Self-Employment Visa

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

• Leads to residency 3 years
• Leads to citizenship 5 years

Country

Germany

Visa name

Self-Employment Visa

Local name

Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur Ausübung einer selbständigen 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 is the commercial self-employment residence permit under section 21(1) of the Residence Act, for a trade rather than a liberal profession. Liberal professions use the Freiberufler permit under section 21(5), which does not get the three-year settlement shortcut below. The authorities must find an economic interest or a regional need, expect a positive effect on the economy, and see the plan financed by equity or a loan commitment. They consult the competent professional bodies. There is no statutory investment or income floor. Livelihood, including health insurance, must be secured without public funds. Applicants older than 45 need adequate pension provision; the Act states no euro amount. A degree is required only where the activity itself requires a licence. The permit is issued for at most three years. The federal portal says it can be extended when the business supports the household. After three years of successful self-employment, a settlement permit is available in derogation from the general five-year rule, if the current activity is expected to continue, livelihood including dependent family members is secured, and there is no public-security bar. That settlement permit costs €124. Naturalisation is a separate five-year route, with B1 German and the citizenship test. Fees, family, tax and the visa path match the liberal-profession permit. The residence permit costs €100 for an adult, about $112 at the ECB rate of 1.1186 on 8 October 2026, and €50 for a minor. A national visa, where required, is a further €75. Nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States may apply inside Germany within 90 days of visa-free entry. Other non-EU nationals apply at a mission and cannot switch from a Schengen visa. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need this permit. A spouse and minor children can join, and the usual pre-entry German tests for the spouse and for a child aged 16 or 17 are waived while the sponsor holds a section 21 permit. Tax residence follows a German dwelling or a stay of more than six months. Worldwide income is then taxed on the 2026 tariff: 0% up to €12,348, 42% from €69,879 and 45% from €277,826. The stored rate is 42.

• Germany Freelance Visafreelancer
• Germany Self-Employment Visaentrepreneur

1. Oct 10, 2026

   Added

   added the commercial self-employment permit under section 21(1), previously only mentioned on the Freiberufler record; three-year grant and settlement after three years, with no statutory income floor Source