Opening a company abroad in 2026 means simultaneously entering a new market, optimizing taxation and opening the path to residency or citizenship. Find out which countries offer the most favorable conditions for business registration, the lowest corporate tax rates and real programs for investors - from Latvia and Hungary to the Caribbean and Vanuatu

Opening a company outside your home country is no longer a luxury or a strategy exclusively for multinational corporations. In 2026, it is a real tool for entrepreneurs of any scale: a means of gaining access to new markets, optimizing taxes and, in the best case, also securing the right to reside or citizenship in an attractive jurisdiction. The only question is which country to choose.

Global trade continues to grow even in the face of geopolitical tension. According to UNCTAD, world trade volumes in 2025 exceeded $35 trillion, and foreign direct investment increased by 14%, reaching $1.6 trillion. In parallel, capital migration is also intensifying: if in 2023 about 120,000 millionaires left their country, then the forecast for 2026 is 165,000 people. People are looking for stable regulation, convenient business conditions and flexible relocation options.

What role does company registration play in this? A crucial one. In the right jurisdiction, starting a business is both a market entry, an argument for obtaining a residence permit, and a basis for tax optimization. Let's consider the key areas of 2026.

Golden visas remain one of the fastest ways to obtain a residence permit in Europe in 2026. Countries that still offer investment programs in this article.

International business expansion is always legal issues that are better resolved before, rather than after, company registration.

A personal business lawyer from Visit World is a specialist who accompanies the company at every stage: from choosing the legal form and taxation system to obtaining work visas, managing documentation and protecting interests in disputes. Whether you are just entering a new market or already operating abroad and are faced with a legal problem – consulting a lawyer will save you both time and money. Contact a personal business lawyer at Visit World – and get your questions answered today.

Latvia: 0% on reinvested profits and the cheapest way to the EU

For those who build a business for the future, rather than withdrawing money, the Latvian tax model looks almost perfect. Retained earnings are taxed at a rate of 0% – tax is paid only when the funds are paid out as dividends or used outside the business (then the rate is 20%). This stimulates reinvestment and makes Latvia the second in the world in terms of tax competitiveness among OECD countries in 2025.

A company can be registered in 1-3 days, the minimum capital is about 2,800 euros. Foreign founders are allowed without restrictions. And the “golden visa” through business starts from 50,000 euros of investment in a Latvian company - this is the most affordable business path to EU residency, which opens in about 3 months.

From five special economic zones - the Riga Free Port, Ventspils Port and others - companies can get up to 80% discount on corporate tax and exemption from certain withholding taxes.

How to get a Golden Visa to Latvia in 2026 was told here.

Hungary: the lowest corporate tax rate in the EU

9% - this is how much businesses in Hungary pay on their profits. This is the lowest figure among all EU countries, and it attracts companies from all over the world: from car manufacturers to IT startups. The country ranks 9th among 38 OECD countries in the 2025 Tax Competitiveness Index, and foreign direct investment relative to GDP is the second highest in Central and Eastern Europe.

Company registration takes 1–2 days, is completely online, and does not require payment of a fee. The minimum capital for an LLC is about 7,500–8,000 euros. Access for foreigners is unlimited.

Business residency in Hungary is issued for 3 years from the date of company registration with a minimum capital of 7,700 euros. A separate program - the Golden Visa for guest investors - grants a residence permit for 10 years with the possibility of extension, but through investments in real estate funds (from 250,000 euros) or universities (1 million euros), and not through company registration.

Portugal: a startup ecosystem and a dual path to residency

Portugal consistently ranks in the top 20% of economies in terms of business readiness. It has a well-developed digital infrastructure, a strong research and development base, and the Madeira regime with a 5% corporate tax rate for international operations – provided that jobs are created.

The standard corporate tax rate is 19% on the mainland, and for small businesses it is reduced to 15% for the first 50,000 euros of profit. The SIFIDE regime allows you to deduct 32.5% of R&D costs directly from the tax paid, which is especially relevant for technology companies.

Portugal has two business paths to residency. The “Golden Visa” through business – investments of 500,000 euros or more in a Portuguese company with the creation of 5 permanent jobs or just 10 jobs without an investment threshold. Startup visa – for entrepreneurs with an innovative project in partnership with an accredited incubator, without a fixed investment threshold. The difference is significant: the “golden visa” requires only 7 days of presence per year, the startup visa – 183 days.

Read more about the current conditions of the Portuguese golden visa in 2026 and its strategic advantages here.

Malta: an effective rate of 5% and an English-speaking business hub of the EU

Malta is one of the few EU countries where an extensive tax refund system can significantly reduce the real corporate burden. Formally, the rate is 35%, but shareholders of trading companies have the right to demand a refund of 6/7 of the tax paid, reducing the effective rate to approximately 5%. This is a legally pure mechanism, long enshrined in Maltese legislation.

Company registration takes 1 day. English is one of the official languages. For holding structures, iGaming, financial services and SaaS, Malta remains one of the most convenient platforms in the European Union.

The Malta Permanent Residency Program (MPRP) is not tied to a business: it requires renting or buying real estate plus government contributions (minimum costs are about 169,000 euros for the rental option). However, the status is granted indefinitely with no minimum stay requirements.

Cyprus: 12.5% ​​and an intellectual property regime with an effective rate of 2.5%

Cyprus is a choice for businesses that earn money from software, patents and intangible assets. The basic corporate tax rate is 12.5%, one of the lowest in the EU. But the main advantage is the IP Box: the effective rate can drop to 2.5% on qualified income from intellectual property.

Dividends, interest and royalties are not subject to withholding tax. Profits from the sale of securities are completely exempt from taxation. The nominal interest regime allows you to reduce taxable profit by up to 80% if the company is financed by equity.

For new tax residents - a regime without taxation of dividends and interest for up to 17 years. Permanent residence in Cyprus can be obtained through investments of 300,000 euros in real estate or securities.

Comparison of the conditions of the “golden visa” program in Malta and Cyprus in 2026 at the link.

Turkey: citizenship for business investment and strategic location

Turkey is one of the few countries where company registration can directly become a basis for obtaining citizenship. Condition: investment of 500,000 dollars in the capital of a Turkish company or the creation of at least 50 jobs. After 3 years, the share can be sold. The passport is obtained in about 8 months, dual citizenship is allowed.

The standard corporate tax rate is 25%. But in 19 free zones and 92 technology zones, software manufacturers and developers can be completely exempt from corporate tax and VAT. For exporters, income is taxed at a reduced rate of 20%.

The scale of the industrial infrastructure is impressive: 392 organized industrial zones in all 81 provinces, more than 67,000 companies and 2 million employees.

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Vanuatu: Zero Taxes and the Fastest Citizenship

For those looking for the simplest structure possible with no taxes, Vanuatu is a unique proposition. There is no corporate tax, personal income tax, or capital gains tax. Foreign investors are free to repatriate profits abroad without any restrictions.

Company registration takes 9–18 days and requires an investment registration certificate. There are reserved activities exclusively for citizens – small retail trade, local fishing – but for international business this is not essential.

Vanuatu citizenship is one of the fastest programs in the world: processing begins in 2 months. Minimum deposit – from $130,000.

Countries where “golden visa” holders can move their entire family here.

Caribbean Islands: Zero Capital Gains Tax and Broad Mobility Passports

Five Caribbean nations – Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia – offer citizenship-by-investment programs that are consistently among the strongest in the world. Corporate tax rates here range from 25% to 33.3%, but none of the countries impose a capital gains tax, and Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis have no personal income tax. Some jurisdictions offer tax holidays of up to 15 years for priority projects.

A business path to citizenship is available in two of the five countries. In Antigua and Barbuda, it starts at $400,000 for an individual investment or $1.5 million as the sole investor in a project. In Saint Lucia – from $1 million in a government-approved business in tourism, education or healthcare.

Passports of these countries provide visa-free access to more than 140 countries – the Schengen zone, Singapore, Hong Kong, China for several jurisdictions. Holders of Grenada and Turkish passports can also apply for a US E-2 investment visa and live in the States through their own business.

How to combine company registration with residency: step by step

The process looks similar in most jurisdictions: choosing a country and type of program, preliminary compliance screening, preparing documents (bank statements, proof of origin of funds, corporate documentation), registering a company or making an investment, applying for residency or citizenship, and then maintaining status – maintaining investments, renewing permits, minimum residency requirements.

The most common pitfalls are changes in program conditions before application, underestimation of real costs (registration, notary, translations, apostilles, accounting), problems with confirming the origin of funds and bank delays when opening a corporate account. Early compliance analysis and a systematic approach allow you to avoid most of these risks.

Among all the jurisdictions considered, Latvia remains the most affordable business path to EU residency: corporate tax on retained earnings is 0%, the minimum investment threshold is 50,000 euros, and the first results can be obtained after 3 months. Hungary attracts with the lowest rate in the EU – 9%, and to obtain business residency it is enough to register a company with capital from 7,700 euros, the term is from 5 months. Portugal is focused on a larger scale: the rate is 19%, the threshold for the business path is from 500,000 euros, but the process takes from 12 months.

Of the countries outside the EU, Turkey is worth highlighting - the only one where, through business investments (from 500,000 dollars), you can get full citizenship in about 8 months. Antigua and Barbuda offers a Caribbean passport through business from 400,000 dollars with a term of 6–8 months. The fastest program is Vanuatu: from 130,000 dollars in contributions and the result in 2 months, although the business path is not provided there - only a direct contribution to the state fund.

For those who need a residency status without a business connection, Cyprus offers permanent residence through real estate or securities from 300,000 euros (term from 9 months), and Malta - from 169,000 euros for the option of renting real estate (from 6 months). The effective corporate tax rate in Malta is about 5% thanks to the refund system, in Cyprus - 12.5% ​​with the possibility of reducing it to 2.5% for IP-business.

Opening a company in another country is just the first step. Then there are questions that, without legal support, turn into risks: which taxation system to choose in order not to fall under the rules of CIC in your home country? How to correctly confirm the origin of funds for the residency program? What to do if the bank delays opening a corporate account? How to properly arrange the relocation of employees and obtain work visas for them?

A personal lawyer for business from Visit World is a specialist who knows the answers to these questions and accompanies the business from the first consultation to a full-fledged launch in a new jurisdiction. The service covers business registration, tax risk minimization, notary procedures, dispute resolution and remote launch of a representative office - all in one place. If you are considering opening a company abroad in 2026, start not with choosing a name, but with legal advice. More details about the service "Personal Lawyer for Business" and the opportunity to contact a specialist - at Visit World.

Recall! The Greek Golden Visa program attracts investors from all over the world, but the rental yield of real estate depends significantly on the region, type of object and threshold investment amounts. New rules have changed the conditions for entering the program, and the 2026 tax reform affects the net income of owners. Read here which regions of Greece provide the highest rental yields and how the threshold amounts affect the investor's real profit.

Photo - generated by Gemini

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