Germany Freelance Visa
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Once you obtain a Germany Freelance Visa (Freiberufler or Selbständiger Aufenthaltstitel) as an Indian national, it allows you to live and work in Germany as a self-employed or freelance professional. Here’s a detailed list of what you can do with this visa :-
What You Can Do with a Germany Freelance Visa
1. Live and Work in Germany Legally
- You are legally allowed to reside in Germany and work as a freelancer or self-employed individual.
- You must work in the specific freelance profession (like IT, marketing, consulting, arts, education, journalism, etc.) for which the visa was granted.
2. Invoice and Earn from Clients in Germany and Abroad
- You can bill German and international clients.
- You are permitted to have multiple clients as a freelancer.
- You can open a business account, register for a tax number (Steuernummer) and issue invoices with VAT (if required).
3. Apply for Residence Permit Extension / Permanent Residency
- The freelance residence permit is usually granted for 1–3 years.
- After 3 years, you may be eligible to apply for a permanent settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis), provided your business is successful and you can support yourself.
4. Access to Health Insurance and Social Benefits
- You must get German public or private health insurance.
- Once registered and paying taxes, you may access certain social security benefits like pension contributions (optional) and family allowances.
5. Travel within Schengen Area
- You can travel visa-free to other Schengen countries (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) for tourism or business meetings.
6. Bring Dependents (Spouse and Children)
- You can apply for family reunification visas for your spouse and children.
- Your spouse may be allowed to work in Germany.
7. Tax Filing and Business Registrations
- You will be considered a tax resident and must file annual tax returns.
- You must register your freelance business with the Finanzamt (tax office) and may need to obtain a Freiberufler confirmation if applicable.
8. Open Bank Accounts, Rent Apartments, Buy Property
Once registered with a residence address, you can:
- Open a German bank account
- Rent long-term apartments or even purchase property
- Get contracts for utilities, mobile, insurance, etc.
9. Switch to Other Visa Types
Over time, you may switch to other residency types:
- Employment visa (if you get a job offer)
- EU Blue Card
- Startup visa or business visa (for full self-employment)
- Or eventually, permanent residency or citizenship
- Limitations of the Freelance Visa
- You must only engage in activities permitted under your visa (e.g., if your visa is for IT services, you can’t take up acting).
- You are not allowed to take up regular salaried employment unless you change your visa type.
- Your visa may be revoked if you fail to sustain your livelihood from freelance work.
- You must prove your income sufficiency and client base regularly during extensions.
