and 66 more
- service.berlin.de
- mth-partner.de
- auswaertiges-amt.de
- ihk.de
- germany.info
- mth-partner.de
- bamf.de
- germany.info
- certifixlivescan.com
- china.diplo.de
- china.diplo.de
- china.diplo.de
- china.diplo.de
- china.diplo.de
- gesetze-im-internet.de
- auswaertiges-amt.de
- hcch.net
- hcch.net
- hcch.net
- deutsche-rentenversicherung.de
- dvka.de
- gesetze-im-internet.de
- bundesfinanzministerium.de
- kairo.diplo.de
- india.diplo.de
- india.diplo.de
- india.diplo.de
- india.diplo.de
- india.diplo.de
- india.diplo.de
- india.diplo.de
- india.diplo.de
- india.diplo.de
- india.diplo.de
- auswaertiges-amt.de
- digital.diplo.de
- gesetze-im-internet.de
- bmas.de
- deutsche-rentenversicherung.de
- rvrecht.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de
- bundesfinanzministerium.de
- anerkennung-in-deutschland.de
- brasil.diplo.de
- brasil.diplo.de
- brasil.diplo.de
- brasil.diplo.de
- brasil.diplo.de
- brasil.diplo.de
- brasil.diplo.de
- brasil.diplo.de
- auswaertiges-amt.de
- gesetze-im-internet.de
- gesetze-im-internet.de
- eur-lex.europa.eu
- home-affairs.ec.europa.eu
- atos.cnj.jus.br
- atos.cnj.jus.br
- cnj.jus.br
- bundesfinanzministerium.de
- bundesfinanzministerium.de
- deutsche-rentenversicherung.de
- deutsche-rentenversicherung.de
- normas.receita.fazenda.gov.br
- gov.br
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- gov.br
Freiberufler (Freelance Visa)
Freelance visaGermany doesn't run a dedicated digital nomad visa. The Freiberufler (its freelance residence permit for the “liberal professions” like writing, software, design, and consulting) is the route most remote workers use instead. It predates the nomad-visa wave but does the same job: a proper residence permit you live and work on, with a path to permanent residency. Expect more documentation than a purpose-built nomad visa asks for.
What this visa gets you
Visa
Entry document
Temporary residency
3 years, renewable
Permanent residency
After 5 years
Citizenship
After 5 years of residence
- Income requirement
- No fixed minimum: you must show the freelance work sustainably covers your living costs (applicants over 45 also need adequate pension provision).
- Application fee
- €100
- Family allowed
- Yes
Pick your passport to see your application path
Processing time, consular location, apostille requirements, and tax-treaty notes for Freiberufler (Freelance Visa) change based on your source country.
Tax
How is Freiberufler income taxed?
Freelancers become German tax residents and are taxed on worldwide income under progressive income tax (Einkommensteuer, roughly 14% to 45% plus solidarity surcharge where applicable). Freiberufler (liberal professions under § 18 EStG) are exempt from trade tax (Gewerbesteuer), unlike commercial self-employed (Gewerbetreibende). They must register with the local tax office (Finanzamt). There is no special expat or relocation tax regime in Germany; no flat-rate or time-limited reduced-tax scheme applies.
Money, roughly (sourced)
Regime: Ordinary progressive income tax (14%–42%/45%), no special nomad regime, about 25.5% effective tax on €60k/yr.
No expat/nomad flat regime exists in Germany. A Freiberufler resident is taxed on worldwide income at the ordinary progressive scale (2025: 0% to EUR 12,096; 14%–42% to EUR 68,429; 42% to EUR 277,825; 45% above). Solidarity surcharge (5.5% of income tax) only bites at higher incomes; church tax (8–9%) if a member. The big real-world cost driver is self-funded health insurance, not income tax alone.
Capital gains: 25%. Headline 25% flat withholding (Abgeltungsteuer) on financial-investment gains; 26.375% with solidarity surcharge. Real-property gains are tax-free after a 10-year holding period.
Living comfortably to well in Berlin runs about €2,400–€3,350/mo for one person, incl. rent.
Estimate your take-home in the tax calculator →Worth a specialist's time. A short call before you commit usually pays for itself, especially for US citizens (FEIE/FATCA), existing UK ties, or unwinding SA tax residency.
Recommended for your move
- SafetyWingFlexible monthly cover
Health insurance built for nomads. Monthly subscription.
Get a quote - GenkiEU-regulated, long-term
EU-regulated health insurance for nomads and expats; long-term and resident cover.
See plans - WiseGetting paid abroad
Multi-currency account and low-cost transfers at the mid-market rate.
Open an account - RevolutEveryday spending
Multi-currency card with budgeting and fee-free transfers.
Open an account
By passport
Germany by nationality
The requirements, consular path, and realistic timeline change with your passport. Pick yours for the source-country-specific guide.
What's next
Keep going
See Germany side-by-side with similar programmes.
Every country ranked by what's left after tax and living costs.
Different answers may surface a programme you didn't consider.
Every dated change we've logged for Germany: income thresholds, fees, consular policy.
Expatlas provides information for orientation only and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with official government sources and consult an immigration lawyer for your specific case.