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.
- Tax treatment differs: Germany — standard resident taxation; Romania — foreign income exempt. Tax outcomes depend heavily on personal circumstances.
| Criteria | Germany Freelance | Romania Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | No fixed threshold | €5,310 |
| Income basis | Freelance income | Salary / employment contract |
| Initial duration | 3 years (better) | 1 year |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | No fixed limit | 3 years |
| Path to permanent residence | Yes (better) | Indirect (switch required) |
| Path to citizenship | Yes | Via permanent residence |
| Family inclusion | Yes (better) | No |
| Working for local clients | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax treatment | Standard resident taxation | Foreign income exempt (Digital nomad tax exemption (Law no. 69/2023)) |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit) | Required (explicit), min. €30,000 |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €100 (better) | ≈ €120 |
| Where to apply | Embassy / consulate, In country | Embassy / consulate, Online |
| Processing time | — | 2–9 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Germany Freelance →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Romania Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) →
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 IGI (General Inspectorate for Immigration) — Long-stay visa for other purposes (incl. digital nomads): insurance EUR 30,000, residence 1 year, 30-day decision (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government IGI — Informare privind viza de lunga sedere pentru alte scopuri: '...cel putin trei ori castigul salarial mediu brut lunar din Romania' (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- International organisation EU Immigration Portal — Romania long-term visa: fee EUR 120, residence 1 year, decision within 60 days (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Noerr — Romania: Tax exemptions for digital nomads (Law 69/2023, Official Gazette 265/30-Mar-2023, 183-day rule) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Romania Experience — Romania salaries 2026 (INS avg gross monthly wage ~RON 9,272, Feb 2026) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Exchange-Rates.org — EUR/RON ~5.236 (June 2026), basis for income EUR conversion (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Romanian Law Office — Romania Digital Nomad Visa (Law 22/2022) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Romania Experience — Digital Nomad Visa full guide 2026 (income ~EUR 5,600, EUR 30,000 insurance, ~36-month total) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15