Digital Nomads, the Self-Employed, and Visas in Europe

Most European countries now offer a legal way for non-EU remote workers, freelancers, and self-employed people to move there. The options fall into three broad groups: freelancer or self-employed visas, digital nomad visas, and remote work permits. They overlap, but the differences matter, especially around whether you can take on local clients or only work for companies based abroad.

Requirements vary widely from one country to the next. Most income thresholds are pegged to each nation’s minimum or average wage, so they climb over time, and renewal terms and tax treatment differ too. Check the current figure against the country’s official source before you count on qualifying.

The same visas often work for three different kinds of people, so it helps to be clear on which one you are. Freelancers and the self-employed have one or more clients but no formal employer. Remote workers are employees who work outside a company office. Digital nomads can be any of these, working through a laptop without a fixed base and often moving between countries.

One thing to keep in mind: not every European country is in the EU, and this page covers the wider continent, not just EU members.

Europe and EU Freelance Visas

Freelancer and self-employed visas sometimes let you take on local clients, but many restrict you to clients based abroad, so confirm this for any program you’re considering. Most set a minimum monthly income; some instead ask for a business plan or proof that you can support yourself. The income requirement for each main program is in the table below.

Country	Visa Type	Visa Program Name	Length	Renewable	Income Requirement
France	Self-Employed	Entrepreneur “profession libérale“	1 yr	Yes	~€1,823/mo (tied to the SMIC, rises yearly)
Belgium	Self-Employed	Professional Card	1–5 yr	Yes	No fixed minimum (business usefulness assessed)
Czech Republic	Freelancer	Self-Employed Visa “Zivno”	1 yr	Yes	~156,500 CZK (~€6,300) proof of funds, a bank balance, not monthly income
Finland	Self-employed	Entrepreneur residence permit	1 yr (startup route up to 2)	Yes	Business must be viable; ~€1,210/mo net on the startup route
Germany	Freelancer	“Freiberufler“	3 yr	Yes	No fixed minimum; expect ~€1,200–€1,500/mo
Germany	Self-employed	“Gewerbetreibende“	3 yr	Yes	No fixed minimum
Italy	Self-employed	Lavoro autonomo	1–2 yr	Yes	~€8,500/yr, but quota-limited (Decreto Flussi, ~500 self-employment slots a year)
Netherlands	Self-employed	DAFT (US citizens)	2 yr	Yes	€4,500 capital held in a Dutch business account
Norway	Self-employed	Self-employed residence permit	1 yr	Yes	No income threshold; skilled-worker qualification required
Spain	Freelancer	Self-Employed “Autonomo“	1 Year	Yes	No set minimum (business viability assessed)

A Closer Look at the Main Freelancer Visas

German Freelancer Visa (Freiberufler)

Germany’s freelance visa, the Freiberufler, is one of the longer-established options for self-employed non-EU workers, and it comes with real requirements rather than a simple income test.

You’ll need a registered local address in Germany and proper health insurance, not travel cover. There’s no fixed income threshold, but you have to show your work can support you, usually through a business plan with projected revenue and evidence of clients or capital. In practice, applicants are expected to show something in the region of €1,200 to €1,500 a month. Processing typically takes three to four months, longer if the authorities have questions about your file. The permit is issued for up to three years.

Spain Freelance Visa (Autónomo)

In Spain, you can register as self-employed, an autónomo, and apply on that basis. There’s no set income figure. You need to show you can support yourself and that your business has a reasonable chance of success.

Portugal Self-Employment Visa

Lisbon, and Portugal in general, are incredibly popular with the community of Digital Nomads in Europe. If you can show a passive income of €8,460 a year, you can qualify for a Portugal D7 Passive income visa. The program has no restrictions on working while you are in Portugal, either locally or anywhere in the world. You’ll need to apply at the consulate in your home country.

Portugal Self-Employment Visa

This visa is for people working with Portuguese companies. You’ll need a contract, or a written proposal for one, with a Portuguese company.

Once you’re a resident, Portugal may tax you on your worldwide income, so tax planning matters. The Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) regime that used to offer large breaks on foreign income has closed to new applicants and been replaced by a narrower scheme called IFICI, which is limited to specific professions. Get advice from a qualified tax professional about what applies to you. The visa leads to a residence permit that you renew as long as you keep meeting the requirements, and after five years of legal residence you can look at permanent residence.

Portugal Entrepreneur Visa

This route is for people moving to Portugal to start a company, who then work through that business and bill clients from it. You don’t need to employ a team or put up large share capital, but a clear business plan and a credible explanation of how the company benefits Portugal’s economy both help.

Czech Republic Self-Employed Visa (Živno)

The Živno is the trade licence that lets you register as self-employed in the Czech Republic, and the name is used as shorthand for the visa itself. It works in stages.

First, you apply for a long-stay visa for business. Because you need a local address, some people move to the Czech Republic on a tourist visa first, then apply at a Czech embassy or consulate. This visa runs twelve months. Next is a long-term residence permit, renewable for up to two years at a time depending on your insurance. After five cumulative years as a long-term resident, and meeting the other conditions, you can apply for permanent residence.

For the long-stay visa you need to prove you hold enough funds to support yourself, currently around 156,500 CZK (roughly €6,300). You’ll also need a medical, a police clearance certificate, proof of your professional skills, and health insurance. The rules and figures change, and the language can be a barrier, so good local help is worth it.

Netherlands Independent Entrepreneur Visa

The regular self-employed permit has more hurdles. You need a solid business plan showing your venture adds value to the Dutch economy, or, as a freelancer, evidence of Dutch clients. Applications are scored on a points system that weighs your experience, education, entrepreneurship, and income, among other things, and you have to clear a minimum score.

Citizens of the United States, Japan, and Turkey can use treaties between their countries and the Netherlands, which can let them skip the points test, though the general requirements still apply.

The Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT)

DAFT is the simpler route, for Americans specifically. US freelancers and entrepreneurs can get a two-year residence permit, renewable, by setting up a business in the Netherlands and keeping at least €4,500 in capital in a Dutch business account. There’s no points test and no language requirement.

Passive Income Routes

If your income is passive rather than active freelance work, two routes are worth knowing. Portugal’s D7 is a passive income visa: you qualify by showing income at least equal to the Portuguese minimum wage, €920 a month (about €11,040 a year) in 2026, and it doesn’t bar you from working while you’re there. Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa is similar but prohibits work of any kind; you show passive income or savings of €2,400 a month (€28,800 a year). Both suit people living on pensions, investments, or rental income rather than ongoing freelance earnings.

Digital Nomad Visas in Europe

Estonia launched one of Europe’s first digital nomad visas in 2020, and around 15 European countries now offer one. These visas are aimed at people whose income comes from outside the country, so the main restriction is that you generally can’t work for local clients or a local employer.

You could try to work from Europe on a 90-day tourist entry, but working on a tourist stamp isn’t allowed, and doing it anyway carries real risk. A proper visa is the safer route.

Every program sets a minimum monthly income, and the figures vary a lot. The table below lists the current requirement for each.

Two of the most popular choices: Spain and Portugal

Spain and Portugal run two of the most established digital nomad visas, and they’re among the most popular destinations for remote workers in Europe. Both can come with tax advantages, but these depend on your profession and circumstances, so get professional advice before you count on them.

Country	Visa Program Name	Length	Renewable	Income requirement
Croatia	Temporary Stay of Digital Nomads	up to 18 mo	Reapply	€ 2,300
Cyprus	Digital Nomad Visa	1 yr	Yes	€3,500/mo
Estonia	Digital Nomad Visa	1 yr	Not renewable	€4,500/mo gross (6-month average)
Greece	Digital Nomad Visa	up to 2 yr	Yes	€3,500/mo
Hungary	White Card	1 yr (2 yr max)	Once	€3,000/mo
Latvia	Digital Nomad Visa	1 yr (up to 2 yr)	Yes	~€2,857/mo
Malta	Nomad Residence Permit	1 yr	Yes	€3,500/mo
Portugal	Digital Nomad Visa (D8)	1 yr	Yes	€3,680/mo (4× minimum wage)
Romania	Long-stay (D) Digital Nomad	1 yr	Yes	~29,604 RON/mo (~€5,800), 3× average gross salary
Spain	Digital Nomad Visa	1 yr	Yes	€2,849/mo (200% of the minimum wage)

Estonia and e-Residency

Estonia is worth a specific mention. As one of Europe’s first digital nomad visas it’s well established, and its e-Residency scheme is also worth a look for freelancers and entrepreneurs who want to run an EU-registered company. As with the other programs here, your income has to come from clients or an employer based outside Estonia.

What to Check for Any Program

Each program has its own rules, so check the official source for any visa you’re seriously considering. The main things to check:

• Validity and renewals: how long the visa lasts and whether you can renew.
• Health insurance: most countries require a valid policy. Private local cover, expat health insurance, or in some cases travel insurance may qualify.
• Family: whether your spouse and children can join you, and on what terms.
• Work rules: whether you can work remotely only, or also take on local clients.
• Tax: whether you become liable for tax in the country, and whether any reduced rates apply. Your tax rate has a big effect on your real cost of living.
• Accommodation: whether you need a rental agreement or proof of address.

Two Other Visa Options for Freelancers and Digital Nomads

European Working Holiday Visas

If you’re under 35 (30 in some countries), a working holiday visa can be the quickest route in. These schemes are popular with digital nomads because they’re relatively easy to get.

A working holiday visa lets you work legally, with some limits, in the country that issued it, and travel while you’re there. The length varies by country, and your eligibility depends on the agreements between your home country and the destination.

You’ll usually need to show a return ticket or enough funds for onward travel, and you may have to pass health and police checks. You’ll also need some savings to get settled while you find work.

European Student Visas

A student visa is another way to live in Europe, and many programs let you work a limited number of hours alongside your studies. If you’ve been considering a new qualification or skill anyway, it can be a practical way to spend time in Europe while you study, though the hours you’re allowed to work are capped and vary by country.

The EU vs. the EEA vs. Europe vs. Schengen

Europe means different things in different contexts, which matters when you’re working out where a visa actually lets you go.

• Europe is the continent, stretching from Ireland in the west to Russia in the east.
• The European Union is 27 countries that share some common laws and policies: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
• The European Economic Area (EEA) is those 27 EU members plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
• The Schengen area covers 29 countries that have removed border controls between them: 25 of the 27 EU members (all except Ireland and Cyprus), plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Choosing the Right Visa

The right visa comes down to a few practical questions: whether you need to work for local clients or only foreign ones, how your income compares to each country’s threshold, and how the tax treatment affects what you’d actually keep. Once you’ve narrowed it to one or two countries, confirm the current requirements against the official source, since the figures change, then get advice for your own situation before you commit.

If you’re also weighing up Asia, see our guide to visa options in Southeast Asia for digital nomads, freelancers, and the self-employed.