Germany
Germany freelance visa: letters of intent and what Berlin checks
Germany's self-employment permit (section 21 of the Residence Act) treats freelancers and business founders differently. Getting the category right is the first decision, and filing a trade as a freelance application is a classic refusal.
By The Visa Blueprint · 3 min read
Freelancer or founder?
- Freelancer (§ 21(5)): the liberal professions listed in the Income Tax Act (scientific, artistic, writing, teaching activities; engineers, architects, translators, journalists, business consultants, doctors, lawyers…) and similar ones. No "economic interest" test.
- Founder (§ 21(1)): any trade or company. The authority checks economic interest or regional need, expected positive effects and secured financing, usually with an opinion from the Chamber of Commerce (IHK).
What the Berlin immigration office asks freelancers for
- Fee contracts or at least two letters of intent describing the nature and scope of the planned work.
- An income forecast (Ertragsvorschau) on Berlin's form: three years, in euros, excluding VAT.
- A CV with proof of qualifications, references or funding commitments.
- Health insurance: German statutory insurance, or private German insurance with the certificate under § 257(2a) of the Social Code Book V. Foreign policies generally do not count.
- A lease and proof of rent, your main residence must be in Berlin.
- Artists and language teachers must also prove other regular income.
What makes a strong letter of intent
There is no official template. Berlin's wording tells you what matters: the nature and scope of the work. A useful letter, on the client's letterhead, states the services, the expected volume (days per month or projects per year), a fee range, the planned start and where the work will be performed. Each client should write it in their own words, identical letters from different clients undermine credibility.
The business plan and forecast
IHK Berlin accepts business plans in English and strongly recommends a German summary. It expects a three-year revenue forecast backed by evidence, in its words, a "customer list" is usually not sufficient, and generally expects company founders acting as managing directors to forecast net annual income of at least €41,000. For freelancers, our advice is simple: make sure the forecast shows a profit that covers your living costs, rent and health insurance from year one.
Applicants aged 45 and over
The law expects adequate old-age provision. Berlin publishes a reference, applicable from 1 July 2025, of a pension at age 67 of €1,612.53 per month payable for at least 12 years, or assets of €232,204; nationals of a few countries (including Japan and the Philippines) are exempt. Check the current figure before filing.
Where to apply
Nationals of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Israel may enter visa-free and apply in Germany within 90 days; Berlin applications are online only. Others apply for a national visa at a German mission (fee €75); the UK mission indicates six to nine months of processing for freelancers.
