As the world slowly opens up to remote workers of all kinds, more and more countries are trying to think of ways to make their visa process and the stay of these workers easier. And in the past few years, there have been dozens of countries both in and outside of Europe that tried to implement some form of a freelance visa. Here are the top three countries that offer freelance visas in Europe.
Germany
Germany has a wonderful, if unpronounceable, visa called Aufenthaltserlaubnis für selbständige Tätigkeit. This form of residence permit allows you to stay in the country for anywhere between six months and three years. However, getting a visa can be rather challenging. Firstly, it’s good to have a native German speaker to help you with the process.
Secondly, you need a German address, proof of health insurance and sufficient funds, and you need work clients based in Germany to show you’re an asset to the local economy. And on top of that, the process for receiving the visa can take up to four months. But once you jump through all these hoops, you will be well on your way to enjoying Germany and all its beauty.
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Portugal
Portugal is truly one of the best countries for remote workers since it has not one but two options for remote workers and digital nomads when it comes to visas. The first is the visa for passive income, also known as the D7, and the second is a residence permit for independent workers and entrepreneurs. Either is for one year, but they are easily renewable for up to five years, after which you can apply for a permanent residence.
To apply for these visas, you need either proof of income from property, proof of business ownership, or proof that you have sufficient financial means. Otherwise, you need to earn at least €600 a month and need to have either travel or private health insurance. Lastly, you need to go through a criminal background check. But that’s it. Out of all the countries on this list, Portugal has the easiest path to a freelancer visa.
The Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is an exciting example of a hybrid between a standard residence visa and a freelance visa. The country has a status you can apply for both as a native and a foreigner called Zivnost. This status allows you to be noted by the Czech government as a freelance worker who plays a significant role in how you’re taxed.
You’ll still be obligated to pay the health and social security insurance, which can crawl up to about €180 per month with your taxes, but this gives you access to Czechia’s high-quality healthcare system, so you’re not wasting money here.
However, Zivnost on its own won’t change the fact that you still need to apply for a regular residence visa, so this is more helpful once you’re in the country. It is also recommended to hire a company to help you with the Zivnost process since it can be very complicated, most of which is in Czech.
