Like many, you’ve probably thought about getting a freelance visa and moving to Germany. Whether it’s the economy, the nearly free education system, the rich culture, or just making good on promises to leave the country, Germany has a lot to offer. Plus, the beautiful port city of Hamburg was ranked the 10th most livable city in the world in 2017.
But getting a visa, especially a freelance visa is not exactly something you can do over the weekend. First, you have to navigate the paper-loving, stamp-happy bureaucracy already occupied by an influx of refugees and immigrants. But don’t worry, if you have a little time and patience, it’s doable, and well worth it. Here’s what you need to do, from my experience.
Note: I got my 1-year freelance visa in 2017 and a 2-year renewal in 2018, so some things may have changed.
1. LEARN GERMAN OR FIND A GERMAN FRIEND
Luckily I have a German wife. Otherwise, navigating the foreigner’s office (Ausländerbehörde), would have been a nightmare. If you’re lucky, they might speak English, but those I spoke to didn’t, and without a translator I don’t see how I could have gotten a visa.
2. GATHER YOUR DOCUMENTS
Germans love paper records of everything. Especially the original copies. These are some of the documents you should bring with you from wherever you’re emigrating from.
- Diploma (Both high school and university. To get a freelance visa a university diploma is required in most cases.)
- Birth certificate (A copy worked for me)
- Marriage license/divorce papers (if relevant)
- Passport
- Driver’s license or state-issued ID (if you have it)
- Original transcripts (important if you plan on studying in Germany)
- Letters of recommendation
- Bank statements
3. REGISTER AS A RESIDENT
Finding a place to live will be one of your first tasks. You’ll need to make an appointment at the Kundenzentrum, or Bezirksamt (district office) first. Once you do, bring your rental contract, passport, completed forms, and (a copy of your) birth certificate to get your 12 Euro stamped piece of paper. You should get your Meldebescheinigung immediately and after a few weeks they’ll send you a tax-id number to your new address. You’ll need this for everything else.
(note: this tax-id number, or Steuernummer, is not sufficient for freelance work. In true German fashion, you will need to submit a form to your local finanzamt to get another freelance specific tax-number.)
4. OPEN A GERMAN BANK ACCOUNT
German credit cards are a bit different than American ones, and you’ll have to pay the full balance every month. In effect, they’re more like debit cards. I became a joint account holder with my wife, but a search online can point you in the right direction for opening up your own. You’ll need this to get paid by clients, as checks don’t seem to be a thing here and everything is done by direct deposit.
5. GET GERMAN HEALTH INSURANCE
This is key. The krankenversicherung must cover enough to qualify. The price will probably be above 100 euros a month, unless you can get student insurance through Mawista, or such. You’ll have to do your own research for this one, because depending on your personal case, the insurance will be different.
6. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE BEZIRKSAMT
Make a phone call, or better yet, get a German speaker to make a call for you to schedule an appointment at your local Bezirksamt to interview for your freelance visa. This is where having a German speaker with you is invaluable. It was a month and a half wait for an available appointment, so keep this in mind and schedule it well in advance before your three month Schengen visa runs out. You will be assigned a case worker who will review your application, go through your documents and answer your questions as much as possible.
7. MAKE A PORTFOLIO OF ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS
The more documents you have the better. Be sure to put them in a clear, professional looking portfolio.
- Cover Letter: You’re applying to be a tax-paying member of German society, tell them why.
- CV/Resume: Your basic resume, just listing everything you’ve ever done.
- P/L Statement: Type up a basic profit and loss statement on excel (or google sheets).
- Business Plan: A brief statement telling how you plan on generating work, finding clients and making enough money to survive.
- Revenue Forecast: Spreadsheet detailing what you think you might make in the next year, based on past years.
- Capital Budget (Finanzierungsplan): Basically a spreadsheet showing your net worth, resources, liquid funds, assets, loans, etc.
- Bank Statements: The more money you have in your account(s) the more likely they’ll give you a visa. They told me 20,000 Euros(!) would be safe. I had nothing close to that. You can have sponsors (like your parents) write statements saying they’ll support you, or pray they believe in your ability to generate income.
- Biometric Photos: I went to a biometric photobooth in the main station. They’re around 4 euros and they accepted it without question. Or, you can opt for professional ones for around 10-15 euros.
- Portfolio: Have printed samples of your best work, whether it’s writing, photography, design or translation. They won’t check out your website.
- Letters of Recommendation: Have 2-3 letters of recommendation from past employers, as well as some letters from people you currently work with stating how much you work for them per week, and that you will continue to work with them for the foreseeable future. (i.e. a signed letter from an editor you write for.)
- Freelance Contracts: These carry much more weight than letters of recommendation, and if you can secure a contract from potential clients before you apply for the visa, the more likely you will be to get approved. (These don’t have to be binding contracts guaranteeing work, they just want to know you can generate client interest.)
- Other Documents: Your Meldebescheinigung (registered address), copies of birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport, IDs, first grade report card, etc.
8. GO TO THE APPOINTMENT
Wear something nice, brush up on your German, bring around 100 Euros and, if possible, bring a native speaker with you. If all your documents are in order everything should go fine. I had to go several times to bring more proof of insurance, etc. Do it right the first time.
When they ask you what kind of freelancer you are, be specific and don’t be afraid to say a few different things. I had to go back to get Sprachlehrer (language teacher) added to my Zusatzblatt (supplementary paper) to be able to get work as a freelance teacher.
(Note: if you run out of time, like I did, before your Schengen 3-month visa runs out, you can get a temporary visa-sticker from the Bezirksamt that will give you an extension and/or allow you back into Germany if you have to leave. It cost between 10-15 euros.)
9. PATIENCE
This process is long and frustrating, but it’s doable. I had to go back and forth to several different Amt’s (offices) before I finally succeeded. When you get your eAT card (residence permit), you’ll feel like you won the lottery. Because of my limited funds and the amount of freelance writers, photographers, teachers and translators already in Hamburg, I only received a one-year visa. But if I show them proof that I’m earning a living, they’ll (hopefully) renew it. The process itself, once done, will actually help solidify what it is you want to do and how you plan on doing it, and is well worth the time and effort.
Did you have a difference experience? Did I miss something? Let me know in the comments.
Hope this helps, and good luck!