Getting a Freelance VISA in Berlin — Mabel Nash Greenberg

One of the achievements I’m most proud of in my life is getting my two-year freelance VISA in Germany.

It’s notoriously difficult, requires a lot of research, and is ultimately a long bureaucratic process – but it is possible to get a freelance VISA in Berlin.

The entire process took me about 6 months. Here’s what I learned and the resources that helped me along the way.

The first thing to know is there are two different kinds of freelance VISAs: “freiberufler” and “gewerbe,” and they basically map out along the distinction of “head and hands,” or “arts and crafts.”

“Freiberuflich” means “self-employed” and that refers to the “head” VISA. You’ll want this VISA if you’re a freelancer or an artist making singular pieces or commissions. “Gewerbe” means business. Gewerbe is for craftspeople, and those who want to create and sell a product that is reproduced, or to start a business, like a cafe.

The nuance: if you are a website designer making custom websites for a company like Adidas, then you would need a Freiberufler VISA. But if you are a website designer who creates templates which are reproduced and sold as copies online, then that would fall under the Gewerbe category. These are two entirely different processes.

For this article, I will focus on the Freiberufler VISA, since that is the one I got. However, I understand that the Gewerbe VISA is much easier to obtain, if you already conduct this kind of business. It basically costs 30 Euros.

One of the most useful resources I discovered was a company called Expath.

They offer classes and 1:1 coaching to help expats and new arrivals get their bearings in Germany. Soon after arriving in Berlin, I took a class called “Freelancing for Artists in Germany.” Later on in the process, I met with the owner Tia who helped me finalize my strategy and double check my application materials.

The Expath class covered everything about launching a freelance career in Germany including an overview of the different VISA categories, how to file taxes and bill clients, how to secure health insurance and how to organize your application materials. It was extremely informative, practical, and taught by an artist.

The truth is, getting a freelance VISA in Berlin is a long bureaucratic process consisting of multiple steps. You will need to commit to being on top of your timelines and you will need to speak basic German or at least have the dedicated support of someone who does, because the Germany bureaucracy is not forgiving if you show no effort to learn German.

The process culminates in a meeting at the Ausländerbehörde, or Foreigners Office, where an agent will go over your application materials and decide if you will receive the VISA. You should have everything organized in a binder – I used tabs so I could quickly find all forms. This is how you are presenting your entire case so the presentation and organization matters. If your German is lacking, I would highly recommend that you bring a native German speaker who knows you to this meeting to advocate on your behalf.

At times it will feel like a Kafka novel, filled with catch-22s set up to make getting your requirements impossible. Your success in this process will depend on being able to connect with the people processing your case at each stage in the game. In order to do this you should be able to communicate with those people in German, or at the very least show that you’re trying.

You’ll need to put together a giant binder of your work to paint a picture and show how your work will contribute to Berlin’s culture and economy. The general application form for the VISA is called “Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels” Fill it out in German. You will also include your portfolio and career achievements, proof of your education, recommendations from local German businesses who would be willing to work with you, a profit and loss statement (this is all projected based on “job offers” you get from the people writing your letters of recommendation) and any letters from former employers.

Everything should be displayed in German in addition to English. Before you can do anything though, you need to register your address and get a residence permit. These forms is the first building block upon which everything else subsequent is stacked.

First Step

Let’s rewind: the first step toward building your VISA application is to register at the address where you are staying, by getting your anmeldung. You have three months to do this after you arrive, and it’s the first step toward achieving all subsequent forms/legal documentation you will need. You’ll need to get that form stamped at a different office the first of many stamps in this process.

One thing I learned is the German bureaucracy loves stamps.

Apartment Certification

If you’re looking for an apartment, make sure you will be able to get your “wohnungsgeberbestätigung” or apartment certification signed by your landlord before you sign a lease. Over the years they have cracked down on allowing tenants to sign this form.

Health Insurance

Then, you will need to get health insurance and a letter signed and stamped by a representative of the company describing your coverage. This proved immensely difficult for me, but I eventually was successful at a public insurance company called Barmer. I was very happy to get insured with public insurance.

You’ll also need a German bank account. I encountered a Catch-22 situation with the bank account and health insurance, neither would give me what I needed without the other, so I had seemingly no way to get either until I was accepted by Barmer. I got a great plan and would highly recommend them.

Finances To Support You

You will need to show evidence of your finances and the fact that you will be able to support yourself: Bank statements, evidence of assets, a profit and loss statement (projected business plan for the next six months) all help paint a picture to show the agent you will not become reliant on the state. You can also include supplemental letters of support.

In order to get this VISA, you’ll need to do a certain amount of networking, because you’ll need letters from companies, small businesses or individuals explaining how they will use your services and how much they will pay for them, to show that people are willing to vouch for you. Get these in German, and use them to inform your business plan.

This part of the process could take some time, as it requires networking and cold outreach. But, it’s a good opportunity to make connections and learn more about what jobs will be available to you. I learned a lot about what work was available in this stage by reaching out to companies, and shooting some social videos for local small businesses. (Shout out to Franzi Fritz, the badass entrepreneur behind Healthy Glow, Berlin’s only non-toxic spray tan studio who not only wrote me a letter of recommendation for my application, but became a friend in the process!) Deliveroo, Spotify, and Zalando were all hiring at the time–Zalando seemed to employ half of the “creative class” in Berlin, so that might be a good place to start.

Other resources I used to build my network were betahaus, .seedtable, angel.co, artconnect, and good old Craigslist and Facebook. By the way, the German equivalent of Ebay/Craigslist is “Kleinenzeigen.” This came in handy for many things, and is a good place to find apartments!

I also included a letter from a former employer in America (with some help, I translated the letter into German). At the time, I was working on a project with the Akademie der Künste, and the director was kind enough to write me a letter. Make sure they’re signed and stamped, if possible.

You’ll also need to include documentation of any degrees you have. Basically, any institutional validation you can show will support your case.

I went to Riolo Photography for my Biometric Photos.

I’m gonna let you in on a secret – Smart.de. They’re a freelancer’s cooperative started in Belgium, and an excellent resource offering all kinds of support for freelancers: health insurance, invoice processing, 1:1 advisory on VISA matters and travel requirements, all for very reasonable prices. They basically help artists navigate borders! I discovered them late in my VISA process, but they are a great resource if you travel often and are conducting business internationally and within Europe.

Success ! ! !

After I compiled all my stuff in a big red binder, I went through it with Tia from Expath for a final run through of my application materials.

One thing she recommended, which I can’t stress enough if you’re not fluent in German, is bringing a German advocate with you to speak on your behalf. I was SO glad I did this - I’m not sure I would have gotten the VISA if I didn’t have somebody there to vouch for me. It just shows the person doing your interview that you’re legitimate enough that a fellow German citizen is willing to cosign on you!

I was so scared leading up to my meeting. I was sure I wouldn’t get the VISA.

But…15 minutes after going into the room…I got my VISA!

A 2 year freiberufler VISA enabling me to conduct freelance activities in Germany is what I consider to be one of my greatest accomplishments to date! It required so much planning and organization and moments of hopelessness when you’re faced with a seemingly nonsensical Bureacratic system. But it all paid off, and for that…I’m so proud!

That’s about it from me! If you’re working on getting a freelance VISA in Germany, know that while it’s not easy, it is possible and the support is out there. If you’re going through the process now, I’d love to hear from you. Please comment below!

And, if you want to know why I left Germany…click here.

Thanks for reading and good luck!