The short version
- Netherlands grants a longer initial stay (24 months vs 12), and it is renewable.
- Only Netherlands offers a direct path to permanent residence on this permit.
| Criteria | Hungary White Card | Netherlands DAFT |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €3,000 | No fixed threshold |
| Income basis | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) | Savings accepted |
| Initial duration | 1 year | 2 years (better) |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | 2 years | No fixed limit |
| Path to permanent residence | No | Yes (better) |
| Path to citizenship | No | Via permanent residence |
| Family inclusion | No | Yes (better) |
| Working for local clients | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Tax treatment | Standard resident taxation | Standard resident taxation (Possible 30% ruling (if eligible)) |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit) | Required (explicit) |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €110 (better) | ≈ €423 |
| Where to apply | Embassy / consulate, Online, In country | In country |
| Processing time | 3 weeks | — |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Hungary White Card →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Netherlands DAFT →
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 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
- Government Residence permit self-employed person | IND (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government IND form 7524 — self-employed (DAFT code 453 / Dutch-Japanese treaty 510) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Fees — IND (self-employed incl. DAFT: EUR 423) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15