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Countries

	Switzerland Europe	Bahamas Central America & Caribbean	Montenegro Europe	Serbia Europe
Overview	Switzerland is a stable, high-quality jurisdiction with structured residency routes - most of them merit-based, contribution-based, or employer-sponsored. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Swiss partners for filings.	The Bahamas is a Caribbean jurisdiction with structured residency routes including the Economic Permanent Residence and an active fund / family-office sector. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Bahamian partners.	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	HNW Founders Forfait fiscal Stability	HNW Funds Family offices English admin	Cost of living Coastal living Regional residency	Founders IT professionals Cost of living Regional hub
Currency	CHF	BSD	EUR	RSD
Language	German / French / Italian	English	Montenegrin / Serbian	Serbian
Time zone	UTC+1	UTC-5	UTC+1	UTC+1
EU member	No	No	No	No
Schengen	Yes	No	No	No
Residency	Swiss residency routes: Work permit - employer-sponsored, quota-controlled for non-EU Lump-sum taxation (forfait fiscal) - HNW individuals in eligible cantons Business / investor routes EU / EFTA routes - under FMP Family reunification	Bahamian residency routes: Economic Permanent Residence - qualifying property investment Annual residence permits for HNW Work permits - employer-sponsored Family routes	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	GmbH and AG are the standard structures. Cantonal variation in tax, registration, and substance treatment is real. Federal and cantonal compliance is precise.	IBCs (International Business Companies) are widely used; substance and reporting are now real. Funds and family-office structures are common.	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	Swiss banking has tightened materially since the 2010s. Personal accounts require residency or strong nexus; corporate banking requires substance and clear source of funds. Bordercase coordinates introductions through current partners.	Banking is selective and source-of-funds focused. Bordercase coordinates introductions through current partners.	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 on most permits. Schools (public, private, and international) are widely available; international schools are well-established but selective.	Family inclusion is supported on most routes. International schools are concentrated on New Providence.	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 Switzerland: Quotas for non-EU work permits Lump-sum taxation eligibility and cantonal variation Banking gatekeeping for non-residents Substance and arm's-length pricing audits	Risks Bordercase watches for in the Bahamas: Economic substance reporting Property due diligence Reputational handling around offshore structures	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 Swiss residency documents: Passport Employment contract or business plan Criminal record certificate Proof of accommodation Health insurance valid in Switzerland Financial evidence Apostilled and translated where required.	Typical Bahamian documents: Passport Source-of-funds evidence Health and police clearances Apostilled foreign documents	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.

Switzerland

Europe

Bahamas

Central America & Caribbean

Montenegro

Europe

Serbia

Europe

Overview

Switzerland is a stable, high-quality jurisdiction with structured residency routes - most of them merit-based, contribution-based, or employer-sponsored. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Swiss partners for filings.

The Bahamas is a Caribbean jurisdiction with structured residency routes including the Economic Permanent Residence and an active fund / family-office sector. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Bahamian partners.

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

HNW
Founders
Forfait fiscal
Stability

HNW
Funds
Family offices
English admin

Cost of living
Coastal living
Regional residency

Founders
IT professionals
Cost of living
Regional hub

Currency

CHF

BSD

EUR

RSD

Language

German / French / Italian

English

Montenegrin / Serbian

Serbian

Time zone

UTC+1

UTC-5

UTC+1

EU member

Schengen

Yes

Residency

Swiss residency routes:

Work permit - employer-sponsored, quota-controlled for non-EU
Lump-sum taxation (forfait fiscal) - HNW individuals in eligible cantons
Business / investor routes
EU / EFTA routes - under FMP
Family reunification

Bahamian residency routes:

Economic Permanent Residence - qualifying property investment
Annual residence permits for HNW
Work permits - employer-sponsored
Family routes

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

GmbH and AG are the standard structures. Cantonal variation in tax, registration, and substance treatment is real. Federal and cantonal compliance is precise.

IBCs (International Business Companies) are widely used; substance and reporting are now real. Funds and family-office structures are common.

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

Swiss banking has tightened materially since the 2010s. Personal accounts require residency or strong nexus; corporate banking requires substance and clear source of funds. Bordercase coordinates introductions through current partners.

Banking is selective and source-of-funds focused. Bordercase coordinates introductions through current partners.

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 on most permits. Schools (public, private, and international) are widely available; international schools are well-established but selective.

Family inclusion is supported on most routes. International schools are concentrated on New Providence.

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 Switzerland:

Quotas for non-EU work permits
Lump-sum taxation eligibility and cantonal variation
Banking gatekeeping for non-residents
Substance and arm's-length pricing audits

Risks Bordercase watches for in the Bahamas:

Economic substance reporting
Property due diligence
Reputational handling around offshore structures

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 Swiss residency documents:

Passport
Employment contract or business plan
Criminal record certificate
Proof of accommodation
Health insurance valid in Switzerland
Financial evidence

Apostilled and translated where required.

Typical Bahamian documents:

Passport
Source-of-funds evidence
Health and police clearances
Apostilled foreign documents

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.