Pairwise comparison
Side-by-side visa reference. Income thresholds, cost, processing time, residency / citizenship pathway, family policy, and tax-residency trigger.
Not legal or immigration advice
This page summarizes publicly available information from official immigration authorities. Visa rules change frequently and individual circumstances matter. Verify with the relevant consulate, embassy, or a licensed immigration attorney before applying.
Self-Employed
Germany Freelance Visa (Freiberufler)
Berlin's famous 'Künstlervisum' — residence permit for self-employed liberal-profession workers (writers, artists, designers, IT, journalists, language teachers). 3 years initially, EU PR after 5.
Digital Nomad
Portugal D8 (Digital Nomad Visa)
The active-income counterpart to the D7. Created October 2022 specifically for remote workers earning ≥ €3,480/month from foreign employers — clearer category for tech salaries that the D7 grey-zoned.
| Attribute | 🇩🇪 Germany Freelance Visa (Freiberufler) | 🇵🇹 Portugal D8 (Digital Nomad Visa) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Self-Employed | Digital Nomad |
| Country | 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇵🇹 Portugal |
| Min income / yr | $12,000 | $44,640 |
| Government fee | $110 | $100 |
| Lawyer / agent fee | $800–$2,500 | $800–$2,500 |
| All-in cost (USD) | $1,500–$5,000 | $1,800–$5,500 |
| Processing time | 30–90d | 60–120d |
| Initial validity | 36 months | 4 months |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Path to residency | 5 years | Direct |
| Path to citizenship | 5 years | 5 years |
| Remote work allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Family included | Yes (spouse + children) | Yes (spouse + children) |
| Tax-residency trigger | 183 days physical presence | 183 days physical presence |
Highlighted cells show the more favourable value on that dimension only — they don’t indicate which visa is right for you. Read the full profiles before applying.