Germany — founder
Germany — Germany Self-Employment / Freelance Visa
Guide last reviewed: . Check the linked official guidance for current rules and application availability.
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1 more requirement for Germany Self-Employment / Freelance Visa
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- ✓Find out which ones you already meet
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The full guide
Germany's self-employment residence permit (§21 AufenthG) actually splits into two different tracks with very different bars: 'Freiberufler' (liberal professions — doctors, lawyers, engineers, journalists, IT consultants, artists, and similar, under §18 of the Income Tax Act) is the lighter path with no business registration or Chamber of Commerce review; general self-employment ('Gewerbetreibender') needs you to register a business and make a real case that it serves a genuine local economic interest. Both need a viable business plan, evidence real clients or demand exist, and enough funds to live on while the business gets going.
Cost: €75
The full guide is locked
See exactly what Germany Self-Employment / Freelance Visa requires
- ✓Every document you'll need, with what assessors actually look for
- ✓The real stage-by-stage process, with fees and processing times
- ✓Common pitfalls that actually cause refusals for this route
- ✓See if YOU qualify — your real fit score, not a generic checklist
This is everything your application involves. Start a plan to get it done.
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- Relocation planning guide
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- Visa document checklist and evidence tracker
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- Relocation budget calculator
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Pasage provides immigration pathway information and preparation help based on official public criteria. We are not immigration lawyers, regulated advisers, or agents, and we do not guarantee any visa outcome. Rules and thresholds change — always confirm against the official source linked above before you apply.