Freiberufler Visa

1. Visa36 months
2. Renewrenewable
3. Permanent residencyafter 5 years
4. Citizenshipafter 5 years

• Leads to residency 5 years
• Leads to citizenship 5 years

Country

Germany

Visa name

Freiberufler Visa

Local name

Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur Ausübung einer freiberuflichen Tätigkeit

Program type

Freelancer visa

Status

Active

Initial duration

36 months

Max duration

—

Income requirement

Data unavailable

Application fee

$112

Tax status

Standard

Application method

embassy, in country

Processing time

60–120 days

Can apply in-country

Yes

Multiple entry

Yes

Schengen access

Yes

Can open bank account

Yes

Renewable

Yes

Germany has no digital nomad visa. This residence permit, under section 21(5) of the Residence Act, is for a liberal profession only. It does not authorise employment, including remote work for a foreign employer. Commercial trades use the separate self-employment permit under section 21(1). The work must fall under section 18 of the Income Tax Act: independent scientific, artistic, literary, teaching or educational activity, a listed profession (doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects, journalists, interpreters and translators among them) or a similar profession. Where the profession requires a licence, it must already have been granted or promised. There is no statutory income floor. The applicant must show that the project can be financed and that their livelihood, including health insurance, is covered without public funds. Applicants older than 45 must show adequate pension provision; the Act states no euro amount. The federal portal describes the first grant as a maximum of three years, after which it can be extended. Section 21(4), including its three-year settlement shortcut, does not apply. Settlement follows the general five-year rule. Naturalisation requires five years of lawful residence, a qualifying residence title, B1 German and the citizenship test. Sections 10(3) and 10(3a) of the Nationality Act, the former shorter routes, are repealed. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need this permit. Nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States may enter without a visa and apply at the foreigners authority within 90 days. Everyone else needs a national visa before travel and cannot switch from a Schengen visa. The national visa fee is €75. The residence permit fee stored here is €100, about $112 at the ECB euro reference rate of 1.1186 on 8 October 2026. A minor pays half. Each adult family member pays the same €100 permit fee, stored as the dependent fee, plus their own visa fee if they apply from abroad. A spouse and minor children can join. While the sponsor holds a section 21 permit, the spouse does not have to prove basic German before entry, and a child aged 16 or 17 is not subject to the usual language test. Livelihood must cover the family. There is no numeric cap. Unlimited income-tax liability follows a German dwelling or a stay of more than six months, not a 183-day count, and then covers worldwide income subject to treaties. The 2026 tariff is 0% up to €12,348, 42% from €69,879 and 45% from €277,826. The 42% rate is the figure stored. Small-business VAT relief applies when turnover did not exceed €25,000 in the previous year and does not exceed €100,000 in the current year. A settlement permit in the ordinary case costs €113.

• Germany Freelance Visafreelancer
• Germany Self-Employment Visaentrepreneur

1. Oct 10, 2026
   • Official page https://www.germany-visa.org/freelance-visa/ https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/working-in-germany/starting-business/visa/freelance
   • Max duration months 48 none
   • Income monthly (USD) 810 none
   • Income annual (USD) 9720 none
   • Application fee (USD) 185 112
   • Income currency EUR none
   • Income monthly (local currency) 750 none
   • Income annual (local currency) 9000 none

   accommodation and employment-contract flags set to false; a lease is only requested if already signed, and the file is a freelance plan rather than a job contract Source