4 ms·

IIRC, you can apply for a 1-year self-employment/freelancer/artist visa in Germany if you're from the US.

atroyn 12y ago
This does not necessarily limit you to just one year - you can get up to a 3 year visa issued on the spot, and this can be extended as each visa period elapses, just as long as you can demonstrate that you have income and business activity.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
twiecki 12y ago
There is also the blue card (http://www.bluecard-eu.de/ http://www.bluecard-eu.de/) which is pretty easy and quick to get if you have a university degree and a job-offer.
- walshemj 12y ago
  Bit of a bummer if you are self taught and don't have a degree. I see the rigid stratification of German education is still in force.
  - flatfilefan 12y ago
    If you don't have a degree you can still get in (not on blue card) but the salary barrier is higher.
holografix 12y ago
What about Australians?
- atroyn 12y ago
  I'm an Aussie expat in Berlin since November 2012 - you can apply for a working holiday visa if you're under 30, follow up with a self-employment visa, or if you want to work for a start-up, the visa process is ridiculously easy. The U.S is the pathological case when it comes to visas.
- notjosh 12y ago
  I'm Australian, and on top of what atroyn said, you also have the option for a "blue card" (http://www.bluecard-eu.de/eu-blue-card-germany/ http://www.bluecard-eu.de/eu-blue-card-germany/) if you're a full-time employee somewhere. It's super easy to get, and it's quite liberal.
holografix 12y ago
What about Australians?
brightsize 12y ago
You can apply, yes, and don't forget to present your formal portfolio and/or business plan, proof of funds to support yourself for the duration, proof of German-equivalent health insurance, and a rental contract on an apartment. I believe you might also need at least a letter from a German company expressing an interest in hiring you as a freelancer. Unfortunately you cannot just show up at the Foreigner's Office, declare yourself a freelancer, and be issued a visa. They're notorious for being sticklers for details but I've not (yet) dealt with them directly. That said, there's something in the Blue Card arrangement that allows one to come here for up to six months as a "job seeker". I believe that when doing that you need "only" provide evidence of self-support, a place to live, and insurance, that latter IIRC need not be conforming to German standards. Also IIRC this visa is non-renewable.
- mkal_tsr 12y ago
  Yeah, there's a lot of hoops you have to go through, but that also opens up your Schengen Area travel opportunities considerably (for duration at least) if I remember the details correctly.
  - brightsize 12y ago
    Citizens of states that are party to the Schengen agreement can travel to any Shengen country without a visa for three months at a time out of every six. I have implicit Schengen status (US citizen) and as far as I know may travel within (Schengen) Europe without any particular permissions, certainly not from the Germany authorities, whoever they might be. In fact, spy agencies aside, the German authorities don't even know that I'm here. I got an entry stamp on my passport in Paris, and did nothing on arrival in Germany (TXL) other than collect my baggage and get a taxi. I'll get an exit stamp in Copenhagen on the way out.
  - cameldrv 12y ago
    In theory the schengen visa-free rule of 90 out of 180 days still applies if you're not in Germany. However, since nothing is getting stamped when you cross a border, it would not normally be possible for them to prove that you stayed in a non-german country for more than 90 days.

This does not necessarily limit you to just one year - you can get up to a 3 year visa issued on the spot, and this can be extended as each visa period elapses, just as long as you can demonstrate that you have income and business activity.

deleted 12y ago
[deleted]

twiecki 12y ago

There is also the blue card (http://www.bluecard-eu.de/ http://www.bluecard-eu.de/) which is pretty easy and quick to get if you have a university degree and a job-offer.

walshemj 12y ago
Bit of a bummer if you are self taught and don't have a degree. I see the rigid stratification of German education is still in force.
- flatfilefan 12y ago
  If you don't have a degree you can still get in (not on blue card) but the salary barrier is higher.

holografix 12y ago

What about Australians?

atroyn 12y ago
I'm an Aussie expat in Berlin since November 2012 - you can apply for a working holiday visa if you're under 30, follow up with a self-employment visa, or if you want to work for a start-up, the visa process is ridiculously easy. The U.S is the pathological case when it comes to visas.
notjosh 12y ago
I'm Australian, and on top of what atroyn said, you also have the option for a "blue card" (http://www.bluecard-eu.de/eu-blue-card-germany/ http://www.bluecard-eu.de/eu-blue-card-germany/) if you're a full-time employee somewhere. It's super easy to get, and it's quite liberal.

holografix 12y ago

What about Australians?

brightsize 12y ago

You can apply, yes, and don't forget to present your formal portfolio and/or business plan, proof of funds to support yourself for the duration, proof of German-equivalent health insurance, and a rental contract on an apartment. I believe you might also need at least a letter from a German company expressing an interest in hiring you as a freelancer. Unfortunately you cannot just show up at the Foreigner's Office, declare yourself a freelancer, and be issued a visa. They're notorious for being sticklers for details but I've not (yet) dealt with them directly. That said, there's something in the Blue Card arrangement that allows one to come here for up to six months as a "job seeker". I believe that when doing that you need "only" provide evidence of self-support, a place to live, and insurance, that latter IIRC need not be conforming to German standards. Also IIRC this visa is non-renewable.

mkal_tsr 12y ago
Yeah, there's a lot of hoops you have to go through, but that also opens up your Schengen Area travel opportunities considerably (for duration at least) if I remember the details correctly.
- brightsize 12y ago
  Citizens of states that are party to the Schengen agreement can travel to any Shengen country without a visa for three months at a time out of every six. I have implicit Schengen status (US citizen) and as far as I know may travel within (Schengen) Europe without any particular permissions, certainly not from the Germany authorities, whoever they might be. In fact, spy agencies aside, the German authorities don't even know that I'm here. I got an entry stamp on my passport in Paris, and did nothing on arrival in Germany (TXL) other than collect my baggage and get a taxi. I'll get an exit stamp in Copenhagen on the way out.
- cameldrv 12y ago
  In theory the schengen visa-free rule of 90 out of 180 days still applies if you're not in Germany. However, since nothing is getting stamped when you cross a border, it would not normally be possible for them to prove that you stayed in a non-german country for more than 90 days.