English 
Français The short version
- Norway has the lower entry bar: €2,453 per month versus €3,000 for Hungary.
- Only Norway offers a direct path to permanent residence on this permit.
| Criteria | Hungary White Card | Norway Self-employed permit (+ Svalbard route) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €3,000 | €2,453 (better) |
| Income basis | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) | Freelance income |
| Initial duration | 1 year | 1 year |
| 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 |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit) | Required in practice |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €110 (better) | ≈ €570 |
| Where to apply | Embassy / consulate, Online, In country | Embassy / consulate, In country, Online |
| Processing time | 3 weeks | 8–24 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Hungary White Card →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Norway Self-employed permit (+ Svalbard route) →
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 Want to apply: Work immigration — UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Fees — UDI (work residence permit for applicants over 18: NOK 6,300, incl. renewals) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Svalbard — visa and residence requirements — UDI (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Visas and immigration — Governor of Svalbard (Sysselmesteren) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Requirement to financially support yourself for permanent residence (NOK 341,373) — UDI (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Tax residence in Norway when moving to or from Norway (183/270-day rule) — Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Norway — Individual — Residence — PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm How to Obtain a Visa as a Self-Employed in Norway (NOK 325,400/yr, May 2025; own-business-only) — Reinholdt Advokatfirma AS (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Residence permits for self-employed persons in Norway — Sterk Law Firm (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Update of the Norwegian National Insurance basic amount (G) — NOK 130,160 → 136,549 from 1 May 2026 — DLA Piper (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- International organisation Moving or travelling to Svalbard — Info Norden (Nordic Council of Ministers) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government The Norwegian welfare system — healthcare and welfare — City of Oslo (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Norway — Individual — Taxes on personal income (22% general + trinnskatt brackets) — PwC (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15