If you freelance, the first question is not which country. It is who your clients will be. A freelancer with clients abroad fits a digital nomad visa. A freelancer who wants local clients needs a self-employment permit, which asks for a business case instead of a salary.
European Routes for Freelancers and the Self-Employed
| Programme | Who your clients can be | What you prove | Income or funds | Fee | Leads to PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain Digital Nomad Visa | Foreign clients or employer only | Foreign income, degree or experience | EUR 34,188/yr (≈ $37,504/yr) | ≈ $80 | About 5 years |
| Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa | Foreign clients or employer only | Foreign income | EUR 3,680/mo (≈ $50,607/yr) | ≈ $250 | About 5 years |
| Italy Digital Nomad Visa | Foreign clients or employer only | Foreign income, degree, insurance | EUR 24,789/yr (≈ $28,408/yr) | ≈ $125 | About 5 years |
| Germany Freelancer Visa (Freiberufler) | Local and foreign clients | Clients, funds, a viable plan | Funds of ≈ $20,000 | ≈ $100 | About 5 years |
| Germany Self-Employment / Business Visa | Local and foreign clients | Business plan and capital | Funds of ≈ $50,000 | ≈ $110 | About 5 years |
| Spain Self-Employed Worker Visa (Cuenta Propia) | Local and foreign clients | Business plan, capital, qualifications | Funds of ≈ $30,000 | ≈ $220 | About 5 years |
| Portugal D2 Entrepreneur Visa | Local and foreign clients | Business plan and investment capacity | Funds of ≈ $5,000 | ≈ $200 | About 5 years |
| France Talent Passport (Entrepreneur) | Local and foreign clients | A serious business project, master's or experience | Funds of ≈ $32,400 | ≈ $243 | About 5 years |
| Netherlands DAFT Self-Employed Permit | Local and foreign clients | Invested capital; US citizens only | Funds of ≈ $5,000 | ≈ $1,700 | About 5 years |
Funds figures are the amounts recorded in our catalogue. Self-employment permits are assessed case by case, so treat them as an estimate of what a consulate expects rather than a fixed rule.
The short answer
Digital Nomad Visas: Simple, but Foreign Clients Only
The 3 nomad visas here are assessed mostly on numbers: income above a published floor, health insurance and, for Spain and Italy, a degree or experience. That makes them predictable. The limit is that they are built for work for clients outside the country, so they do not fit a freelancer who wants to win local business.
Self-Employment Permits: More Freedom, More Proof
The 6 self-employment routes let you work for local clients, but you have to show the business will work. Expect a business plan, evidence of clients or contracts, qualifications for regulated work and funds to cover the first months. Our Freiberufler guide walks through the German version.
The Netherlands is a special case. The DAFT permit is one of the lowest-friction self-employment routes in Europe, but only for US citizens.
What This Guide Leaves Out
Transita covers 16 destinations, including the main Western European ones. Freelancer and nomad visas in Estonia, Croatia, Greece, Malta, Cyprus, Hungary or the Czech Republic are not in our data, so we do not quote them. For freelance routes outside Europe, such as the UAE and Thailand, see the full list of freelance visa countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can freelancers get a digital nomad visa in Europe?
Yes. Spain, Portugal and Italy accept freelancers as well as remote employees, as long as the income comes from clients outside the country. Spain Digital Nomad Visa: EUR 34,188/yr (≈ $37,504/yr); Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa: EUR 3,680/mo (≈ $50,607/yr); Italy Digital Nomad Visa: EUR 24,789/yr (≈ $28,408/yr).
What is the difference between a nomad visa and a self-employment permit?
A digital nomad visa is for work for foreign clients or employers. A self-employment permit lets you run a business in the country and serve local clients too, but it is usually judged on a business plan rather than a fixed income figure.
Is there a European visa for freelancers without an income floor?
Germany's freelancer permit has no fixed salary figure. It is judged on your clients, funds (about $20,000 in our data) and plan, and residence follows after about 5 years.
What is the easiest self-employed visa in Europe for Americans?
The Dutch-American Friendship Treaty permit, if you are a US citizen. It needs a modest invested capital (about $5,000 in our data) and gives a 2-year permit. It is not open to other nationalities.
Do these routes lead to permanent residence?
All 9 routes in this guide count toward permanent residence, typically after about 5 years.
Related guides
official sources: Ley de Startups (Art. 74-78) · exteriores.gob.es·D8 · vistos.mne.gov.pt·DM 29.02.2024 · consnewyork.esteri.it·§21 AufenthG · make-it-in-germany.com·Trabajo por Cuenta Propia · inclusion.gob.es·Passeport Talent - créateur d'entreprise · france-visas.gouv.fr·Dutch-American Friendship Treaty · ind.nl