tax residency triggers
VAT registration timing for cross-border services
Processing variations between districts

Risks Bordercase watches for in Spain:

Tax residency triggers - 183 days + centre of interests
Beckham Law (special regime) eligibility
Autonomous-community tax variation
Hacienda audits when planning is unclear
Past Schengen overstays must be disclosed

Risks Bordercase watches for in Montenegro:

Tax residency triggers
EU accession dynamics may change rules over time
Processing variations between municipalities
Schengen entry / exit considerations for travel planning

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 Slovak residency documents:

Passport
Criminal record certificate
Proof of address
Health insurance
Employment or business documentation
Family certificates with apostille and translation

Typical Spanish residency documents:

Passport
NIE (foreigner identification number)
Criminal record certificate with apostille
Proof of income / assets
Health insurance with full cover in Spain
Accommodation evidence
Marriage / birth certificates for family routes

Typical Montenegrin residency documents:

Passport
Criminal record certificate
Proof of accommodation
Basis for residence
Health insurance
Family certificates

Apostilled and translated.

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.