English 
Français The short version
- Germany grants a longer initial stay (36 months vs 12), and it is renewable.
- Only Germany offers a direct path to permanent residence on this permit.
| Criteria | Germany Freelance | Hungary White Card |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | No fixed threshold | €3,000 |
| Income basis | Freelance income | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) |
| Initial duration | 3 years (better) | 1 year |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | No fixed limit | 2 years |
| Path to permanent residence | Yes (better) | No |
| Path to citizenship | Yes | No |
| Family inclusion | Yes (better) | No |
| Working for local clients | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax treatment | Standard resident taxation | Standard resident taxation |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit) | Required (explicit) |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €100 (better) | ≈ €110 |
| Where to apply | Embassy / consulate, In country | Embassy / consulate, Online, In country |
| Processing time | — | 3 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Germany Freelance →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Hungary White Card →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Don't forget insurance
Both programs have their own health-insurance rules — we match plans against each one's published requirement, with the evidence shown.
Sources
- Government Visa for freelance business — Make it in Germany (Federal Government) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Visa for self-employed business — Make it in Germany (fees, health insurance) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Official gazette Residence Act (AufenthG) §21 — official English translation (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government White Card — residency for digital nomads — OIF (National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Procedural fees — OIF (residence permit issuance fee EUR 110) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15