Global Mobility Services for International Relocation
A successful move begins before the application. BMA helps founders, families and internationally mobile professionals compare residence routes, connect immigration, tax, banking and family decisions, and build a realistic plan.
GLOBAL MOBILITY, EXPLAINED
What are global mobility services?
Global mobility services coordinate the legal, financial and practical decisions involved in living or working across borders. A serious mobility plan covers more than a visa. It connects residence and work rights with family status, tax residence, banking, company ownership, housing, education, healthcare, renewals and the eventual exit or long-term settlement path.
BMA Business Solutions works from Chur, Switzerland, with founders, private clients, families and internationally mobile professionals. We help turn a broad ambition—move abroad, create a second base, relocate a company or give a family more options—into a structured decision. We identify plausible routes, expose dependencies early and coordinate the right specialists before you make expensive commitments.
If your main objective is to establish an additional base while keeping strong ties elsewhere, start with our second residency planning service. If you intend to move your centre of life, this page explains the wider relocation process.
THE MOBILITY DEPENDENCY MAP
One international move, seven connected decisions
Weak relocation plans treat each decision as a separate task. Strong plans test how every part affects the others. The map below is the order in which we pressure-test a move.
The route at the top controls much of what follows. A country may be attractive, yet the available permit may restrict work, require physical presence that conflicts with travel, exclude a family member, or create obligations that undermine the original goal. That is why destination shopping should come after route feasibility, not before it.
WHO WE HELP
Mobility planning built around the person behind the application
Founders and business owners
You may need a residence route that allows active management, a credible corporate structure, local banking and a workable relationship between your company and personal tax position. We map those questions together before formation or relocation.
Private clients and families
A family move succeeds only when the legal route, school calendar, housing, healthcare, assets and travel pattern fit together. We plan around the people moving with you, not only the principal applicant.
Executives and remote professionals
Employment status, payroll, work location, social security and employer permission can matter as much as immigration. We help define the questions that local immigration, employment and tax specialists must resolve.
ROUTE COMPARISON
Which residence route could fit your move?
Most countries use several route families, but the names, eligibility rules and rights differ. This comparison is a planning framework, not a list of programmes or a substitute for destination-specific legal advice.
| Route family | Often relevant for | Typical evidence | A common planning risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer-sponsored residence | Executives, specialists and employees moving for a defined role | Employment contract, employer sponsorship, qualifications and local labour rules | Assuming a job offer automatically gives unrestricted residence or family rights |
| Entrepreneur or business route | Founders who will actively build or manage a qualifying business | Business plan, capital, economic substance, experience and local benefit | Forming a company before confirming that the owner can live and work there |
| Financially independent or retirement route | Applicants who can support themselves without local employment | Stable resources, insurance, accommodation and sometimes minimum age or tax arrangements | Confusing permission to reside with permission to work |
| Remote-work or digital-nomad route | People employed or contracted outside the destination | Foreign income, qualifying work relationship, insurance and remote-work evidence | Ignoring payroll, social-security or employer risk |
| Investment-linked residence | Investors comfortable committing qualifying capital under a defined programme | Eligible investment, source of wealth and funds, holding period and due diligence | Choosing by headline investment amount without checking rights, total cost or exit rules |
| Family-based residence | Spouses, partners, children and other qualifying relatives | Relationship evidence, sponsor status, income, housing and dependency where required | Assuming every dependant receives the same rights at the same time |
A route is only “good” when its ongoing conditions fit real life. Approval is one milestone. Renewal, physical presence, income, insurance, reporting and family changes can decide whether the arrangement remains useful five years later.
A CRITICAL DISTINCTION
Residence permission is not the same as tax residence
Immigration residence
Immigration law answers whether you may enter, live, work or study in a country and on what conditions. It is administered through permits, visas and status rules.
Tax residence
Tax law answers where you are treated as resident for tax purposes. Domestic tests may look at days, a permanent home, family and economic ties. Tax treaties can then affect the result when two countries claim residence.
The OECD explains that the right to reside or citizenship does not automatically make someone tax resident, and obtaining a new status does not automatically end tax residence in the former country. This is why tax analysis should happen before the move, while choices are still open.
DESTINATION STRATEGY
How to compare countries without chasing a “best passport” list
There is no universally best country or residence programme. The right answer depends on what you need the status to do. We compare destinations with the same six lenses so an attractive headline does not hide an operational problem.
| Decision lens | Question to answer | Decision rule |
|---|---|---|
| Lawful fit | Is there a route you can realistically qualify for with your nationality, background and purpose? | Stop if the route is speculative or depends on facts you cannot prove. |
| Rights received | Can you work, run a company, study, bring family and travel as intended? | Read the restrictions, not only the benefits. |
| Family fit | Can everyone join, and do schools, healthcare, housing and language work? | A strong principal route can still be a poor family route. |
| Financial fit | What are the total setup, capital, tax, insurance and living costs? | Compare multi-year cost and locked capital, not just the application fee. |
| Operational fit | Can banking, payroll, business management and travel continue smoothly? | Test the day-to-day operating model before moving. |
| Long-term fit | What are the renewal, permanent residence, citizenship and exit conditions? | Decide whether the route is a bridge, a base or a permanent move. |
We normally compare a small number of credible options in depth. A long list creates noise. A useful shortlist states why each option fits, what must be verified, what could disqualify it and what the first irreversible commitment would be.
THE BMA SERVICE
What you receive from a global mobility engagement
BMA acts as the strategic coordinator. We organise the decision, identify dependencies, keep the moving parts visible and bring in appropriately qualified specialists where regulated immigration, legal, tax or fiduciary advice is required. Government authorities make all residence and citizenship decisions.
| Deliverable | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| 1. Mobility brief | Your objective, nationality, current residences, family, work, companies, time horizon and non-negotiables. |
| 2. Route and jurisdiction shortlist | A concise comparison of plausible route families and destinations, including rights and ongoing conditions. |
| 3. Dependency and risk map | The immigration, tax, banking, corporate, family and timing questions that can change the decision. |
| 4. Evidence plan | A practical list of identity, civil-status, income, wealth, employment and business documents likely to be needed. |
| 5. Specialist validation | Questions and handoffs for qualified immigration lawyers, tax advisers, fiduciaries and other local professionals. |
| 6. Implementation sequence | The order for applications, banking, company work, housing and arrival tasks, with decision gates before major commitments. |
For personal mobility
Residence and work route analysis, family sequencing, document readiness, banking coordination, relocation dependencies and long-term status planning.
For business mobility
Founder and executive residence questions, company setup sequencing, local substance, banking readiness and coordination with employment, payroll and tax advisers.
For a second base
Clear distinction between occasional use, legal residence, tax residence and permanent relocation, with ongoing presence and renewal obligations made visible.
FROM IDEA TO ARRIVAL
A six-stage international relocation process
Every engagement is tailored, but the sequence remains disciplined. Each stage should reduce uncertainty before the next costly action.
| Stage | What happens | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery | We clarify the outcome you want and the facts that control eligibility. | A complete decision brief |
| Feasibility | We screen route families and obvious barriers before detailed work begins. | A realistic scope |
| Strategy | We compare the strongest options across rights, family, cost, tax and operations. | A reasoned shortlist |
| Validation | Local specialists confirm the legal and tax points that matter to the decision. | Verified assumptions |
| Implementation | Applications and linked banking, company or relocation tasks follow in the right order. | A controlled sequence |
| After arrival | We track renewals, presence, family changes and future status options. | A sustainable setup |
Timing varies by country, route, nationality, season, document availability and authority workload. We do not publish a universal approval timeline because a responsible plan begins with the route and the individual facts.
SWITZERLAND
Global mobility and relocation to Switzerland
Switzerland is a natural focus for BMA because our office is in Chur. Its residence system distinguishes between EU/EFTA nationals and third-country nationals, and the purpose and duration of the stay matter. The Swiss government’s official overview of permits states that foreign nationals staying for more than three months need a permit.
EU/EFTA nationals
The Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons creates a different framework for qualifying EU/EFTA citizens. Registration and permit requirements still apply, and the activity and length of stay remain relevant.
Third-country nationals
Admission for employment is more restrictive. The State Secretariat for Migration explains that applicants are generally expected to be highly qualified and that employers must meet labour-market requirements; quotas also apply.
Founders and families
Company ownership, employment and residence are separate questions. We can coordinate a mobility plan with Swiss company registration and non-resident banking support where relevant.
For a third-country employment case, the official process generally begins with the employer and cantonal authority, may involve federal approval, and is followed by the visa or entry step where required. The SEM procedure overview is the right starting point for current official information.
RISK CONTROL
Six expensive relocation mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | Why it matters | Better move |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing a country before choosing a route | The desired destination may not offer a suitable legal basis for your nationality or activity. | Screen route feasibility first. |
| Treating a permit as a tax solution | Immigration status and tax residence use different rules. | Obtain cross-border tax advice before changing the facts. |
| Forming a company too early | Ownership does not guarantee residence, banking or the right to work. | Validate personal and corporate pathways together. |
| Leaving family analysis until later | Dependants may face different timing, evidence and work rights. | Map every family member from the start. |
| Paying deposits before decision gates | Property, school or investment commitments can reduce flexibility. | Define the legal and tax gates before irreversible spending. |
| Planning only for approval | A route can fail later through renewal, presence or compliance conditions. | Model at least the first renewal and likely exit path. |
The purpose of strategy is not to eliminate every uncertainty. It is to identify which assumptions can change the decision, verify them with the right authority or professional, and delay irreversible commitments until the critical points are clear.
GLOBAL MOBILITY FAQ
Frequently asked questions about international relocation
These concise answers cover the questions we hear most often. A personal assessment is still needed because nationality, family, work and timing change the result.
What is global mobility?
Global mobility is the coordinated planning and management of living or working across borders. It can include immigration status, work rights, family relocation, tax residence, payroll, banking, company structure, housing, schooling, healthcare and ongoing compliance.
How is global mobility different from relocation?
Relocation often describes the practical move: housing, travel, schools and settling in. Global mobility is broader. It connects those tasks with the legal, tax, employment, corporate and financial structure that makes the move workable.
Does a residence permit make me tax resident?
Not automatically. Immigration and tax rules are separate. Tax residence can depend on domestic law, days present, a home, family and economic ties, with tax treaties relevant when two countries claim residence.
What is second residency?
Second residency is lawful residence in an additional country while meaningful ties may continue elsewhere. It can provide a second base or future option, but it does not automatically change tax residence, create work rights or lead to citizenship.
Does forming a company give me residence?
Usually not by itself. Company formation, ownership, employment and residence are separate legal questions. Some entrepreneur routes use a genuine operating business, but the applicant and business must meet the programme’s conditions.
Can my family move with me?
That depends on the route, relationship, sponsor status, income, housing and country rules. Family members may have different application timing and different work or study rights, so each person should be mapped at the start.
How long does international relocation take?
There is no responsible universal answer. Timing depends on the country, route, nationality, document readiness, appointments, employer or investment steps and authority workload. A route-specific plan should separate controllable preparation time from government processing time.
What documents are commonly needed?
Common categories include passports, birth and marriage records, police certificates, proof of address, qualifications, employment or business records, bank statements, tax records, insurance and evidence of source of wealth or funds. Exact requirements vary and documents may need legalisation or translation.
Can BMA guarantee approval?
No adviser can guarantee a government decision. BMA improves decision quality and readiness by screening route fit, organising evidence, identifying dependencies and coordinating qualified local professionals. The responsible authority decides every application.
When should I start mobility planning?
Begin before signing a lease, moving company management, resigning from employment, paying an investment deposit or enrolling children. Early planning preserves options and allows immigration, tax and family decisions to be sequenced properly.
RELATED MOBILITY GUIDES
Continue your research with the right next question
A mobility strategy becomes useful when the broad plan is connected to the route, country and long-term status you are actually considering. These guides develop the main decisions in more detail.
Second residency planning
Compare the rights, presence rules, renewal conditions and practical commitments behind an additional residence.
Relocating to Switzerland
Understand the permit, family, work and practical questions that shape a move to Switzerland.
Citizenship and second passports
Assess ancestry, naturalisation and qualifying routes as long-term legal strategies rather than product promises.
For deeper reading, see our guides to second residence and citizenship routes, Swiss citizenship for foreign nationals and dual citizenship planning.
OFFICIAL STARTING POINTS
Sources used for this mobility guide
Mobility rules change. We use primary sources for high-level factual guidance and verify the current position for each engagement.
- OECD: tax residency and residence or citizenship status
- Swiss government: permits for living in Switzerland
- Swiss State Secretariat for Migration: working in Switzerland as a non-EU/EFTA national
- Swiss State Secretariat for Migration: employment authorisation procedure
Last reviewed: 16 October 2026. This page provides general information, not immigration, legal or tax advice.
YOUR NEXT MOVE
Build the route before you build the move
Tell us where you are now, who is moving, what you want the new status to achieve and when you hope to act. We will help you separate attractive ideas from workable routes and define the decisions that need professional validation.
You can also explore second residency planning, Swiss company registration and international banking support.