Germany is slightly different if you register as a freelancer rather than self-employed. As a freelancer you can apply for a 3 year exemption from pension contr

Germany is slightly different if you register as a freelancer rather than self-employed. As a freelancer you can apply for a 3 year exemption from pension contributions when are first registered. Then as long as you don't earn more than 5/6ths of your income from a single client you can remain exempt. Fall foul of that 5/6ths though and you have to pay full whack (half for the first 6 months) which is a whopping 500 EUR per month. It is designed to discourage people who really 'should' be employed, working on long term contracts for a single employer.