Are there options for obtaining a residence permit for a freelance programmer in the EU?

Question

Freelance

In most countries, as far as I know, in order to obtain a residence permit through entrepreneurial activity, you need to open a company with jobs for locals.
Are there any options for obtaining a residence permit for a single freelancer? (opening an analogue of a Russian individual entrepreneur, registering a company for oneself only, or something else)
I know about Italy with their lavoro autonomo, but other European countries are also interested.
ps Once again, the question is not about obtaining a residence permit in principle, but about obtaining a residence permit through the opening of an analogue of a Russian IP. The point is to continue to work under the contract with my current customer and not bother hiring other employees.

Answer 1

You can get a residence permit in Bulgaria, it is part of the EU (but not currently in Schengen).
The scheme is as follows: a company is opened in Russia, and its representative office is opened in Bulgaria. A representative of a foreign company is the basis for a residence permit. The residence permit is given for a year, it must be renewed every year. After 5 years, you can apply for permanent residence, after 10 - for citizenship.
Perhaps this is the cheapest residence permit in the EU. The cost is from 1000 euros, +/-, fitting into a ready-made representative office is cheaper than opening it from scratch. The maximum cost is around 2 thousand. It is also necessary to show the funds on the account, in the amount of at least 12 minimum wages in Bulgaria. Now it is 420 leva or 210 euros, so you need to show about 2500 euros. But they do not have to be deposited, you can withdraw the next day after receiving a certificate from the bank.
Personally, the whole move cost me 1,500 euros, along with the transportation of things, a cat, obtaining a D visa and a residence permit, several trips to Moscow and renting an apartment.
It should be understood that a representative office does not have the right to conduct economic activities, it is in order to study the market, establish business relations, etc. How to work in this case?
Or just live and work for your customers as you used to. The origin of your money received from abroad does not bother anyone, if it is not millions. The main thing is that you spend them in Bulgaria without taking away jobs from citizens.
Or you open an analogue of an individual entrepreneur / legal entity already in Bulgaria and work from under it. It is not necessary to hire employees, because you have a residence permit for a different reason.
It is worth going here only if you really want to work as a freelancer further, or if you are ready to open some kind of business on the spot, or have a passive income. Residence permit in Bulgaria does not give the right to work for hire, you need a separate work permit. Salaries are low even in IT, the exception is perhaps Sofia, because. there are offices of large companies.
And although formally Bulgaria is in Europe, in terms of mentality, lifestyle and cultural characteristics, it is the Balkans. You should not expect the gloss of Western Europe, you will be disappointed. At the same time, there are low prices, a measured rhythm of life, beautiful nature and a very good climate. The day before yesterday we had +18, for example :) In mid-January, yes.

Answer 2

the easiest way is to legally make a Blue Card
, you live, you don’t quarrel with your employer, you notify officials in time, you go in formation where you need it and after 5 years on average you apply for a permanent
official simply (employer, taxes, residence), you just
through an LLC - conditions change every year (Lithuania was cheap until 2011 (or even 2013), stopped, now Estonia is in the mini-trend - xs what will happen in five years, offshore companies recommend all sorts of Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and future EU candidates like Montenegro, but! for a permanent residence permit you need 5 years of permanent life
and with LLC you can easily arrange a "departure for six months", and collect 5 years again - very similar to the "locomotive" of bookmakers with similar outcomes
PS You can still look in the direction of real estate, if not in Riga, the figure + is lifting, but in fact - a gift from Latvia of 50% immediately, it is unlikely to sell with a smaller discount

Answer 3

Open a company in Poland, hire a Polish accountant, you can also outsource. After a year, you can apply for a class D Pole's card (Tobish Polish citizenship), since you provide work for Poles. Poland is part of the European Union, it is not far away, the language is very similar to Ukrainian, go for it.

Answer 4

Visa restrictions are designed to filter out foreigners who can work and pay taxes and those who can't and/or don't want to. You yourself put yourself in the place of the authorities: a man from "Africa" ​​came to you who says that I have no money, no higher education either, but I want to live with you, and I will honestly pay taxes when I have a job.

Answer 5

In France, if nothing has changed in a couple of years, the next scheme.
You open an enterprise remotely, hire two employees in white (I just don’t remember whether it is possible to be a director alone, or if you need a local partner). I think that you will also be given a multivisa 90/180 right away, so in fact you will be able to attend Scrum. :)
At the end of the year, if the balance is positive, you can apply for a residence.
I don’t know if this will help much, but I think it’s clear to understand the circuit. I am not a super expert, but in all European countries the scheme is approximately the same, everything revolves around the opening of a company (specifically a company), which can give a residence (or not).

Answer 6

Author, please tell us what you chose in the end. And what options did you find? From these tips, more or less on the topic of your question, I see only the proposal of Dance Macabre to register through a business incubator, it seems to be the easiest option.

Answer 7

So there is an easier way - to become an "eternal student"
To go to work is another story.
Polish Business Incubator - also costs per month for official taxes + their bribe.
Opening a company takes 3 hours, but getting a legalization on this basis is a whole story worth under 5,000 euros.
and with a residence permit for students, an annual turnkey residence permit of 1500 euros can be invested. For example, to study massage techniques or the basics of a system administrator and, on this basis, have a residence permit.

Answer 8

1 get a job in the EU
2 open a company and have turnover on it

Answer 9

In any case, it is necessary to take into account the country and the conditions for obtaining a residence permit. But everything is quite real, if you ask a specific goal.

Answer 10

But really - does it make sense to fight for the citizenship of a particular EU country, if there are more optimal and simpler ways to get unhindered movement in all these countries. I read that the passport of Saint Lucia allows you to do this, and the procedure for obtaining it is much shorter in terms of time (up to 3 months).