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Freelance Visa to Germany — for those who work for themselves
The Freelance Visa is your path to Germany without a job offer or employer.
We will help prepare the documents, explain the specifics, and
coordinate the entire process.
Duration of stay
for the duration of the contract (up to 4 years)
Right to work
from the first day of entry
Language knowledge
Not required, but exceptions may apply
About the visa
Freelance Visa —
work for yourself
legally in Germany
The Freelance Visa (Freiberufler Visa) is the official
name for the “Visa for self-employed entrepreneurial activity and work
in liberal professions” under §21(5)
of the German Residence Act (AufenthG).
This is a full residence permit that gives you the right to live and work in Germany
independently: without an employer, without a job offer, and without a corporate
sponsorship. You can work with any clients: German, European, or international.
The visa is intended for representatives of “liberal professions” (Freie
Berufe): IT specialists, designers, journalists, teachers,
consultants, and many others. The key requirement is activity
of an intellectual or creative nature.
IT specialists
Dev, DevOps, Data
Journalists
Authors, bloggers
Consultants
Business, marketing
Photographers
Video, animation
Designers
UX/UI, graphics
Teachers
Trainers, coaches
Translators
Written, oral
Engineers
Architects and others
This list is not exhaustive. Clarify whether your profession qualifies during a consultation.
You already work for yourself and want to legalize your activity in Europe, expand your client base, and increase your rates. If you have a portfolio, we will help prepare everything else.
You work under an employment contract but want to switch to freelancing in Germany. If your profession belongs to the liberal professions, this is a strong moment for a new career stage.
Artists, musicians, photographers, and journalists. Germany offers unique conditions: developed infrastructure and access to a European audience.
Eligibility conditions
Requirements
for obtaining a Freelance Visa
2026
The requirements for a Freelance Visa are less strict than for some others, but they still exist. We help meet each of them correctly the first time to avoid a refusal.
Important: requirements differ across federal states. Berlin, Munich, Hamburg: each has its own nuances. Our specialists know these differences and will help choose the right strategy for your situation.
Your activity must fall under recognized liberal professions according to §18 EStG. IT, design, journalism, teaching, consulting, medicine, law, and architecture can all qualify.
A diploma, certificates, or a work portfolio. For a number of professions, real projects, publications, employer recommendations, or client reviews are enough. A German diploma is not mandatory.
2-3 letters from German clients. Properly prepared LOIs are one of the key factors for a successful review. We will help you understand the specifics.
As a rule, from €11,200-11,840 in a blocked account (Sperrkonto), plus €6,000 for each family member. The exact amount depends on the federal state.
Full health insurance recognized in Germany. We help choose GKV or PKV: the option best suited for freelancers.
A description of your activity, target market, and strategy. It shows officials that your business is viable. We help write it in German.
The passport must be valid beyond the expected stay plus at least 3 months. Biometric photos will also be required.
Package
“Freelance Visa”
€4.125
€2.799
32% discount when purchasing the package.
Services in the basic package (for one person) · prices before discount:
- Introduction and case analysis
- Checking status for compliance with legal requirements
- Diploma check in Anabin (if there is no diploma, preparation of certificates)
- Review and recommendations for optimizing the presentation (portfolio) * only for creative professions
- Assistance with preparing templates for commitment letters (maximum three letters)
and / or a fee agreement - Assistance with preparing a business plan (providing examples and completing it according to a template)
expected income + financing - CV optimization
- Assistance with drafting a motivation letter in German
- Review of recommendation letters confirming work experience
- Assistance with arranging an Incoming health insurance policy
- Collecting and checking documents according to the checklist
- Completing VIDEX forms for ONE applicant
- Booking an appointment at the Consulate / Embassy (once)
- Preparation for the interview at the Consulate / Embassy by phone
- Booking an appointment at the Citizens’ Office
- Completing documents for residence registration
- Support by phone for the Citizens’ Office appointment (residence registration)
- Completing residence permit forms / applications for ONE applicant
- Collecting documents according to the checklist and preparing the document package
- Submitting the online application and document package to the authority for the residence permit
- Correspondence with the Foreigners’ Office and process coordination
- Coordination of the appointment booking process (once)
- Preparation for the interview at the authority by phone
- Coordination of the Freelance Visa process
Total: €4.125
* Drafting a recommendation letter from scratch — €199.
** A unique business plan for your project is prepared by a tax specialist, a BCA partner, for an additional fee. The service is agreed and paid separately; the cost starts from €1,500.
*** Diploma translation is paid separately if required.
**** The “Diploma Recognition” package is paid separately. Cost: €655 + authority fee of €208.
***** Assistance with arranging mandatory German health insurance is provided separately through an insurance broker.
****** Review and recommendations for optimizing the presentation (portfolio) are only for creative professions.
reviews
Relocation of Victoria’s entire family to Germany
Turning to Blue Card Agency became the first step on her journey toward employment in Europe, financial independence, and long-term stability.
The relocation story of Dmitry, a tattoo artist
Why he chose Germany, how developed the tattoo industry is here, what relocation options he considered, and the fears and questions he faced before moving.
Relocation story of a pharmacist to Germany
Is it realistic to find a job as a licensed pharmacist in a German pharmacy?
ADVANTAGES
Trust your relocation to professionals with German precision.
F.A.Q.
Still Have Questions?
We Already Have the Answers
We’ve collected the most common questions about visas, residence permits, and our services —
so you can get the information you need right away, without endless emails or waiting.
They are key but separate stages of the immigration process.
- A visa is permission to enter Germany and stay for a short period (usually up to 3–6 months). It is applied for at the German embassy or consulate in your country of residence. The purpose of a visa may include study, employment, family reunification, etc.
- A residence permit is authorization for long-term stay (one year or longer), which you obtain after arriving in Germany from the local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde). A valid reason is required, such as employment, family reunification, study, or business activity.
In short: a visa allows you to enter Germany, while a residence permit allows you to live there legally long term. In many cases, you first enter Germany with a national visa (for example, for work or family reunification) and then apply for a residence permit.
A refusal is неприятная, but not a fatal situation. The key is to act strategically.
- Carefully review the refusal letter to understand the reason and use it as the basis for your next steps.
- File an appeal (remonstration). You usually have about one month to challenge the decision.
- Address the reason for the refusal. This may involve insufficient financial proof or an incomplete set of documents. We help analyze the refusal, prepare the necessary supporting documents, and draft a strong appeal letter.
Our recommendation: Do not act blindly. A well-prepared response to a refusal significantly increases your chances of success when reapplying.
Yes, in many cases it is possible. Language requirements depend entirely on the purpose of your relocation. For work visas, English is often sufficient, and for the EU Blue Card, language requirements are generally more flexible. For family reunification, only a basic level of German is usually required. In cases of study or job seeking, English may also be acceptable. We will help you determine which program is best suited to your situation and clearly explain the exact language requirements that apply to your specific case.
- A visa itself cannot be extended in Germany. It must be converted into a residence permit at the local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) before the visa expires.
- A residence permit can be extended in Germany. The extension is processed by the same immigration office (Ausländerbehörde). It is important to apply in advance (we recommend 2–3 months before expiration).
To extend a residence permit, you must confirm that you continue to meet the required conditions (employment, sufficient financial means, valid purpose of stay). Important: We support our clients throughout the residence permit extension process — helping prepare the required documents and ensuring a smooth application.
Yes, absolutely. We understand that circumstances can change. You can discuss the details with your personal manager and adjust your service package according to your current situation.
Getting started is simple. You can:
- Submit a request through the contact form on our website and indicate your preferred method of communication.
- Send us an email briefly describing your situation.
- Call us during business hours.
Our manager will contact you within 24 hours, clarify the details, and schedule your initial consultation (online or in person). After the consultation, we will prepare a personalized proposal and action plan for you.
We provide real professional guarantees — not unrealistic promises such as “100% visa approval,” since the final decision always rests with government authorities. We guarantee:
- Professionalism and expertise. Full compliance of our work with German legislation and current requirements of consulates and authorities.
- Transparency. A clear contract, step-by-step plan, and fixed package pricing.
- Comprehensive support. We handle communication with official authorities, prepare and review documents, complete application forms, and draft motivation letters.
- Confidentiality. Protection and security of your personal data.
- Support at every stage. You will stay in contact with your personal manager and can track the entire process through our mobile application.
Our main goal is to achieve results, minimize the risk of refusal due to formal errors, and save you time and stress.
