Residence permit for freelancers (§21(5) AufenthG)
Data as of 27 Oct 2026 · Partly confirmed
Residence permit for freelancers (§21(5) AufenthG) is a long-stay route in Germany.
Who can apply
Open to some nationalities
Rule text, quoted in its source language: Freelance activity in a liberal profession; any required professional licence granted or promised; sufficient funds for the projects; adequate old-age pension provision if over 45 (§21(3)). No fixed income threshold in law; in practice letters of intent from German clients and a financing plan are expected. Health insurance coverage expected.