Is there a digital nomad visa for Germany?
No – Germany has no dedicated, officially named "digital nomad visa". Neither the Residence Act (AufenthG) nor the practice of local immigration authorities (Ausländerbehörden) recognizes such a visa category. Searches for "digital nomad visa Germany" mostly return guides from private relocation agencies – not an official German visa class.
For long-term living and working in Germany as a freelancer, self-employed person, or remote employee, three existing but distinct instruments apply instead: the residence permit for freelance activity under Section 21(5) of the Residence Act, the EU Blue Card for employees with a German employment contract, and the 90/180-day rule under Schengen law for short stays without a residence permit. None of these instruments was created for "digital nomads", but all three are applied to that situation in practice.
The path for freelancers: Section 21(5) of the Residence Act
Anyone wanting to work permanently from Germany as a freelancer or self-employed person – for example as a software developer, consultant, or designer with foreign or German clients – can apply for a residence permit under Section 21 of the Residence Act. The law distinguishes two cases: Section 21(1) for business founders setting up a company, and Section 21(5) for freelance activity in the narrower sense.
The statute for Section 21(5) reads: a residence permit for freelance activity may be granted "abweichend von Absatz 1" (as an exception to subsection 1), and any required professional licence must already have been granted or promised. Critically, Section 21(5) expressly excludes the application of Section 21(4) – meaning the rule that lets business founders qualify for a settlement permit after three years of successful self-employment does not automatically apply to freelancers in the same form.
Additionally, under Section 21(3): applicants older than 45 "should" only be granted the residence permit if they can show adequate old-age pension provision. This requirement applies to both business founders and freelancers. According to the official "Make it in Germany" portal run by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), freelancers must also demonstrate "sufficient funds to finance their projects" and hold any professional licences required for their specific activity.
The path for employees: the EU Blue Card
Anyone who is not self-employed but employed by a company in Germany – even if the work is entirely remote – can apply for the EU Blue Card instead. According to "Make it in Germany", this requires a concrete job offer of at least six months, matching the applicant's academic qualification, with a gross annual salary of at least €50,700 (as of 2026). For shortage occupations, a lower gross annual salary of at least €45,934.20 is sufficient, provided the Federal Employment Agency has approved the employment.
Important distinction: the EU Blue Card is explicitly tied to an employment relationship with a company in Germany – it is not a substitute for a freelance visa, and not an option for someone who remains employed exclusively by a foreign employer without signing a German employment contract. Anyone in that situation instead falls under the short-stay rules described below, or needs to move to a German employment contract.
Remote work on a short stay: the 90/180-day rule
Anyone employed by a foreign company who, without a German residence permit, only wants to work remotely from Germany temporarily – for example during a workation – operates under the regular Schengen short-stay framework. According to the European Commission's official "Your Europe" citizens' portal: "The EU has a common set of visa rules which apply to short stays (that is up to 90 days in any 180-day period)… These rules apply in 29 European countries: 25 EU countries… Germany…"
This 90/180-day limit is purely a stay-duration rule, not a work permit. It caps how long a person may stay in Germany (and across the entire Schengen area) in total without requiring a residence permit – it does not govern whether or how remote work may be carried out. Nationals of many non-EU countries can stay visa-free within this limit; independently of that, the social security and tax treatment of the activity still needs separate assessment – for example via the A1 certificate for postings within the EU/EEA, or the general workation principles.
Freelance visa, EU Blue Card, and short stay compared
| Feature | Freelance visa (Section 21(5)) | EU Blue Card | Short stay (90/180 days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Self-employed, freelancers with own clients | Employees with a German employment contract | Remote employees of foreign employers, no German contract |
| Legal basis | Section 21(5) Residence Act | Section 18g Residence Act / EU Directive 2021/1883 | Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EU) 2016/399) |
| Salary threshold | None fixed; sufficient funds required | €50,700 gross/year (shortage occupations: €45,934.20, as of 2026) | None – no German work authorization at all |
| Work in Germany allowed? | Yes, as a freelancer | Yes, for the Blue Card employer | No – no German work authorization; work remains for the foreign employer |
| Maximum duration | Up to 3 years, renewable | Tied to contract duration, renewable | 90 days per 180-day period |
What this means for employers
For HR and global mobility teams, the absence of a German digital nomad visa creates a clear order of checks: first, determine whether the person will be self-employed as a freelancer in Germany (Section 21(5)), employed by a German legal entity (EU Blue Card or another regular residence permit), or on a short workation as an employee of a foreign (often the same German) employer staying within the 90/180-day limit. Second, assess social security separately: for postings within the EU/EEA/Switzerland, the A1 certificate governs which country's system applies; for third-country nationals coming to work in Germany, German rules on social security liability for domestic employment apply instead.
For companies looking to bring foreign talent or freelancers into Germany, the key takeaway is: there is no ready-made "digital nomad visa" product to simply apply for – every situation needs individual classification into one of the three existing procedures. Tools like premote help capture country-specific special cases like this systematically alongside familiar EU A1 cases, and track days of stay automatically.
FAQ
Is there an official digital nomad visa for Germany?
No. Germany has no dedicated "digital nomad visa" category. Freelancers instead use the residence permit under Section 21(5) of the Residence Act; employees with a German employment contract use the EU Blue Card.
How long can I work remotely from Germany for a foreign employer without needing a residence permit?
Within the Schengen 90/180-day rule, a stay without a residence permit is possible – but this only governs the length of stay, not the social security or tax treatment of the activity itself.
Can I work remotely for a foreign employer while holding an EU Blue Card?
No. The EU Blue Card requires a concrete employment contract with a company in Germany – it is not an instrument for people who remain exclusively employed by a foreign employer.
From what age does a special requirement apply for the freelance visa?
From age 45, Section 21(3) of the Residence Act requires proof of adequate old-age pension provision – this applies to both business founders (subsection 1) and freelancers (subsection 5).
What is the EU Blue Card salary threshold for 2026?
At least €50,700 gross per year; for shortage occupations approved by the Federal Employment Agency, at least €45,934.20 (as of 2026, according to "Make it in Germany").
The information provided on this website does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to address any legal issues or problems that may arise in individual cases. The information on this website is of a general nature and is provided for informational purposes only. If you need legal advice for your individual situation, you should seek the advice of a qualified attorney.
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