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

Paraguay residency routes:

• Permanent residency via proof of solvency / qualifying income - the standard route
• Family inclusion on the main application

Physical-presence requirements are relatively low compared to other jurisdictions.

Brazilian residency routes:

• Investor visa (VIPER / VITEM) - qualifying investment in a Brazilian business
• Digital nomad visa - remote workers
• Retirement visa - qualifying pension income
• Family reunification
• Employer-sponsored work permits

Uruguayan residency routes:

• Standard residency - proof of income / qualifying activity
• Investor route
• Retirement / pensioner route
• MERCOSUR fast-track for member-state nationals
• Family reunification

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

SRL (Limited Liability) and SA (Joint Stock) structures are available; entity setup is well-supported by local partners. Substance and reporting requirements should be confirmed at setup.

Ltda and SA are the standard structures. CNPJ registration, state registrations, and Receita Federal tax registration follow. The MEI regime suits micro-entrepreneurs.

SAS and SA are common structures. DGI tax registration and BPS social-security registration follow.

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 banking for residents is accessible. Bordercase coordinates introductions and documentation prep.

Residency unlocks personal and corporate banking. Pix has changed everyday payments; SWIFT for international flows still requires careful KYC.

Residency unlocks personal banking. Uruguay has historically been a HNW banking destination in the region; standards have tightened materially.

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

Family inclusion on residency applications is supported. Schools (Spanish-language and limited international) are concentrated in Asunción.

Family reunification is supported on most routes. International schools (English, German, French, Japanese) are concentrated in São Paulo, Rio, and Brasília.

Family reunification is supported. Schools (public, private, bilingual, international) are concentrated in Montevideo and Punta del Este.

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 Paraguay:

• Residency vs tax residency confusion
• Document apostille and translation requirements must be tracked carefully
• Some originating countries are subject to additional scrutiny
• Real-world banking outside Paraguay may not change because of Paraguayan residency

Risks Bordercase watches for in Brazil:

• Tax residency rules and worldwide-income reporting
• Real-estate restrictions in certain border regions
• Document apostille + Portuguese translation

Risks Bordercase watches for in Uruguay:

• Tax residency triggers (the new-resident tax holiday has conditions)
• Banking documentation and source-of-funds rigor
• Apostille + Spanish translation requirements

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 Paraguay documents:

• Passport
• Criminal record certificate (origin country + any country of residence in last 5 years)
• Marriage / birth certificates for family
• Proof of income or solvency (savings / pension / business)

All documents apostilled and translated to Spanish.

Typical Brazilian documents:

• Passport
• Apostilled foreign documents
• Proof of income or investment
• Photographs to specification
• Brazilian consular application abroad for most routes

Typical Uruguayan documents:

• Passport
• Apostilled foreign documents
• Proof of income or investment
• Health insurance
• Spanish translations where required