Financial threshold
—
no minimum listed
Stay
36
months, renewable
Application fee
$86
Tax
Worldwide
Progressive income tax 14-45%
Path to staying
- Residence permit36 months
- Renew36 months at a time
- Permanent residencyafter 3 years
- Citizenshipafter 5 years
- Permanent residency 3 years
- Citizenship 5 years
- Dual citizenship allowed
- Language required for citizenship B1
Overview
- Country
- Germany
- Program
- Germany Freelance Visa
- Local name
- Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur freiberuflichen Tätigkeit
- Type
- Freelancer
- Status
- Active
- Initial duration
- 36 months
- Renewable
- Yes (36 mo)
Residence permit for non-EU freelancers and self-employed professionals. Requires proof of German clients/contracts and economic benefit to Germany.
Eligibility
- Minimum age 18+
- Criminal record check required
- Health check not required
- Health insurance required
- Endorsement Client letters
Work rights
- Employment not allowed
- Self-employment allowed
- Own a business allowed
- Work permit included no
Family and dependents
- Dependents allowed
- Yes
- Spouse included
- Yes
- Max child age
- 18
- Parents allowed
- No
Benefits and mobility
- Schengen access
- Bank account can open
- Property purchase allowed
- Public healthcare access granted
- Must be primary residence required
Tax
- Tax regime
- Worldwide
- Regime name
- Progressive income tax 14-45%
- Foreign income taxed
- Yes
- Capital gains taxed
- Yes
How to apply
- Method
- in person
- Processing time
- 28–84 days
- Apply from abroad
- Yes
Notes
No fixed minimum income but must prove self-sufficiency (rent + health insurance + EUR 563/month in Berlin). Must present letters of intent or contracts from German-based clients. Liberal professions include IT, teaching, journalism, translation, engineering, architecture, medicine. If over 45, must show pension provision. Settlement can be available after 3 years for successful self-employment; Germany permits multiple citizenship under the 2024 nationality reform.
Also in Germany
Germany also offers a digital nomad visa for remote workers