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Bordercase

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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

KN flagSaint Kitts and Nevis

Central America & Caribbean

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.Saint Kitts and Nevis is a Caribbean jurisdiction with one of the oldest citizenship-by-investment programmes. Bordercase coordinates with authorised local agents and licensed advisers - citizenship outcomes remain at the discretion of the Citizenship by Investment Unit.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
  • Second passport
  • Caribbean residency
  • Asset planning
  • Families
  • Remote workers
  • EU access
  • Cost of living
CurrencyAEDXCD / USDEUR
LanguageArabic / EnglishEnglishSpanish
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.

Saint Kitts and Nevis routes:

  • Citizenship by Investment (CBI) via the Sustainable Growth Fund
  • CBI via approved real-estate investment
  • Standard work / family routes

Citizenship outcomes remain at the discretion of the Citizenship by Investment Unit.

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.

Nevis IBCs and LLCs are commonly used in international structures. Substance, beneficial ownership disclosure, and AML standards have tightened materially.

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.

Domestic and offshore banking options exist but have become more selective on KYC and source of funds. Bordercase coordinates banking pack preparation and partner introductions.

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.

CBI applications can include qualifying dependants - spouse, children, and in some cases parents - under specific conditions.

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 Saint Kitts:

  • Programme parameters change
  • Due diligence has tightened materially
  • Rejection rates have risen for incomplete or unclear source-of-funds presentations
  • Visa-revocation and reputational risks if information is misrepresented

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 CBI documents:

  • Passport
  • Due diligence questionnaires
  • Source-of-funds evidence (extensive)
  • Employment / business documentation
  • Family certificates with apostille and certified translation
  • Police clearance certificates for all countries of residence in the prior 10 years

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.