Germany · Business / Startup
Germany Freelancer permit
Residence permit for freelance professions (section 21(5) AufenthG)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Freelancer permit is a business / startup route for Germany. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- €100 ≈ $110 · €75 ≈ $84
Cost, time and long term
Government fees€100 ≈ $110 · €75 ≈ $84
- EUR 100 (≈ $110)Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity.
- EUR 75 (≈ $84)Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries.
RenewalRenewable
The three-year limit of Section 21(4) does not apply to freelance permits, so the permit can be extended while the activity continues.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
A settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) needs 5 years on a residence permit, secured livelihood, 60 months of pension contributions, German at level B1 and knowledge of the legal order.
CitizenshipAfter 5 years of residence
Naturalisation needs 5 years of lawful habitual residence, secured livelihood, German at level B1 and a commitment to the democratic order.
Where to applyFrom abroad
Apply for a national visa at the German mission abroad; nationals of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, the UK and the US can enter visa-free and apply in Germany within 90 days.
Federal Ministry of JusticeBundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de
Presence rulesStay rule
The residence permit expires if you leave Germany and do not return within six months, unless the authority sets a longer period.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Germany, not after arriving
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- The applicant is a third-country national.
- The applicant practises a freelance profession.
- The local expert bodies, trade authorities, professional bodies and licensing authorities are consulted on the application (section 21(1) sentence 3 applies; the viability, capital and innovation factors of sentence 2 do not).
- Applicants over 45 need adequate old-age provision.
What you must show and pay2
- A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity.
- A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84) · Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries.
Documents1
- Any required licence to practise the free profession must be granted or promised.
When you become tax resident
How Germany decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
A continuous stay of more than six months counts as habitual abode from the start (section 9 AO), unless it is solely for a visit, recreation, cure or similar private purpose and lasts no longer than one year; a dwelling kept available for use creates a domicile (section 8 AO).
- Foreign-source income
Residents are taxed on worldwide income.
All tax rules for Germany Tax records checked
Full official text
Permit for freelance professions where any required licence to practise has been granted or promised; the economic-interest test of section 21(1) does not apply. 1 2 3 4 5
What you must show and pay
- A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity. 6
- A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84) · Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries. 7
Requirements
- The applicant is a third-country national. 1
- The applicant practises a freelance profession. 1
- The local expert bodies, trade authorities, professional bodies and licensing authorities are consulted on the application (section 21(1) sentence 3 applies; the viability, capital and innovation factors of sentence 2 do not). 1
- Applicants over 45 need adequate old-age provision. 1
- Any required licence to practise the free profession must be granted or promised. 1
Stay
- The three-year limit of section 21(4) does not apply to freelance permits.
Nationality
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Work
Freelance work.
Family
The spouse can join if the marriage existed when the permit was issued and the stay will exceed one year; proof of simple German (A1) is waived. Minor unmarried children can join under section 32. Your spouse or partner may work in Germany without a separate permit.
Official sources
- AufenthG section 21 self-employment · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-10
- AufenthG § 4a Zugang zur Erwerbstätigkeit · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG § 30 Ehegattennachzug · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- Family reunification with third-country nationals (Nachzug zu Drittstaatsangehörigen) · Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) · checked 2026-10-12
- AufenthG § 29 Familiennachzug zu Ausländern · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 45: fees for the residence permit, Blue Card EU and ICT card · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
- Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 46: fees for the visa · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG section 9: settlement permit · Federal Ministry of Justice (Gesetze im Internet) · checked 2026-10-10
- Nationality Act (StAG) section 10: naturalisation after lawful residence · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) section 41: privileged nationals who may obtain the residence title after entry · Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de · checked 2026-10-12
- AufenthG section 51: expiry of residence titles · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
Freelancer permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer permit | – | – | – |
| Self-employed permit | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Portugal | Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Entrepreneur visa Spain | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Italy | Needs savings of €50k+ ≈ $56k | 1 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Freelancer permit?
A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110). Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity. A fee of EUR 75 (≈ $84). Fee for the national visa (category D), including multiple entries.
How long can I stay on the Freelancer permit?
The three-year limit of section 21(4) does not apply to freelance permits.
Can I work on the Freelancer permit?
Freelance work.
Can I bring my family on the Freelancer permit?
The spouse can join if the marriage existed when the permit was issued and the stay will exceed one year; proof of simple German (A1) is waived.
Who can apply for the Freelancer permit?
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Does the Freelancer permit lead to permanent residence in Germany?
Time on the Freelancer permit counts toward permanent residence in Germany, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Freelancer permit counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence.
How are Freelancer permit holders taxed in Germany?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Freelancer permit. The standard rules apply: Residents are taxed on worldwide income. The 2026 tariff is zero up to EUR12,348, (≈ $13,800) rising progressively to a 42% marginal rate from EUR69,879 (≈ $78,100) and 45% from EUR277,826 (≈ $310,000).
More in Germany
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 11 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- AufenthG section 21 self-employment · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-10
- AufenthG § 4a Zugang zur Erwerbstätigkeit · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG § 30 Ehegattennachzug · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- Family reunification with third-country nationals (Nachzug zu Drittstaatsangehörigen) · Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) · checked 2026-10-12
- AufenthG § 29 Familiennachzug zu Ausländern · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 45: fees for the residence permit, Blue Card EU and ICT card · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
- Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 46: fees for the visa · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG section 9: settlement permit · Federal Ministry of Justice (Gesetze im Internet) · checked 2026-10-10
- Nationality Act (StAG) section 10: naturalisation after lawful residence · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) section 41: privileged nationals who may obtain the residence title after entry · Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de · checked 2026-10-12
- AufenthG section 51: expiry of residence titles · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.