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Freelance Visa for Germany — for Those Who Work for Themselves
A freelance visa is your route to Germany without a job offer or employer.
We will help prepare your documents, explain the specific requirements, and
coordinate the entire process.
Length of Stay
for the duration of the employment contract (up to 4 years)
Right to Work
from the first day of entry
Language Requirements
Not mandatory, but exceptions may apply
About the Visa
A Freelance Visa —
work for yourself
legally in Germany
The Freelance Visa (Freiberufler Visa) is officially
known as the “Visa for Self-Employment and Work in
Liberal Professions.”
It is a full residence permitthat allows you to live and work in Germany
independently: without an employer, a job offer, or corporate
sponsorship. You can work with any clients—German, European, or international.
The visa is intended for members of “liberal professions” (Freie
Berufe): IT professionals, designers, journalists, teachers,
consultants, and many others. The key requirement is that the work
is intellectual or creative in nature.
IT Professionals
Dev, DevOps, Data
Journalists
Authors, Bloggers
Consultants
Business, Marketing
Photographers
Video, Animation
Designers
UX/UI, Graphic Design
Teachers
Trainers, Coaches
Translators and Interpreters
Written and Oral Translation
Engineers
Architects, etc.
This list is not exhaustive. The information is general in nature. Where an individual legal assessment is required, licensed partners are involved in providing support.
You already work for yourself and want to formalize your activities in Europe, expand your client base, and raise your rates. You have a portfolio—we will help prepare everything else.
You are currently employed but want to switch to freelancing in Germany. Your profession is classified as a liberal profession—making this an excellent time to begin a new stage in your career.
Artists, musicians, photographers, and journalists. Germany offers unique opportunities: well-developed infrastructure and access to a European audience.
Eligibility Requirements
Requirements
for Obtaining a Freelance Visa
2026
We have brought the main requirements and stages of the process together in one place. The information is based on many years of practical experience in relocation and immigration, as well as data from publicly available sources
Requirements and administrative practices may vary between federal states. Before starting the process, we recommend checking the current requirements in the place where you intend to submit your documents.
Your activity must fall within the recognized liberal professions under §18 EStG. IT, design, journalism, teaching, consulting, medicine, law, and architecture all qualify.
A degree, certificates, or a portfolio of work. For some professions, completed projects, publications, employer references, or client testimonials are sufficient. A German degree is not required.
2–3 letters from German clients. Properly prepared LOIs are one of the key factors in a successful assessment. We will help you understand the specific requirements.
As a rule, €11.200–11.840 in a blocked account (Sperrkonto), plus €6.000 for each family member. The exact amount depends on the federal state.
Comprehensive insurance recognized in Germany. We help select GKV or PKV—the right option specifically for freelancers.
A description of your activities, target market, and strategy. It demonstrates the viability of your business to the authorities. We help prepare it in German.
The passport must remain valid beyond the expected period of stay by at least 3 months. Biometric photographs will also be required.
Package
“Freelance Visa”
€4.125
€2.799
Save 32% When Purchasing the Package.
Services Included in the Basic Package (for One Person) · Prices Before Discount:
- Introductory Meeting and Case Review
- Review of current status for compliance with legal requirements
- Checking the degree in Anabin (if no degree is available—preparing certificates)
- Review and recommendations for optimizing the presentation (portfolio) * only for creative professions
- Assistance preparing templates for letters of guarantee (maximum of three letters)
and/or a fee agreement - Assistance preparing a business plan (providing examples and completing a template)
projected income + financing - CV Optimization
- Assistance drafting a motivation letter in German
- Reviewing the wording of reference letters confirming professional experience
- Assistance arranging Incoming health insurance
- Collecting and reviewing documents against the checklist
- Completing VIDEX forms for ONE applicant
- Scheduling an appointment at the consulate/embassy (once)
- Telephone preparation for the interview at the consulate/embassy
- Scheduling an appointment at the Bürgeramt
- Completing address registration documents
- Telephone support for the visit to the Bürgeramt (address registration)
- Completing residence permit forms/applications for ONE applicant
- Collecting documents against the checklist and assembling the application package
- Submitting the online application and document package to the authority for a residence permit
- Correspondence with the ABH and process coordination
- Coordinating the appointment scheduling process (once)
- Telephone preparation for the interview with the authority
- Coordinating the freelance visa process
Total: €4.125
* Drafting a reference letter from scratch—€199.
** A unique business plan tailored to your project is prepared by a tax specialist—a BCA partner—for an additional fee. The service is agreed upon and paid for separately; prices start at €1500.
*** Degree translation is charged separately if required.
**** The “Degree Recognition” package is charged separately. The price is €655 plus an authority fee of €208.
***** Assistance arranging mandatory German health insurance is provided separately through an insurance broker.
****** Review and recommendations for optimizing the presentation (portfolio)—for creative professions only.
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Benefits
Entrust your relocation to professionals who work with German precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still Have Questions?
We Already Know the Answers
We have compiled the most common questions about visas, residence permits, and working with our agency —
so you can get the information you need immediately, without messages or waiting.
These are two key but distinct stages of immigration.
- A visa is authorization to enter Germany and stay for a short period (usually up to 3–6 months). It is requested from the embassy/consulate in your country of residence. The purpose of the visa may be study, work, family reunification, etc.
- A residence permit authorizes long-term residence (one year or more) and is obtained after you are already in Germany, from the immigration authority (Ausländerbehörde). A valid reason is required, such as employment, family reunification, study, or business.
In short: a visa allows you to enter Germany, while a residence permit allows you to live there legally for an extended period. You will often enter on a national visa—for example, for work or family reunification—and then apply for a residence permit.
Yes, in many cases this is possible. The language requirement depends entirely on the purpose of your relocation. English is often sufficient for work visas, while language requirements for EU Blue Cards are simplified. Family reunification usually requires only a basic level, while English may be sufficient for study or job seeking. We will help determine which program is right for you and explain the exact language requirements for your situation
- A visa cannot be extended in Germany. It must be converted into a residence permit at the immigration authority before the visa expires.
- A residence permit can be extended in Germany. The extension is handled by the same authority (Ausländerbehörde). It is important to apply well in advance (2–3 months before expiry is recommended). To obtain an extension, you must demonstrate that the conditions continue to be met, including employment, sufficient funds, and an ongoing purpose of residence.
Important: We support the residence permit extension process by helping you collect an up-to-date set of documents and prepare for submission.
Yes, of course. We understand that circumstances may change. You can discuss every detail with your personal manager and adjust the service package to suit your situation
Getting started is easy! You can:
- Submit a request on the website through the contact form and specify your preferred contact method.
- Email us with a brief description of your situation.
- Call us during business hours.
Our manager will contact you within 24 hours, clarify the details, and arrange a time for an initial consultation, either online or at our office. After the consultation, we will prepare a personalized proposal and action plan for you. Getting started is easy! You can:
