Start with what you bring, not the country
Most people start by picking a country and then hunting for a visa that fits. That is backwards. The route is decided by your situation, and several countries usually offer a version of the same route. Find your group below, compare the countries inside it, then decide.
Check citizenship by descent first
With a job offer
Employer-sponsored permits and EU Blue Cards. The offer and the salary floor decide these.
| Programme | Country | Gov. fee | Salary or income floor | Processing | Leads to PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU Blue Card | Germany | $120 | EUR 50,700/yr (≈ $58,102/yr) | 2–4 months | Yes, about 2 years |
| Skilled Worker Visa (Qualified) | Germany | $100 | None published | 2–5 months | Yes, about 4 years |
| Highly Qualified Professional | Spain | $200 | EUR 41,356.36/yr (≈ $47,394/yr) | 1–2 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Highly Skilled Migrant | Netherlands | $380 | EUR 5,942/mo (≈ $81,714/yr) | 1–2 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| EU Blue Card (Netherlands) | Netherlands | $460 | EUR 5,942/mo (≈ $81,714/yr) | 1–3 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Tech Visa | Portugal | $160 | EUR 1,342.83/mo (≈ $18,467/yr) | 1–2 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Research Visa (§18d AufenthG) | Germany | $110 | None published | 1–3 months | Yes, about 2 years |
| Researcher under Directive (EU) | Netherlands | $276 | None published | 1–3 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Critical Skills Employment Permit | Ireland | $1,100 | EUR 40,904/yr (≈ $46,876/yr) | 2–4 months | Yes, about 2 years |
| General Employment Permit | Ireland | $1,100 | EUR 36,605/yr (≈ $41,949/yr) | 2–5 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Talent Passport (Qualified Employee) | France | $243 | EUR 39,582/yr (≈ $45,361/yr) | 1–3 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Talent Passport (EU Blue Card) | France | $243 | EUR 59,373/yr (≈ $68,041/yr) | 1–3 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| EU Blue Card | Italy | $54 | EUR 36,278.51/yr (≈ $41,575/yr) | 2–3 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Subordinate Work Visa (Decreto Flussi) | Italy | $125 | None published | 2–6 months | Yes, about 5 years |
To look for a job first
Job-search permits that let you arrive before you have an offer, then switch.
| Programme | Country | Gov. fee | Salary or income floor | Processing | Leads to PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Seeker Visa (Chancenkarte) | Germany | $100 | None published | 2–4 months | No |
| Orientation Year (Zoekjaar) | Netherlands | $215 | None published | 1–2 months | Yes, about 5 years |
With remote or freelance income
Digital nomad and freelance permits for income earned outside the destination.
| Programme | Country | Gov. fee | Salary or income floor | Processing | Leads to PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer Visa (Freiberufler) | Germany | $100 | None published | 3–8 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Digital Nomad Visa | Spain | $80 | EUR 34,188/yr (≈ $37,504/yr) | 1–2 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| D8 Digital Nomad Visa | Portugal | $250 | EUR 3,680/mo (≈ $50,607/yr) | 2–6 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Digital Nomad Visa | Italy | $125 | EUR 24,789/yr (≈ $28,408/yr) | 1–3 months | Yes, about 5 years |
With passive income or savings
Residence for pensions, rents and investment income. Most of these do not allow local work, so check each one before you rely on it.
| Programme | Country | Gov. fee | Salary or income floor | Processing | Leads to PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Lucrative Visa | Spain | $130 | None published | 1–3 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| D7 Passive Income Visa | Portugal | $250 | None published | 2–6 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Long-Stay Visitor Visa | France | $107 | None published | 1–2 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Elective Residence Visa | Italy | $125 | EUR 31,000/yr (≈ $35,526/yr) | 1–3 months | Yes, about 5 years |
To start a business
Founder, start-up and self-employment permits, usually tied to a business plan.
| Programme | Country | Gov. fee | Salary or income floor | Processing | Leads to PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-Employment / Business Visa | Germany | $110 | None published | 4–10 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Entrepreneur Visa | Spain | $80 | None published | 1–3 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Startup Visa | Netherlands | $460 | None published | 1–3 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Self-Employed Worker Visa (Cuenta Propia) | Spain | $220 | None published | 3–6 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| D2 Entrepreneur Visa | Portugal | $200 | None published | 3–6 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Immigrant Investor Programme | Ireland | $1,700 | None published | 6–12 months | Yes |
| Talent Passport (Entrepreneur) | France | $243 | None published | 2–4 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| French Tech Visa | France | $243 | None published | 1–3 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Italia Startup Visa | Italy | $104 | None published | 1–2 months | Yes, about 5 years |
To study
Student permits. Some convert to work permits after graduation.
| Programme | Country | Gov. fee | Salary or income floor | Processing | Leads to PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Visa | Spain | $80 | None published | 1–2 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Student Visa | Portugal | $95 | None published | 1–3 months | Yes, about 5 years |
| Third-Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G) | Ireland | $350 | None published | 1–2 months | Yes, about 7 years |
| Student Visa (VLS-TS) | France | $54 | None published | 1–2 months | No |
| Student Visa | Italy | $54 | None published | 1–2 months | No |
If you are young and your passport qualifies
Working holiday schemes, open to certain nationalities and age bands.
| Programme | Country | Gov. fee | Salary or income floor | Processing | Leads to PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working Holiday Authorisation | Ireland | $280 | None published | 1–3 months | No |
How long until you can stay for good
The route gets you in. What happens after depends on the country: how many years until permanent residence, and how many until you can naturalise. These are the registry figures Transita uses for each destination. Where we hold a sourced naturalisation rule, the official residence requirement is shown next to it.
| Country | Typical years to PR | Years to citizenship | Official naturalisation rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 2 | 8 | 5 years (bamf.de) |
| Spain | 5 | 10 | Not yet sourced |
| Netherlands | 5 | 5 | 5 years (ind.nl) |
| Portugal | 5 | 5 | Not yet sourced |
| Ireland | 5 | 5 | Not yet sourced |
| France | 5 | 5 | 5 years (service-public.gouv.fr) |
| Italy | 5 | 10 | Not yet sourced |
Portugal is the one to watch. Its nationality law is under reform, and Transita does not quote a sourced naturalisation figure for it until the official text is consistent. Check the Portuguese government's page before planning around an older number.
The steps, in order
First, pick your group and shortlist two or three countries inside it. Second, check the income or salary floor and gather proof of it, because every route checks it. Third, get the documents that take longest: degree recognition for work routes, a business plan for founder routes, an acceptance letter for study. Fourth, apply at the consulate or online, then register your address and collect your residence card after you arrive.
For the work side in detail, read how to get a work visa in Europe. For remote workers, the Spain Digital Nomad Visa and Portugal D8 are the two most compared, and the freelance visa countries list covers self-employed options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to move to Europe?
The easiest route is the one your situation already fits. With an offer, use an employer permit. With income from abroad, use a digital nomad or passive income visa. With a parent or grandparent born in Ireland, Italy, Portugal, check citizenship by descent first, because it can skip the visa stage entirely.
How many ways are there to get EU residency?
Transita tracks 39 open residence routes in Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Ireland, France, Italy, in 7 broad groups: work, job search, remote income, passive income, business, study and working holiday. Citizenship by descent and marriage to an EU citizen are separate doors.
Can I move to Europe without a job?
Yes. Digital nomad visas cover income from foreign employers or clients, and passive income visas cover pensions and investments. Job-search permits in Germany and the Netherlands let you arrive and look for work.
What is the cheapest European residence visa?
Government fees on these routes start at $54. The fee is rarely the real cost. Income floors, health insurance and the first months of rent matter far more.
Does residence in one EU country let me live in another?
No. A residence permit is national. Living or working in a second country needs that country's own permission, unless you become an EU citizen.
Do EU citizens need any of this?
No. EU citizens have freedom of movement and can live and work in any member state, registering locally after arrival. This guide is for everyone else.
See which of these routes fits your profile
Transita matches your income, job situation and passport against every European route at once. Answer 8 questions and your routes, documents and dates are set up for you. Free.
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