SoloOutpost

The Cheapest Relocation Options for German nationals (Visa, Citizenship, Nomad)

Every way German nationals can legally relocate, cheapest first. They can already live and work in 30 countries visa-free. The cheapest digital nomad visa is Albania at $883/mo. The cheapest passport open to German nationals is Sao Tome and Principe from $90,000. Residency by investment starts at $15,000 (Philippines).

Move freely, no visa needed $0

The strongest option of all. Under freedom-of-movement and residence agreements, German nationals have the outright right to live, work and run a business in these 30 countries with no visa or permit.

CountryYour rightFriendliness
RomaniaEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)68
HungaryEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)66
EstoniaEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)65
CyprusEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)64
BulgariaEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)62
LithuaniaEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)61
LatviaEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)61
CroatiaEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)59
LiechtensteinEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)59
SwedenEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)58
CzechiaEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)58
SwitzerlandEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)57
MaltaEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)57
GreeceEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)56
SloveniaEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)54
IcelandEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)53
IrelandEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)52
FinlandEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)51
PortugalEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)50
SpainEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)47
ItalyEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)46
PolandEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)46
SlovakiaEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)46
LuxembourgEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)45
AustriaEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)44
FranceEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)43
BelgiumEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)43
NetherlandsEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)42
DenmarkEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)42
NorwayEU/SchengenFreedom of movement (EU/EEA)39

Full right to live, work and run a business with no visa or permit, under EU/EEA/EFTA freedom of movement.

Digital nomad visas 38

Countries with a dedicated remote-work visa, cheapest income requirement first. These are open on income, not nationality, so any of German nationals who meets the threshold can apply. Full breakdown on the nomad visa comparison.

CountryMin income / moFriendliness
AlbaniaUnique Permit (Type D visa)$883/mo62
ColombiaDigital Nomad Visa (Visa V Nómada Digital)$1,313/mo56
EcuadorVisa Nómada (Temporary Residence Visa for Remote Workers - Rentista Trabajador Nómada)$1,446/mo55
El SalvadorVisa Digital Nómada (Digital Nomad Visa)$1,460/mo71
MauritiusPremium Travel Visa$1,500/mo74
BrazilDigital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV)$1,500/mo56
Cabo VerdeRemote Working Program$1,615/mo59
MalaysiaDE Rantau Nomad Pass$2,000/mo77
GeorgiaRemotely from Georgia Program (Remote Work Visa / Visa-Free Residence for Remote Workers)$2,000/mo75
GuatemalaResidencia Temporal para Nómadas Digitales$2,000/mo73
NamibiaDigital Nomad Visa$2,000/mo71
PhilippinesDigital Nomad Visa$2,000/mo58
MoldovaDigital Nomad Visa$2,970/mo71
PanamaShort-Stay Visa for Remote Workers$3,000/mo74
Costa RicaDigital Nomad Visa (Estancia de Nómada Digital)$3,000/mo69
KazakhstanNeo Nomad Visa (B12-1)$3,000/mo67
TurkeyDigital Nomad Visa / Short-Term Residence$3,000/mo54
South AfricaRemote Work Visitor's Visa$3,210/mo50
TaiwanDigital Nomad Visa (or Employment Gold Card as nomad-adjacent alternative)$3,333/mo64
United Arab EmiratesVirtual Working Programme (Residence Visa for Working Outside UAE)$3,500/mo90
BarbadosWelcome Stamp$4,167/mo65
MexicoTemporary Resident Visa$4,400/mo58
AndorraResidència per a nòmada digital$4,589/mo69
IndonesiaE33G Visa (Rumah Kedua Pekerja Jarak Jauh / Second Home Visa for Remote Workers)$5,000/mo63
South KoreaDigital Nomad (Workcation) Visa - F-1-D$5,500/mo51
JapanDesignated activities (Digital Nomad)$5,556/mo48
The BahamasBEATS (Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay)no set minimum81
KyrgyzstanDigital Nomad Visa (DN) / Цифровой кочевникno set minimum72
BhutanDigital Nomad Visa (Gelephu Mindfulness City)no set minimum70
SeychellesWorkcation Permit (Unofficial designation; formal permit category unclear)no set minimum70
MontenegroTemporary Residence Permit for Digital Nomadsno set minimum69
ThailandDestination Thailand Visa (DTV) - Workcation Categoryno set minimum66
UruguayResidencia Provisoria - Nómadas Digitales (Provisional Residence for Digital Nomads)no set minimum66
KenyaClass N Permit (Digital Nomads)no set minimum66
Sri LankaDigital Nomad Visano set minimum61
CuracaoDigital Nomad Visa (@Home in Curacao)no set minimum57
ArgentinaVisa Nómada Digitalno set minimum55
ChileTemporary Residency Visa (Residencia Temporal) / Rentista Categoryno set minimum55

Citizenship by investment 13

Programs that grant a second passport and currently accept German nationals, cheapest route first. Programs that exclude German nationals are omitted. See all on the citizenship page.

CountryProgramFrom
Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe Citizenship by Investment$90,000
NauruNauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program (ECRCP)$115,000
VanuatuDevelopment Support Program (DSP); Vanuatu Contribution Program (VCP, Greater China only)contested$130,000
DominicaCommonwealth of Dominica Citizenship by Investment Programme$200,000
North MacedoniaNaturalisation in the economic interest of the Republic (marketed as CBI)contested$216,000
Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP)contested$230,000
GrenadaGrenada Citizenship by Investment Programme$235,000
Saint LuciaSaint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Programme$240,000
St Kitts and NevisSt. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme$250,000
EgyptEgyptian Citizenship in Exchange for Investment$250,000
TurkeyTurkish Citizenship by Investment (Law 5901 Art.12; Reg. Art.20)$400,000
JordanInvestor Citizenship Program (restructured Jul 2025)$705,000
CambodiaKhmer nationality by investment/donation (Law on Nationality + Sub-Decree 225)$1M

Golden visas: residency by investment 63

Residency (not a passport) in exchange for an investment, open to German nationals, cheapest first. See all on the golden visa page.

CountryProgramFrom
PhilippinesSpecial Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV) & SRRV retiree visa$15,000
NicaraguaInvestor Residency$30,000
EgyptResidency by Investment (real estate / deposit)$35,000
ColombiaMigrant (M) Investor Visa$44,000
CambodiaMy Second Home (CM2H)$50,000
MauritiusOccupation/Residence Permit by Investment$50,000
LatviaEU/SchengenResidence Permit by Investment$54,500
SlovakiaEU/SchengenPR by Real Estate / Business Investment$55,000
GuatemalaInvestor Visa$60,000
ParaguayPermanent Residency for Investors (SUACE / Investor Pass)$70,000
MexicoResidency by Economic Solvency / Investment$74,000
MaltaEU/SchengenMalta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)$77,000
Cape VerdeResidency by Property Investment$88,000
BrazilVIPER Investor Permanent Residence$92,000
Costa RicaInvestor Residency (Inversionista)$100,000
KenyaClass G Investor Permit$100,000
RwandaInvestor Permit / Citizenship by Investment$100,000
AzerbaijanResidence by Investment$120,000
VietnamVietnam Golden Visa (proposed)pending$120,000
United Arab EmiratesUAE Golden Residency (Golden Visa)$136,000
MalaysiaMalaysia My Second Home (MM2H)$150,000
AnguillaAnguilla Residency by Investment (ARBI)$150,000
MontserratPermit of Economic Residence$150,000
MontenegroTemporary Residence by Property Ownership$163,000
JapanBusiness Manager Visa$187,000
PanamaQualified Investor Visa + Friendly Nations Visa$200,000
PortugalEU/SchengenResidency Permit for Investment Activity (ARI / Golden Visa)$220,000
NamibiaInvestor work/residence permits (no formal golden visa)contested$225,000
ThailandLong-Term Resident (LTR) Visa$250,000
PalauPalau Economic Investment Program$250,000
Isle of ManInnovator Founder Visa (Tier 1 Investor suspended)$255,000
GuernseyInvestor / Entrepreneur Residency$260,000
HungaryEU/SchengenGuest Investor Residence Permit$272,000
GreeceEU/SchengenGreece Golden Visa$275,000
ItalyEU/SchengenItaly Investor Visa$275,000
South AfricaFinancially Independent Permit / Business Visa$281,000
South KoreaInvestment Residency (F-2, Public Business / Real Estate)$300,000
KazakhstanKazakhstan Golden Visa (10-year investment residency)$300,000
CyprusEU/SchengenImmigration Permit for Investors (PR by investment)$327,000
BahrainGolden Residency Visa$345,000
IndonesiaGolden Visa (Visa Emas)$350,000
RomaniaEU/SchengenRomania Golden Visa (proposed)pending$435,000
SwitzerlandEU/SchengenResidence via Lump-Sum Taxation (forfait fiscal)$490,000
ChileChile Investor Visa$500,000
OmanInvestor Residency (10-year Golden Residency)$520,000
UruguayLegal residence + investment tax-residency routes$525,000
LuxembourgEU/SchengenResidence Permit for Investors$545,000
MonacoResidence Permit (means-based)$545,000
San MarinoEconomic Residence by Investment$545,000
BulgariaEU/SchengenBulgaria Golden Visa (fund investment)$560,000
Cayman IslandsResidency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means / Permanent Residence$640,000
KuwaitInvestor Residency (10/15-year)$650,000
United StatesEB-5 Immigrant Investor Program$800,000
CanadaQuebec Immigrant Investor Program (federal IIP terminated 2014)$880,000
SeychellesInvestor Permanent Residence (no conventional golden visa)contested$1M
BahamasEconomic Permanent Residence (real estate)$1M
Saudi ArabiaPremium Residency$1.1M
JerseyHigh Value Residency$2.2M
BermudaEconomic Investment Certificate + Residential Certificate$2.5M
New ZealandActive Investor Plus Visa$3M
CzechiaEU/SchengenCzech Investment Visa$3.3M
Hong KongNew Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)$3.9M
SingaporeGlobal Investor Programme (GIP)$7.4M

Visa-free tourism 69

Where a German passport gets you in visa-free, grouped by how long you can stay. Useful for scouting a base before you commit to a longer route above.

180 days or more 13

CountryVisa-free stayFriendliness
Georgia360 days75
Cayman Islands180 days82
British Virgin Islands180 days77
El Salvador180 days71
Costa Rica180 days69
Bermuda180 days69
Isle of Man180 days66
Jersey180 days66
Armenia180 days62
Gibraltar180 days62
Guernsey180 days62
Mexico180 days58
United Kingdom180 days49

90 days or more 56

CountryVisa-free stayFriendliness
Georgia360 days75
Cayman Islands180 days82
British Virgin Islands180 days77
El Salvador180 days71
Costa Rica180 days69
Bermuda180 days69
Isle of Man180 days66
Jersey180 days66
Armenia180 days62
Gibraltar180 days62
Guernsey180 days62
Mexico180 days58
United Kingdom180 days49
Fiji120 days64
Tunisia120 days48
United Arab Emirates90 days90
The Bahamas90 days81
Brunei Darussalam90 days77
Hong Kong90 days75
Macau90 days75
Panama90 days74
Mauritius90 days74
Guatemala90 days73
Singapore90 days73
Moldova90 days71
Paraguay90 days71
Seychelles90 days70
Montenegro90 days69
Kosovo90 days68
Zambia90 days67
Uruguay90 days66
Botswana90 days66
Barbados90 days65
Nicaragua90 days64
Taiwan90 days64
North Macedonia90 days63
Bosnia and Herzegovina90 days63
Bolivia90 days63
Albania90 days62
Honduras90 days62
Peru90 days60
Serbia90 days59
Ukraine90 days59
Jamaica90 days57
Trinidad and Tobago90 days57
Brazil90 days56
Guyana90 days56
Argentina90 days55
Chile90 days55
Ecuador90 days55
Turkey90 days54
Morocco90 days52
South Korea90 days51
South Africa90 days50
Japan90 days48
Senegal90 days48

30 days or more 69

CountryVisa-free stayFriendliness
Georgia360 days75
Cayman Islands180 days82
British Virgin Islands180 days77
El Salvador180 days71
Costa Rica180 days69
Bermuda180 days69
Isle of Man180 days66
Jersey180 days66
Armenia180 days62
Gibraltar180 days62
Guernsey180 days62
Mexico180 days58
United Kingdom180 days49
Fiji120 days64
Tunisia120 days48
United Arab Emirates90 days90
The Bahamas90 days81
Brunei Darussalam90 days77
Hong Kong90 days75
Macau90 days75
Panama90 days74
Mauritius90 days74
Guatemala90 days73
Singapore90 days73
Moldova90 days71
Paraguay90 days71
Seychelles90 days70
Montenegro90 days69
Kosovo90 days68
Zambia90 days67
Uruguay90 days66
Botswana90 days66
Barbados90 days65
Nicaragua90 days64
Taiwan90 days64
North Macedonia90 days63
Bosnia and Herzegovina90 days63
Bolivia90 days63
Albania90 days62
Honduras90 days62
Peru90 days60
Serbia90 days59
Ukraine90 days59
Jamaica90 days57
Trinidad and Tobago90 days57
Brazil90 days56
Guyana90 days56
Argentina90 days55
Chile90 days55
Ecuador90 days55
Turkey90 days54
Morocco90 days52
South Korea90 days51
South Africa90 days50
Japan90 days48
Senegal90 days48
Kyrgyzstan60 days72
Thailand60 days66
Vietnam45 days60
Kazakhstan30 days67
Uzbekistan30 days64
Belarus30 days60
Mongolia30 days60
Cabo Verde30 days59
Philippines30 days58
Angola30 days57
China30 days55
Malawi30 days53
Mozambique30 days45

Cheapest-route figures are the lowest qualifying investment or income, converted to USD. Programs change often and eligibility can depend on more than nationality. Confirm with an official source before acting. The Friendliness column is our Solopreneur Friendliness score (higher is better), not a measure of how easy a country is to enter.

Sources

  • Visa-free access: passport-index-dataset.
  • Citizenship and golden-visa costs and nationality restrictions: SoloOutpost program research.
  • Nomad visa, tax and cost data: cited per country on each country profile.