Part 3: Freelancers and self-employed relocating to Germany
In this blog series, Culture Shock in Germany, we share real experiences from people who recently relocated to Germany. These are not horror stories, and they are not fairy tales either. They are honest moments – the surprises, the frustrations, and the lessons families, students, and professionals often discover.
All names in this series have been changed to protect privacy. Freelancers and self-employed – this part is for you!
Research and decision-making should happen before the move
Research your options before relocating.
- What does it actually mean to be a freelancer in Germany?
- What are your chances of getting letters of intent to prove future income?
- Do you already have contacts who can support your application?
- Is your professional qualification recognized – or even relevant – for the German market?
- Do you have enough savings to survive until your residence permit is issued?
- And after that – how will you survive until your freelance income becomes stable?
These are not small questions. And this is only the beginning. If you have a work plan, treat it like a strategy, not just a dream. Use every opportunity to build connections, visibility, and credibility. Many times, certificates alone don’t open doors for freelancers. Often, it’s your personality, communication skills, and persistence that convince people to give you a chance – including letters of intent.
Employee or a freelancer?
In many countries, freelancers can invoice a single company and work in what is essentially a full-time position. For many people relocating to Germany, this seems like the easiest solution: stay with your original employer, just change the legal structure. In Germany, this model is not allowed.
If you work mainly for one company, follow their working hours, use their systems, and function like an internal team member, you are considered an employee in the eyes of German law – even if you send invoices. Remember – you must have multiple clients (minimum two).
The Finanzamt (tax authority) and social security institutions might actively check this. If they decide you are falsely self-employed, the consequences can include back payments of taxes and social contributions, fines, and legal issues – for both you and your client.
Freelancer and self-employed – a path to a new beginning
Not everyone comes to Germany with a clear plan. Some arrive as experienced professionals, only to discover that their profession is regulated, requires a local license, or depends heavily on German language skills. A lawyer, therapist, architect, or even a data analyst may find that their previous career path is not immediately transferable.
But Germany can also be a place of reinvention. If you have the right to work (for example, through EU citizenship, family reunification, or another permit), you can become someone you may never have had the chance, or the courage, to be in your home country. You can pivot careers, start a business, explore new fields, and build something entirely new.
You can make this shift even if you want to start something new, but has no experience – for your freelancer residence permit. Everything can be possible, if you want enough and plan it right. For many, freelancing or self-employment is not just about income – it is about identity, independence, and redefining what “home” means.
If this is your moment, take initiative. Experiment. Learn. Network. Fail fast and adjust. Germany offers stability and structure, but it also offers space to rebuild your professional life on your own terms.
Wait! Freelancer or self-employed?
In everyday language, “self-employed” is a broad term for anyone working independently. In Germany, however, the legal distinction matters.
A freelancer (Freiberufler) is a specific legal category for certain professions, such as artists, journalists, consultants, teachers and some IT professionals. Freelancers usually face fewer bureaucratic requirements and do not need to register a trade. If your activity does not fall under the freelancer category, you are considered a business owner (Gewerbetreibende) and must register a trade (Gewerbe), which comes with additional obligations such as trade tax.
All freelancers are self-employed, but not all self-employed people are freelancers. From a visa perspective, many German embassies and consulates allow applications for self-employed visas, but not specifically for freelancer visas. This distinction often causes confusion – and frustration – during the application process.
In our next post in this series, we’ll explore benefits and burdens the German system offers employees, and sharing lessons learned from real-life cases.
