Germany Long Stay Freelancer Visa

The German Long Stay Freelancer (Germany Freelancer Visa) is required to work as a freelancer in Germany. This sort of visa has grown in popularity in recent years, despite the fact that obtaining one is a long and frequent process.

Read this article to find out what the freelancer visa is, what are the types, who is eligible, how to get it and more!

What is a freelancer visa in Germany?

The German Freelancer Visa, as the name implies, permits you to live and work as a freelancer in Germany on a Freelancer (Entry) Visa which is a National (D) Visa that you must apply for at the German Embassy in your country of residence. This is only good for a few months, but you’ll need it to enter Germany and inform immigration officials that you’re coming to work. 

Freelancer Residence Permit allows you to live and work in Germany for an extended period. After you arrive in Germany with your entrance visa, you must apply for a Freelancer Residence Permit at the Ausländerbehörde (German Immigration Office). You will no longer require a visa after you have received your Freelancer Residence Permit.

Who is eligible to apply for a freelancer visa in Germany?

Anyone who meets the requirements and works in an authorised profession (doctors, engineers, architects, journalists, business economists, etc.) can apply for a German Freelance Visa. If you do independent scientific, artistic, literary, instructional, or educational activities, you are considered a freelancer. 

Types of Freelance Visas in Germany

Depending on your profession, you can apply for one of two types of Freelance Visas for Germany:

• Freelance employment visa (Freiberufler) for working as an artist, writer, self-employed doctor, engineer, language teacher, interpreter, auditor, or architect and have a good impact on German culture and economy.

• Self-employed visa (Selbständiger) for founders of a business, sole proprietors, or the managing directors/legal representatives of a partnership or corporation.

Prerequisites for a German Resident Permit for Freelance Work

Before you may apply for a Germany Freelance Permit, you must meet the following requirements:

• Your occupation must have a commercial interest or a geographical need.
• You must demonstrate that you have a client who wants to collaborate with you. Your potential clients must submit letters of intent stating that they intend to hire you. This is not a job offer, but rather a letter expressing an interest in your skills or work.
• You must be a German citizen with a valid residence permit. You must obtain lodging and register your residence with the Bürgeramt, the local registration office.
• You must demonstrate that you have the financial resources to live well in Berlin. At least €9,000 per year is required.
• If you are over the age of 45, you must have a sufficient pension plan. This means that by the age of 67, you must have either a €1,332.36 monthly pension for a minimum of 12 years; or at least €194,631 in assets is required.

Apply for a German Freelancer Entry Visa

To get the Germany Freelancer visa, you need to:

• Apply for a Freelancer Visa at a German Embassy.
• Travel to Germany.
• Find accommodation in Germany and register your living address.
• Register with the Tax Registration Office (Finanzamt).
• Get health insurance.
• Apply for a Residence Permit for Freelancing.

Here’s what you have to do:

• Find the nearest German Embassy or Consulate.
• Make an appointment.
• Gather the necessary paperwork. Some of the documents are provided below but keep in mind that each Embassy’s requirements may differ.
• On the day of your appointment, submit the documentation. According to Embassy guidelines, you may be required to attend a visa interview on the same day or at a later time.
• Pay the visa application fee. You must pay the visa cost according to the instructions provided by the Embassy. It can be done online, through bank transfer, or with cash.
• Wait for a response. The processing of your visa application can take anywhere from a few weeks to three months.

Once you get your Freelancer Visa, you can go to Germany. You can schedule an appointment with the Ausländerbehörde and begin compiling your documentation at this time. You must also establish a permanent residence, register your address, obtain health insurance, and file a tax return for your freelancing work. 

How long is the German Long Stay Freelance Visa valid for?

The Freelancer Visa you receive at the Embassy is only valid for three months, after which you must enter Germany and apply for a residence permit, which will take the place of the visa.

Who does not need a Freelancer visa to Germany?

If you are from the United States, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, or South Korea, you can simply travel to Germany, arrange for housing, health insurance, and tax filing, and then apply for a Freelancer Residence Permit at the Ausländerbehörde. You do not require a visa to enter the country.

Getting Health Insurance

You’ll almost certainly need private insurance before applying for the Freelancer Residence Permit, as statutory insurers may refuse to enrol you.

You should already have health insurance if you have applied for a visa to visit Germany, but it may not be enough to apply for the Freelancer Residence Permit. So, from the time you arrive in Germany until you acquire your permit, you must purchase a private expat health insurance plan for freelancers in Germany.

Then, once you’ve received your residence permit and are deemed a full, legal resident of Germany, you can enrol in either a public or private healthcare plan.

How to apply for the Freelancer Residence Permit?

You can ultimately apply for a Freelancer Residence Permit if you have all of the essential certifications and tax numbers. The steps are as follows:

• Schedule a meeting with the Ausländerbehörde (Immigration Office).
• Gather all of the necessary documentation. Including your Certificate of Registration as a Resident, letters from potential employers, as well as a freelance tax number.
• Arrive on time for your appointment and begin the interview.
• Wait for your visa to arrive. The processing period varies according to the state and might range from one to twelve months.

Which public or private insurance is better to have in Germany?

In Germany, there are two types of health insurance: public and private. In Germany, freelancers have the option of opting out of state health insurance and instead purchasing a private insurance plan. Private insurance is typically a more enticing choice for self-employed people, particularly if they are young and healthy because the cost is often less than statutory insurance.

What is the reason for this? According to German legislation, you must make a monthly contribution equal to 14.6% to 15.6% of your monthly salary for public insurance. If you are employed, you are responsible for half of the contributions, while your employer is responsible for the other half.

However, as a freelancer, you must pay all of your contributions yourself, up to a limit of €400 per month. This is why many freelancers forego statutory insurance in favour of a less expensive private insurance plan.

Documents Required for a Freelancer Visa

When applying for a Freelancer Visa in Germany, you must submit the following documents to the Ausländerbehörde:

• Freelance Residence Permit Application Form (Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels).
• Valid passport.
• The recent photograph meets the requirements for a Germany visa photo.
• Your income.
• Health insurance. You may have to start with a private insurance plan.
• Your curriculum vitae.
• Collaboration Letter of Intent your potential clients (at least two) should send a letter stating their willingness to work with you after you receive the visa (only required if you plan to work on a fee basis).
• Address registration in Germany.
• If you want to be an artist and a language instructor, you should have proof of a consistent income (e.g. own savings, a regular transfer, or a “declaration of obligation” from a third party)
• Your rental agreement and landlord’s confirmation (if applicable).
• Evidence of homeownership (if applicable).
• If you plan to work for a firm or as a business owner you have to prepare your business strategy, your financial strategy, registration with a Trade Register and a letter from your university verifying that the knowledge you gained there applies to your business idea.
• Proof of a degree from a recognised university or training institution if you are a university graduate.
• Evidence of a retirement strategy (if you are over the age of 45). This could include personal money, pension rights, operating assets, or proof of a private pension or life insurance policy.

When you apply for an entry visa, you will be required to submit any of these documents to the German Embassy in your country. The documentation must be written in either German or English. You must get them translated if they are not.

Fees for Freelance Visas

When applying for a Freelancer Visa, you must pay two fees:

• The cost of the embassy is €75.
• Fee for the Ausländerbehörde: €100 (for Turkish citizens, €28.80).

Germany Visa Photo

Every visa to Germany requires a photograph which should meet some of the requirements like a 35×45 mm photo size, frontal shot with neutral facial expression and closed mouth, looking straight into the camera on a light background.