Germany Freelance Visa

1. Residence permit36 months
2. Renewrenewable
3. Permanent residencyafter 5 years
4. Citizenshipafter 5 years

• Permanent residency 5 years
• Citizenship 5 years
• Dual citizenship allowed
• Language required for citizenship B1

Country

Germany

Program

Germany Freelance Visa

Local name

Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur Ausübung einer freiberuflichen Tätigkeit

Type

Freelancer

Status

Active

Initial duration

36 months

Renewable

Yes

Residence permit for non-EU nationals practising a liberal profession in Germany under section 21(5) of the Residence Act. The applicant must finance the work, secure a livelihood including health insurance, and hold any licence the profession requires. There is no statutory income or capital minimum.

Tax regime

Worldwide

Regime name

Progressive income tax 0-45%

Foreign income taxed

Yes

Capital gains taxed

Yes

Method

in person

Processing time

60–120 days

Apply from abroad

Yes

This record is only the liberal-profession permit. Commercial self-employment is a separate permit under section 21(1). Section 21(5) sets the freelance grant aside from the commercial economic test, and section 21(4), including its three-year settlement shortcut, does not apply. The federal portal still describes the first grant as a maximum of three years and says it can be extended. Settlement then follows the general five-year rule, including B1 German, civics knowledge and 60 months of pension contributions. There is no statutory income, savings or capital floor. Livelihood under section 2(3) means living costs and adequate health insurance without public funds. Applicants older than 45 must show adequate pension provision; the Act states no euro amount. A degree or a set number of years of experience is not required unless the profession itself is licensed. Client letters are one way to describe the work, not a federal endorsement. The adult residence permit costs €100 and a minor's costs €50. A national visa, where one is required, is a further €75. The stored fees are the adult permit: about $112 at the ECB rate of 1.1186 dollars per euro on 8 October 2026. The ordinary settlement permit costs €113. Naturalisation takes five years, with B1 German and the citizenship test. The three-year special-integration route was repealed with effect from 30 October 2025. Multiple citizenship is allowed. 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. 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. The title expires after more than six months abroad. Tax residence follows a German dwelling or a stay of more than six months, and then covers worldwide income. The 2026 tariff is 0% up to €12,348, 42% from €69,879 and 45% from €277,826. Capital income is generally taxed at 25%.

• Freiberufler Visadigital nomad visa

1. Oct 10, 2026
   • Official page https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/types/other/self-employment https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/working-in-germany/starting-business/visa/freelance
   • Income annual (USD) 10350 none
   • Application fee (USD) 86 112
   • Years to permanent residency 3 5

   tax label updated to the 2026 tariff, 0% to €12,348 and 45% from €277,826 Source