If you want to quit your job to start a business or become a freelancer, you might need a different residence permit. Usually, you must apply for a freelance visa.
This guide shows you how to go from employee to freelancer. It’s based on my personal experience.
Side business with a work visa
If you can, start your business before you quit your job. It gives you time to register your business, find clients, and prepare for the transition. You need at least a few weeks to register your business and apply for the freelance visa.
How to start a business in Germany
Does your residence permit allow it?
If you need a residence permit to live in Germany, check if it allows self-employment. Check your Zusatzblatt.
Residence permits for self-employment
Some residence permits allow part time self-employment. You must keep your job, and it must be your main source of income. To be self-employed full time, you might need to apply for a freelance visa.
Does your employer let you freelance?
You do not need permission from your employer to have a side business,1 but there are exceptions:
- If you are a civil servant, soldier or judge, you need permission from their employer.
- If your work contract prevents you from having a side business.1 Each work contract is different.
Apply for the freelance visa
Next, you must apply for the freelance visa. This can take many weeks.
The freelance visa will replace your current residence permit. You can’t have both at the same time. As soon as you get the freelance visa, your old residence permit will become invalid. You must stop working for your employer as soon as you get the freelance visa, but you don’t know when you will get the freelance visa. This can be hard to synchronise.
Tell your health insurance company
When you are an employee, your employer pays half of your health insurance. When you are self-employed, you pay the full amount yourself. This means that your health insurance will be twice as expensive.
You pay the {{ tarifName }} tarif.
Your health insurance has a fixed price.
It's cheaper than the regular tarif.
You pay the
Base cost
The base cost is the same with every
Insurer surcharge
Health insurers can charge a little more than the base cost. The surcharge (
Nursing care insurance
Nursing care insurance (
Your employer pays
When you are self-employed, you don't get help from your employer. You pay the full price yourself.
Your employer pays for your health insurance, because you make less than
When you have a minijob, your employer does not pay for your health insurance.
When you are an employee, your employer pays half of your health insurance.
You pay the maximum price the minimum price
This is how much you pay every month for public health insurance.
You make more than
Your options
Public health insurance
There are over 100
Private health insurance
Need help choosing?
Sometimes, it makes sense to switch to private health insurance. Talk to a health insurance broker about it first.
How to choose German health insurance
When you are an employee, health insurance is taken from your paycheck. When you are self-employed, it’s taken from your bank account with a direct debit authorization.
Need help?
Where to ask immigration questions
Where to ask business questions