Germany residence permit for a freelance employment - Issuance

A residence permit may be issued for a freelance occupation if it is expected to have a positive economic or cultural impact.

Freelance occupations include, for example, artists, writers, language teachers and self-employed doctors, engineers, auditors, interpreters or architects.

Prerequisites

Freelance employment
It must be a self-employed academic, artistic, literary, teaching, educational or other self-employed professional occupation in accordance with s. 18 (1) Income Tax Act (see section “Further Information”).
Adequate pension plan (only if you have already completed the 45th year of life)
The following applies to 2024:
Perspectively, at the age of 67, you must have
- either a monthly pension of 1,503.34 euros (for at least 12 years)
- or an asset amount of 216,481.00 euros.
Proof of a pension plan is not required for these nationalities: Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the United States of America
(Note: An adequate pension is always necessary for the issuance of a permanent settlement permit – regardless of age or nationality.)
Main residence in Berlin
In-person visit

Documents required

Valid passport
1 current biometric photo
35mm x 45mm, frontal shot with neutral facial expression and closed mouth, looking straight into the camera, light background
Form “Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels” (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit)
Only required for first-time application
Revenue forecast
see section “Forms”
Regarding artists and language teachers: Proof of other regular income
E.g. own assets, regular transfers from dependent parents, submission of a declaration of obligation by a solvent third party
If you want to work on a fee basis: Letter of intent for the collaboration
Submission of at least two declarations of intent (with information on type, scope and description of the occupation)
Fee contracts
Resume / Curriculum vitae
Details of professional career, qualification certificates, diploma, references/sponsors
Professional permit
If a permit is required for the freelance occupation, e.g. a license to practice law (original)
Health insurance
Proof of a secure livelihood must also include sufficient health insurance. Those with statutory health insurance are sufficiently insured. Those with private health insurance must consider the type and extent of their health insurance. For more information, please read the leaflet “Health insurance” (see section “More information”).
Lease or proof of home ownership
Original
Rental cost / expenses for property
Proof of the monthly rental costs (e.g. current account statement) or costs of the inhabited property; in each case in original form
Adequate pension plan (only if you have already completed the 45th year of life)
You can provide evidence of adequate retirement benefits (see section “Prerequisites”) by:
- an offer from a private pension or life insurer,
- own assets,
- acquired pension rights or
- operating assets
Proof of main residence in Berlin
- Certificate of registration at the main residence (Meldebestätigung) or
- lease and written confirmation of occupancy from the landlord
More on the topic in the section “More information”

Forms

Fees

100.00 euros

Turkish nationals (for first issuance as well as for extension)

Up to the age of 24 years: 22.80 euros
From the age of 24 years: 37.00 euros

Legal basis

Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 21 Abs. 5

Average time to process request

Around 5–6 weeks
A personal visit four to six weeks before the existing temporary residence title expires is best. If possible you should book an appointment for this.

More information

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Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA)
Berlin Immigration Office, Friedrich-Krause-Ufer
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