I got an offer to work in Germany as a freelancer in Cyber Security. Can you please tell me what type of visa I should apply for? I want to stay and work in Germany for other companies as freelancer. What should I do? And what are the requirements as I have the Moroccan nationality?
In order to set up a business in Germany, you will need a residence permit for the purpose of self-employment (“Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur Ausübung einer selbständigen Tätigkeit”). If you are not yet living in Germany, you need to apply for a visa for the purpose of self-employed (www.make-it-in-germany.com) occupation at the competent German Mission in your home Country. General information on visa process is also available on “Make it in Germany”: www.make-it-in-germany.com
The German mission abroad will send your visa application to the foreigner authority (“Ausländerbehörde”) at your future place of residence in Germany. This process normally takes two to four months.
Please note that there a several criteria which need to be fulfilled in order to obtain the residence permit for the purpose of self-employment - in your case to be able to work as a freelancer (Freiberufler) in Germany. More information on the requirements to set up a freelance business you will find on “Make it in Germany”: www.make-it-in-germany.com
For further questions regarding the visa process please contact the German Mission in your country of residence – especially for questions concerning the required documents. You will find the local contact here: www.make-it-in-germany.com
To get further Information regarding setting up a business in Germany please visit the Website "Make it in Germany" (www.make-it-in-germany.com).
For personal advice, you can either contact the hotline “Working and Living in Germany” (www.make-it-in-germany.com) under the telephone number +49 30 1815 – 1111 or enter the chat of the Migration Support Centre (VWC) of the Federal Employment Agency of Germany: www.make-it-in-germany.com
Please note: The information presented here is a general service offering. Only the German missions and the foreigner authorities are responsible for the issuance of visa resp. residence permits. For further questions, please contact directly the respective authority.
Source: Justina Alichniewicz / Sarah Berger
Projekt „Make it in Germany“
Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln e.V.
July 2016
