GermanyIn person

Residence permit in Germany for remote workers (the equivalent of a Digital Nomad Visa)

The German equivalent of a digital nomad visa (Digital Nomad Visa) — for people working remotely from the country for foreign employers. Contract + income.

Price

On request

Best for

Digital nomads

Timeline

2–4 months

Tax

—

Format

In person

This is the equivalent of a digital nomad visa — Germany has no separate legal category under that name

Unlike Spain, Portugal or Cyprus, Germany has no codified programme for remote employees of a foreign employer. The legal basis for such cases is the discretionary provision §19c AufenthG (“other purposes of employment”), on which the particular Ausländerbehörde decides case by case, with no single set income threshold and no clear entitlement to the permit. We call it “the equivalent of a Digital Nomad Visa” so that it is clear which task it solves — not because Germany has a visa under that official name.

The decision is discretionary — the outcome and the timeline are less predictable

Since §19c(3) AufenthG requires justification of a “public, regional, economic or labour-market policy interest” in each case rather than granting an automatic right, the 60–120 days stated on the site should be presented as a guide rather than a guarantee — practice differs noticeably between one Ausländerbehörde and another.

What the service includes

Scope: a tick means included in the price, a cross means billed separately
	Preparing the justification
	Anmeldung
	Filing with the Ausländerbehörde
	Ongoing support
	Finding an employer— billed separately

What we need from you

1A contract with a foreign employer
2Proof of income
3A passport

Frequently asked questions

Is this an official digital nomad visa, as in Spain or Portugal?

No. Germany has no separate state programme for digital nomads. The permit is arranged through the general discretionary provision §19c AufenthG, “other purposes of employment”, and is decided at the discretion of the particular authority.

What income is needed for approval?

No fixed threshold is set in law — the Ausländerbehörde assesses each case individually, usually looking at whether the income is enough to live on without claiming social assistance.

What can be done if the local authority refuses?

Since a decision under §19c AufenthG is discretionary rather than guaranteed by right, a refusal is possible without any breach of the law. In that situation it is worth considering the freelancer visa (Freiberufler) as a more robust alternative, if the client’s activity allows it.

Sources

Gesetze-im-Internet.de — the official text of §19c AufenthG (the legal basis for cases without an established category)

Residence permit in Germany: comparison

The difference is not the price — it is who each option suits. The “Best for” column is the business profile the option is built around.

Option	Best for	Timeline	Price from
Residence permit in Germany for remote workers (the equivalent of a Digital Nomad Visa)you are here	Tech employees with a foreign contract, digital nomads	2–4 months	on request
Chancenkarte in Germany (the opportunity card)	Qualified professionals, looking for work in Germany	2–4 months	on request
EU Blue Card in Germany	IT specialists, engineers, doctors, researchers	2–3 months	on request
Fachkräfte — residence permit for qualified professionals in Germany	Mid-level technical staff, nurses, construction workers, electricians	3–5 months	on request
Freiberufler — freelancer residence permit in Germany	IT freelancers, designers, consultants, journalists	2–4 months	on request
Residence permit in Germany through family reunification	Families moving to join a sponsor, children under 18 joining their parents	3–6 months	on request
Relocation of IT teams to Germany	IT companies, startups, corporate HR	3–6 months	on request

Ready to start?

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