Digital nomad visa (national): Chinese citizen → Germany
A digital nomad visa for Germany is a national permit
There is no Schengen-wide digital nomad visa. If Germany offers a remote-work / digital nomad residence permit, you apply to Germany directly and live there; the permit then lets you travel the other Schengen states 90 days in any 180.
The bottom line
- Not every Schengen state has a nomad route — among those that do are Portugal (D8), Spain, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Estonia, Malta, Germany, Czechia, Hungary and Romania. Confirm whether Germany runs one on its official portal.
- Eligibility hinges on proven remote income from OUTSIDE Germany (employer or clients abroad); 2026 income thresholds have risen and vary by country (e.g. Portugal ~€3,680/mo, Estonia ~€3,504/mo, Malta ~€42,000/yr).
- Time spent living in Germany on this permit does not count against the 90/180 short-stay limit — but days in OTHER Schengen states still do.
When to start
Start 2–4 months before your travel date.
National routes start with the underlying purpose: a job offer or contract, university admission, or proof of family ties. National visas (work, study, family) can be filed digitally on the Consular Services Portal since 2025 for most categories; the Skilled Immigration Act routes (incl. the Opportunity Card / Chancenkarte) still finish with an in-person appointment.
Start on the official portal (Federal Foreign Office Consular Services Portal) and follow the route for your purpose. VFS Global in most countries (network of 70+ German visa application centres).
Lodge documents and biometrics at Germany's mission or application centre covering China. National-visa appointments are scarcer than short-stay ones — book the moment your file is ready.
Long-stay decisions involve in-country authorities (migration agency, labour office or canton/region) and typically take 1–3 months — don't book non-refundable travel until granted.
Most states require converting the D visa into a residence permit or registering your address shortly after arrival — Germany's rules are in the guide above. Missing this deadline can invalidate the stay.
What you'll need
- Passport — Valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the area, issued within the last 10 years, with 2 blank pages.
- Purpose evidence — Employment contract, admission letter, or family documents — the core of a national application.
- Financial evidence — Bank statements, salary or scholarship meeting the destination's national threshold.
- Health insurance — Coverage valid in the destination until you join its national system. · Until local insurance starts
- Proof of status in China — Evidence you legally reside where you're applying. · If requested
Good to know
- Income thresholds vary widely and have risen for 2026 (e.g. Portugal ~€3,680/mo, Estonia ~€3,504/mo, Malta ~€42,000/yr) — confirm on the destination country's official portal.
- Time in your residence country does NOT count against the 90/180 short-stay limit, but days spent in OTHER Schengen states still do.
Where you'll apply
Where you'll apply in China
Apply in your districtWho runs the centre: Typically VFS Global in most countries (network of 70+ German visa application centres)
Germany consulates have territorial jurisdiction: apply to the mission covering your area of legal residence in China. Start on the official portal below — it directs you to the visa centre/operator for your area; you generally cannot pick another city for a faster slot.
Getting a slot — book early · community-reported, checked 2026-06-13
- Slots are released in batches with no fixed public schedule — most often early morning local time, on Monday mornings, and around the 1st of the month.
- For popular consulates (e.g. France, Italy and Spain in big cities), a fresh batch can be gone within minutes — be registered and logged in before you look.
- Cancellations free up slots throughout the day, so check daily even when it shows ‘no availability’.
- Because of this, apply as early as you are allowed — up to 6 months before travel. Waiting until 1–2 months out often means no slots are left at all.
Federal Foreign Office Consular Services Portal — official portal (find your centre) →
Continue on the official site →