Jurisdictions compared
Side-by-side comparisons of the jurisdictions founders and investors weigh up most often: company vehicles, residency programmes and citizenship by investment. Each comparison sets out sourced, dated facts in one table, explains the trade-offs in plain language and links to the full page for every jurisdiction it covers.
Updated
Companies
- US LLC vs Hong Kong companyA US LLC and a Hong Kong limited company are the two vehicles international online founders choose most often. The LLC is light to run and, with one foreign owner, usually taxed where the owner lives; the Hong Kong company pays local profits tax on Hong Kong-source profits and is audited every year.United States · Hong KongCompare
- US LLC vs UK LtdA US LLC and a UK private limited company are both quick to set up online for non-residents, but they are taxed in opposite ways. A single-owner LLC is disregarded for US federal tax, so profits are usually taxed where the owner lives; a UK Ltd is UK resident by incorporation and pays corporation tax of 19% to 25%.United States · United KingdomCompare
- BVI vs Cayman Islands companyThe British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands are both British Overseas Territories with no corporate income or capital gains tax. The BVI business company is mainly a holding and joint-venture vehicle; the Cayman exempted company is mainly used for investment funds and the companies around them. Both have economic substance rules and record beneficial owners.British Virgin Islands · Cayman IslandsCompare
- US LLC vs Estonian company (OÜ)A US LLC and an Estonian private limited company (OÜ) are the two companies location-independent founders most often form online. A single-owner LLC is disregarded for US federal tax, so profits are usually taxed where the owner lives; an Estonian OÜ pays no tax on retained profits and 22% when it distributes them.United States · EstoniaCompare
- Estonian OÜ vs UK LtdAn Estonian private limited company (OÜ) and a UK private limited company (Ltd) can both be formed online by founders who live elsewhere. The OÜ pays no tax on retained profits and 22% when it distributes them; the Ltd pays UK corporation tax of 19% to 25% on its profits, and the UK withholds nothing on ordinary dividends.Estonia · United KingdomCompare
Residencies
- Paraguay vs Uruguay residencyParaguay and Uruguay are the two South American residencies that international founders compare most often. Paraguay grants a two-year temporary residence with no investment threshold and taxes individuals only on Paraguayan-source income. Uruguay grants permanent residence on proof of means of living and, since 2026, taxes residents' foreign capital income unless they elect a new-resident regime.Paraguay · UruguayCompare
- Portugal vs Greece golden visaPortugal and Greece run the two best-known golden visa programmes in southern Europe, and both changed recently. Portugal no longer accepts real estate and now starts at EUR 250,000 in culture or EUR 500,000 in funds, research or a company. Greece still accepts property, from EUR 400,000 or EUR 800,000 depending on the region, plus financial routes.Portugal · GreeceCompare
- Cyprus vs Dubai: tax and residencyCyprus and Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, are the two bases founders leaving high-tax countries shortlist most often. Dubai has no personal income tax and a 9% corporate tax above AED 375,000. Cyprus is an EU member state with a 15% corporate tax, personal tax up to 35% and a non-dom regime for dividends and interest.Cyprus · United Arab EmiratesCompare
- Cyprus vs Malta: residency and taxCyprus and Malta are the two EU island states that founders and investors compare when they relocate. Both tax non-domiciled residents lightly on foreign income: Cyprus exempts their dividends and interest from its defence contribution, while Malta taxes foreign income only when it is remitted. They differ on corporate tax, minimum taxes and residence routes.Cyprus · MaltaCompare
- Portugal vs Spain residencyPortugal and Spain are the two Iberian countries people compare when they move south, and their residence routes have diverged. Spain closed its golden visa to new applications in April 2025, while Portugal keeps one without real estate. Both offer residence for passive income and remote work, and both have tax regimes for qualifying newcomers.Portugal · SpainCompare
- Panama vs Paraguay residencyPanama and Paraguay both tax individuals only on locally sourced income, which is why founders with foreign income compare them. Paraguay's general temporary residence needs no investment; Panama's main routes ask for USD 200,000 under Friendly Nations, for citizens of listed countries, or from USD 300,000 under the Qualified Investor programme.Panama · ParaguayCompare
- Mexico vs Panama residencyMexico and Panama are two Latin American residencies that retirees and founders often compare. Mexico grants temporary residence for up to four years on income, savings or property, with thresholds set in UMA days. Panama grants residence through Friendly Nations, a Qualified Investor route or a pensioner route, and taxes individuals only on Panamanian-source income.Mexico · PanamaCompare
Citizenship
- Caribbean citizenship by investment comparedFive Caribbean states grant citizenship in return for an approved investment or contribution: St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia and Dominica. All five run due diligence on every applicant and family member, none guarantees approval, and the programmes differ in investment routes, processing, family rules and travel access.St Kitts and Nevis · Antigua and Barbuda · Grenada · Saint Lucia · DominicaCompare
- St Kitts and Nevis vs Dominica citizenshipSt Kitts and Nevis and Dominica run the two oldest Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes, established in 1984 and 1993. Dominica's fund route starts at USD 200,000 for a single applicant; St Kitts and Nevis asks USD 250,000 for a main applicant or a family of up to four. Both run due diligence on every applicant.St Kitts and Nevis · DominicaCompare
- Dominica vs Grenada citizenshipDominica and Grenada both grant citizenship, after due diligence, to applicants who make an approved fund contribution or real estate investment. Dominica's fund route starts at USD 200,000 for a single applicant; Grenada asks USD 235,000 for up to four family members and gives access to the US E-2 treaty after three years' domicile.Dominica · GrenadaCompare
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