Skip to content
Bordercase

Compare

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.

 ES flagSpain

Europe

MT flagMalta

Europe

TR flagTürkiye

Europe

OverviewSpain 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.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.Türkiye offers a range of residency routes from short-term tourist residency to longer-term investor / family / work routes. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Turkish lawyers for filings.
Best for
  • Families
  • Remote workers
  • EU access
  • Cost of living
  • Founders
  • Holding structures
  • EU access
  • English admin
  • Citizenship by investment
  • Cost of living
  • Regional residency
  • Families
CurrencyEUREURTRY
LanguageSpanishEnglish / MalteseTurkish
Time zoneUTC+1UTC+1UTC+3
EU memberYesYesNo
SchengenYesYesNo
Residency

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.

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.

Türkiye residency routes:

  • Short-term residence permit (1-2 years, renewable)
  • Family permit
  • Work permit - employer-sponsored
  • Student permit
  • Citizenship-by-investment via real estate or qualifying deposits / investments
Company setup

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.

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.

Limited Şirket (LLC) and AŞ (Joint Stock) are common structures. Notary registration, tax registration, and a tax representative are typically required.

Banking

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

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

Personal banking for residents is broadly accessible; non-resident corporate banking has tightened. Source-of-funds and ownership clarity are central.

Family

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

Family reunification is supported on most routes. International schools (English, German, French, Italian) are available in Istanbul and Ankara.

Risks

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 Malta:

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

Risks Bordercase watches for in Türkiye:

  • Restricted residency zones (some districts no longer issue short-term residency to foreigners)
  • Currency volatility on investment routes
  • Shifting policy on the citizenship-by-investment programme
  • Banking documentation requirements tighten regularly
Documents

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

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.

Typical Türkiye documents:

  • Passport
  • Biometric photos
  • Proof of address
  • Proof of income or savings
  • Health insurance
  • Criminal record certificate
  • Marriage / birth certificates for family

Documents apostilled and translated to Turkish.

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