Compare jurisdictions, side by side.

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

Common Georgian residency routes:

• Work residence - employer-sponsored or via your own Georgian LLC
• Investment residence - real estate, capital, or business investment thresholds
• Study residence - enrolment at a Georgian institution
• Family reunification - spouse, children, dependant parents
• Permanent residence - typically after 6 years of continuous lawful stay

Many nationalities can stay visa-free for 365 days, which is often used to plan the right route without time pressure.

German residency routes:

• Blue Card - high-skilled employees
• Freiberufler / Selbständig - freelancer / self-employed
• Employer-sponsored work permits
• Entrepreneur visa
• Family reunification

Permanent residence typically after 5 years (faster on Blue Card).

Saint Lucia routes:

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

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

Standard Georgian entities and tax treatment:

• LLC (Shps) - the default structure; fast online formation
• Individual Entrepreneur (IE) - simple setup; Small Business Status offers 1% turnover tax up to ~500k GEL/year for qualifying activities
• Virtual Zone - 0% corporate income tax on qualifying IT-export profits (subject to substance and qualifying-activity tests)
• International Company Status - reduced 5% CIT for qualifying IT and maritime companies with real operations

Bordercase coordinates structure choice to match real activity and avoid substance traps.

GmbH and UG (haftungsbeschränkt) are common structures. Notary involvement is required for formation. Tax registration, trade registration (Gewerbeanmeldung), and German GAAP / tax accounting standards apply.

Domestic companies and IBCs are common in international structures.

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.

Personal and corporate banking is broadly accessible to residents and non-residents through TBC, Bank of Georgia, and others - typically with USD, EUR, and GEL accounts. Compliance has tightened materially since 2023; clear source-of-funds, business narrative, and tax residency clarity matter. Bordercase coordinates introductions where useful.

Personal banking for residents is well established; certain non-resident structures take longer. SCHUFA history is relevant for residents. Bordercase coordinates introductions for cross-border cases.

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

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 supported across most residency routes. English-language international schools are available in Tbilisi and Batumi. Healthcare is a mix of public and private; expat-grade private cover is recommended.

Family reunification is well supported. Schools (public, private, bilingual, and international) are widely available; international schools are concentrated in major cities.

CBI can include qualifying dependents.

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 Georgia:

• Tax residency triggers - 183 days makes you tax-resident even without a permit
• Virtual Zone / IE status misuse - real activity must match the qualifying category, audits do happen
• Banking compliance - certain nationalities, sectors, and source-of-funds patterns face additional scrutiny
• Russia/Ukraine-related restrictions - operational and reputational considerations for some cases
• Permit timing - applying from inside Georgia vs at a consulate has different rules and risks

Risks Bordercase watches for in Germany:

• Tax residency triggers (183 days + centre of interests)
• Late VAT registration on cross-border services
• Language and bureaucratic friction in some Länder
• Freiberufler vs Gewerbe classification disputes

Risks Bordercase watches for in Saint Lucia:

• Programme parameters change
• Due diligence has tightened
• Reputational and revocation risks if information is misrepresented

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 Georgian residency documents:

• Passport (6+ months valid)
• Proof of basis (employment, business, study, family)
• Proof of accommodation
• Health insurance valid in Georgia
• Bank statements / proof of income
• Criminal record certificate (apostilled, where required)
• Marriage / birth certificates for family routes

Apostille and certified translation into Georgian where required.

Typical German residency documents:

• Passport
• Recognised qualifications (where required)
• Contract or business plan
• Accommodation evidence (Anmeldung)
• Health insurance
• Family certificates

Apostilled and translated to German.

Typical CBI documents:

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