Countries
Countries
Compare
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.
Pick countries to compare (4/4)
Mauritius
Singapore
Hong Kong
Panama
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Antigua and Barbuda
Dominica
Grenada
Saint Lucia
Cayman Islands
British Virgin Islands
Bahamas
Barbados
Portugal
Spain
Italy
Greece
Cyprus
Malta
Germany
Switzerland
Estonia
Poland
Slovakia
Bulgaria
Croatia
Romania
Serbia
Montenegro
Georgia
Armenia
Türkiye
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Paraguay
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
United Arab Emirates
Mexico SwitzerlandEurope | CyprusEurope | EstoniaEurope | SpainEurope | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | Cyprus is an EU member state with established routes for residency, company setup, and family relocation. Bordercase coordinates with regulated Cypriot lawyers and corporate-services providers for filings and ongoing compliance. |
| Estonia is a strong choice for digital-first founders and consultants because of e-Residency, transparent company administration, and English-friendly digital processes. Bordercase coordinates entity setup and banking readiness for cross-border operators. |
| 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. |
| Best for |
|
|
|
|
|---|
| Currency | CHF | EUR | EUR | EUR |
|---|
| Language | German / French / Italian | Greek / English | Estonian / English | Spanish |
|---|
| Time zone | UTC+1 | UTC+2 | UTC+2 | UTC+1 |
|---|
| EU member | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Schengen | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Residency | Swiss residency routes:
| Cyprus residency routes:
The investor citizenship programme is closed. | Estonian residency routes:
Note: e-Residency is NOT a residence permit - it is a digital identity for managing an Estonian company remotely. | Spanish residency routes:
The Golden Visa has been phased out for real estate purchases. |
|---|
| 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. | Cyprus Limited companies are widely used by international groups for IP, holding, and trading structures. Substance, local director, and accounting requirements have tightened in recent years and must be planned at setup. | 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. | 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. |
|---|
| 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. | Cypriot banks have strict KYC and source-of-funds processes following past compliance episodes. EMIs are widely used as supplements. Personal and corporate banking introductions go through vetted partners. | 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. | Personal banking for residents is straightforward; corporate banking depends on activity and structure. Bordercase coordinates introductions for non-standard cases. |
|---|
| Family | Family reunification is supported on most permits. Schools (public, private, and international) are widely available; international schools are well-established but selective. | Family reunification is available on most routes. English-language schools (public and private) and healthcare options are widely accessible to legal residents. | Family relocation is supported on the work and start-up visa routes; schooling and healthcare access follow the main applicant's residency. | 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. |
|---|
| Risks | Risks Bordercase watches for in Switzerland:
| Common pitfalls in Cyprus cases:
| Common pitfalls Bordercase watches for:
| Risks Bordercase watches for in Spain:
|
|---|
| Documents | Typical Swiss residency documents:
Apostilled and translated where required. | Typical document pack for Cyprus residency:
For company formation: business plan, ownership-chain documents, and KYC for all ultimate beneficial owners. | For e-Residency:
For physical residency:
| Typical Spanish residency documents:
|
|---|
Country pages stay the authoritative source. This view is a side-by-side; nothing here promises a particular outcome.