Short answer: Not on a dedicated visa
There is no German digital nomad visa in our database or on the official lists. Freelancers and contractors can apply for the Freelancer Visa (Freiberufler), which works for many nomads in practice. If you are salaried by a company outside Germany, no German route fits that set-up, and Spain or Portugal are the closer match.
The programmes that apply to digital nomads in Germany
Fees, salary floors and processing times below come from the official sources in Transita's visa database. Processing is an estimate from the published figure, not a promise.
| Programme | Fee | Salary floor | Processing | Job offer | PR after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer Visa (Freiberufler) | $100 | None set | 3–8 months | No | 5 years |
| Self-Employment / Business Visa | $110 | None set | 4–10 months | No | 5 years |
| Job Seeker Visa (Chancenkarte) | $100 | None set | 2–4 months | No | No direct route |
- Freelancer Visa (Freiberufler): The nomad-adjacent route. Our data describes it as the permit for self-employed professionals such as IT specialists, consultants and artists who invoice their own clients.
- Self-Employment / Business Visa: For running a business rather than freelancing. It suits founders more than nomads.
- Job Seeker Visa (Chancenkarte): Lets you live in Germany while you look for a German job. Not a remote-work permit: it does not cover keeping a full-time job abroad.
Freelancer or remote employee: why it decides everything
The Freiberufler permit is a self-employment permit. You apply as an independent professional and show who your clients are and how you will support yourself. That fits a freelance developer, designer or writer well.
It does not fit a remote employee. If your contract is with a company in another country and you simply want to work from Berlin, you are not self-employed, and German immigration has no category for that arrangement. The usual answer in that case is to change destination, or to ask your employer about a German contract and a work permit.
What the Freelancer Visa costs and how long it runs
The fee in our data is $100, processing runs 3–8 months and the permit is issued for up to 3 years. It can lead to permanent residence after 5 years, which no true nomad visa in Europe offers as directly.
The full application, including client letters and the extra checks for older applicants, is in our Germany freelance visa guide.
If you are a remote employee: the nomad visas nearby
Spain's Digital Nomad Visa asks for EUR 34,188/yr (≈ $37,504/yr), costs $80 and takes 1–2 months. Portugal's D8 Digital Nomad Visa asks for EUR 3,680/mo (≈ $50,607/yr), costs $250 and takes 2–6 months. Both are written for people employed by a company outside the country, which is exactly the case Germany leaves out.
Italy runs a nomad visa too; our Italy nomad visa guide covers it.
Who sponsors digital nomads in Germany
Nobody sponsors a freelancer. The permit stands on your own clients and income, which is why the client letters carry so much weight in the file. If you would rather be employed in Germany, the Opportunity Card guide covers job hunting from inside the country.
The Transita sponsor register collects the official sponsor lists we hold, so you can check an employer before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Does Germany have a digital nomad visa?
No. Germany has no visa for working remotely for a foreign employer. Freelancers can apply for the Freelancer Visa (Freiberufler), which is a self-employment permit.
Can I work remotely for a US or UK company while living in Germany?
Not on a German visa built for that. The Freelancer Visa covers self-employed people with their own clients. A salaried remote employee would need a different destination with a nomad visa, such as Spain or Portugal, or a German contract.
How much does the German Freelancer Visa cost?
The government fee in Transita's data is $100, with processing of about 3–8 months.
Can a freelancer get permanent residence in Germany?
Yes. The Freelancer Visa can lead to permanent residence after 5 years, provided the business keeps supporting you.
What is the closest nomad visa to Germany?
Spain's Digital Nomad Visa and Portugal's D8 both cover remote employees of foreign companies. Spain's income floor is EUR 34,188/yr (≈ $37,504/yr); Portugal's is EUR 3,680/mo (≈ $50,607/yr).
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- Every visa route to Germany
Find the remote-work route that fits your contract
Tell Transita whether you freelance or work for a company abroad, and it compares the German Freelancer Visa with every nomad visa we track. Answer 8 questions and your routes, documents and dates are set up for you. Free.
Build my workspaceofficial sources: §21 AufenthG · make-it-in-germany.com·§§20a, 20b AufenthG · auswaertiges-amt.de