3 ms·

I live in Berlin. I have worked, freelanced, and started a company here. Getting a self employment visa if you are in technology is very, very easy, as is findi

by atroyn 11y ago

I live in Berlin. I have worked, freelanced, and started a company here. Getting a self employment visa if you are in technology is very, very easy, as is finding full-time work if that's what you're after. My current permit allows me to stay for four years, with indefinite extension so long as I'm doing work in tech. Starting a company is about on par with the U.S. (I also incorporated in Delaware as a foreigner). There's some beaurocracy where knowledge of the language and the required forms, or else friends to help, is very necessary. Taxes are much simpler, payroll is a little more complicated than in the U.S.

vijayr 11y ago
Thank you. When you say "very very easy", what do you mean? How long did the process take?
- seekingcharlie 11y ago
  I'm on the exact same visa. It took a month from getting to Berlin to getting the visa in my hands. I hired a lady for 800 Euro to help me do all the paperwork, forms etc as it's all in German and I had no friends/family to help me through the translation process. Having done it, I think you could get away with doing it yourself - most speak at least a little bit of English. The paperwork is not really that intensive, but you can often only book appointments 1 month out at the Ausländerbehörde (where they will do your interview & process your visa application). I'm not 100% certain if it's the same process for US (I'm Australian), but roughly I needed: - Registered address in Berlin (It's supposed to be a rental lease, but I had my airbnb host write a letter saying this was my address in Berlin). - Bank statement of savings - 3 references from clients saying that I was being paid X amount each month - Portfolio of work (web designer)
  - atroyn 11y ago
    This is precisely the process I followed (down to being Australian), except I made friends quickly and came to the Ausländerbehörde with a native speaker (and also client) backing me up.
theGREENsuit 11y ago
Would you be able to list some German job boards? And, in your experience, how often is speaking German a requirement? I live in North America, but have dual citizenship from an EU nation. I've wondered about packing up and moving to Europe if the right opportunity came about.
- atroyn 11y ago
  In Berlin, speaking German is not at all a requirement. In Munich, you can get by but you ought to learn. In Stuttgart, better speak German. You're best off researching companies on cruchbase and angel.co, though http://berlinstartupjobs.com/ http://berlinstartupjobs.com/ sometimes lists good opportunities.

by atroyn 11y ago

vijayr 11y ago

Thank you. When you say "very very easy", what do you mean? How long did the process take?

seekingcharlie 11y ago
I'm on the exact same visa. It took a month from getting to Berlin to getting the visa in my hands. I hired a lady for 800 Euro to help me do all the paperwork, forms etc as it's all in German and I had no friends/family to help me through the translation process. Having done it, I think you could get away with doing it yourself - most speak at least a little bit of English. The paperwork is not really that intensive, but you can often only book appointments 1 month out at the Ausländerbehörde (where they will do your interview & process your visa application). I'm not 100% certain if it's the same process for US (I'm Australian), but roughly I needed: - Registered address in Berlin (It's supposed to be a rental lease, but I had my airbnb host write a letter saying this was my address in Berlin). - Bank statement of savings - 3 references from clients saying that I was being paid X amount each month - Portfolio of work (web designer)
- atroyn 11y ago
  This is precisely the process I followed (down to being Australian), except I made friends quickly and came to the Ausländerbehörde with a native speaker (and also client) backing me up.

theGREENsuit 11y ago

Would you be able to list some German job boards? And, in your experience, how often is speaking German a requirement? I live in North America, but have dual citizenship from an EU nation. I've wondered about packing up and moving to Europe if the right opportunity came about.

atroyn 11y ago
In Berlin, speaking German is not at all a requirement. In Munich, you can get by but you ought to learn. In Stuttgart, better speak German. You're best off researching companies on cruchbase and angel.co, though http://berlinstartupjobs.com/ http://berlinstartupjobs.com/ sometimes lists good opportunities.