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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.

 AE flagUnited Arab Emirates

Middle East

GE flagGeorgia

Europe

ES flagSpain

Europe

OverviewThe United Arab Emirates is one of the most active jurisdictions for cross-border founders, remote professionals, and family relocations. It offers a wide menu of residency and company structures - federal mainland, free zone, and offshore - each with different banking, substance, and timeline implications.Georgia is one of the most accessible jurisdictions in the world for relocation, banking, and company setup - with 1-year visa-free entry for 95+ nationalities and a clean, modern tax framework. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Georgian partners for filings.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
  • Founders
  • Banking
  • Tax planning
  • Families
  • English admin
  • Founders
  • IT professionals
  • Tax simplification
  • Banking diversification
  • Cost of living
  • Families
  • Remote workers
  • EU access
  • Cost of living
CurrencyAEDGELEUR
LanguageArabic / EnglishGeorgianSpanish
Time zoneUTC+4UTC+4UTC+1
EU memberNoNoYes
SchengenNoNoYes
Residency

Common UAE residency routes:

  • Investor / property routes via business ownership or qualifying real estate
  • Employment-based residency through a mainland or free-zone company (most common)
  • Freelance and remote-work permits where eligible
  • Golden Visa for qualifying investors, specialists, and outstanding talents
  • Dependant sponsorship for spouse, children, and in some cases parents

Quotas, thresholds, and route definitions are revised frequently and vary by emirate.

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.

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.

Company setup

Mainland LLCs allow trade across the UAE and government contracts; free-zone companies (DMCC, IFZA, RAKEZ, ADGM, DIFC, and others) suit international service businesses; offshore companies are limited to holding structures. Bordercase coordinates with licensed corporate-services partners in each free zone and mainland.

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.

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

Personal and corporate accounts in the UAE require thorough KYC, substance evidence, and clear source of funds. Bordercase prepares the documentation pack and introduces vetted banks and EMIs; final approval is the bank's discretion.

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

Family

Dependants - spouse, children, and in some cases parents - can be sponsored under most residency permits. Schooling, dependent insurance, and Emirates ID processes typically follow the main applicant's residency.

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 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 UAE cases:

  • Bank account rejection - unclear source of funds, complex ownership, certain industries
  • Free-zone choice misaligned with the actual business activity
  • Substance requirements underestimated (real office, real operations)
  • Past visa rejections in any country must be disclosed and prepared for
  • Restricted nationalities for certain banking partners

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 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
Documents

Typical document pack for UAE residency:

  • Passport copies (6+ months valid)
  • Recent biometric photos
  • Education / qualification certificates (attested)
  • Business plan (for investor / free-zone routes)
  • Source-of-funds evidence
  • Bank statements (6-12 months)
  • Existing company documents where applicable
  • Medical examination + Emirates ID enrolment after entry

Documents from abroad typically require notarisation and legalisation (UAE attestation chain).

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 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

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