Explore Countries for Living & Doing Business

Offshore jurisdictions (e.g., BVI, Cayman Islands) typically offer zero corporate tax and minimal reporting. Onshore jurisdictions (e.g., UK, Germany) have standard tax regimes with full transparency. Midshore jurisdictions (e.g., Cyprus, Malta, Singapore) blend competitive tax rates with international credibility and treaty access. Use our classification filter to browse each category.

Many jurisdictions allow full foreign ownership, including the UK, Singapore, Estonia, most Caribbean nations, UAE free zones, and all US states. Some countries like Saudi Arabia and Thailand have restrictions in certain sectors. Each jurisdiction profile on StateBay indicates whether foreign ownership is fully permitted, restricted, or requires a local partner.

StateBay covers over 100 jurisdictions worldwide, including sovereign countries, US states, Canadian provinces, and Australian states and territories. Each profile includes 50+ verified data points covering taxation, licensing, company formation, and quality of life.

Use the search bar to find jurisdictions by name, region, or key features. You can also filter by classification (offshore, midshore, onshore) and legal system type. Sort results by name, corporate tax rate, or overall business score to find what matters most to you.

Each jurisdiction profile includes corporate tax rates, company formation costs and timelines, banking access, crypto and gaming licensing availability, golden visa and CBI/RBI programs, cost of living indexes, safety scores, healthcare quality, and internet speed.

Click the compare icon on any jurisdiction card to add it to your comparison (up to 5). Then navigate to the Compare page to view a detailed side-by-side breakdown across dozens of data points in either Business or Living mode.

The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Singapore, and the UK are among the most popular holding company jurisdictions, offering participation exemptions on dividends, extensive tax treaty networks, and established legal frameworks. Cyprus and Malta provide EU-based alternatives with lower costs. The best choice depends on where your subsidiaries are located and your treaty requirements.

Incorporation costs vary widely. A UK limited company can be formed for under $50, while a Singapore private limited costs $300-800. UAE free zone setups range from $5,000 to $15,000+ depending on the zone and license type. Caribbean IBCs typically cost $1,000-2,500. Each jurisdiction profile includes estimated setup costs and annual maintenance fees.

Caribbean nations (St. Kitts, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua, St. Lucia) offer the most established CBI programs starting from approximately $100,000. Malta, Turkey, and Vanuatu also provide citizenship pathways through investment. European golden visa programs in Portugal, Greece, and Spain offer residency with a path to citizenship after several years.

For e-commerce businesses, the US (Delaware or Wyoming LLC), UK, Estonia, and Hong Kong are popular choices due to easy online registration, payment gateway access, and favorable tax treatment on foreign-sourced income. Singapore is ideal for Asia-Pacific focused e-commerce. Browse our jurisdiction profiles and filter by business formation ease to find the best match.