Updated on May 2, 2026
Extend the residence permit for self-employment or freelance activity
Extend your residence permit and continue working legally as a self-employed person or freelancer in Germany.
At a glance
How do you extend your residence permit as a self-employed person or freelancer?
Are you working in Germany as a self-employed person or freelancer? Then you can have your residence permit extended. You can extend it if your activity is successful and brings in enough income on a permanent basis. The State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung) decides on a case-by-case basis.
You can submit the application at the earliest 4 months before your residence permit expires. Submit it on time: if you submit the application before the expiry date, your residence permit remains valid during the review. If it has already expired, this no longer applies. Note: After 3 years of self-employment you can apply for an unlimited settlement permit. As a freelancer you can obtain it at the earliest after 5 years.
For the extension, you need to meet several requirements. You must have your main residence in Berlin — a secondary residence is not enough. You need health insurance in Germany, so either statutory insurance or a comparable private one. A foreign health insurance is generally not enough. There must also be no grounds for expulsion against you. Even fines or an ongoing criminal investigation can prevent the extension. If you are already 45 years old, you also have to provide proof of an adequate pension provision. You then have to show that, by age 67, you will have either a monthly pension of at least 1,612.53 euros (for at least 12 years) or assets of at least 232,204.00 euros. This rule has applied since 01.07.2025. For nationals of the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, this proof is waived.
You submit the application online. Prepare your documents as PDFs if possible. You can also photograph them with your smartphone and upload them. PDF, JPG, JPEG and PNG files are permitted. A single file may be a maximum of 7 MB. All files together may not exceed 100 MB. You can pause the application at any time and continue later. Before submitting, you have to pay the processing fee — by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) or PayPal. At the end you receive a PDF confirmation. Be sure to save and print it out.
After application, the Landesamt für Einwanderung reviews your documents and contacts you as soon as possible. If needed, the Landesamt für Einwanderung will request further documents. With a positive decision, you''ll get an appointment at the Landesamt für Einwanderung. Bring along all the documents listed in the invitation letter. The Landesamt für Einwanderung will contact you via your email address — also check your spam folder regularly.
Requirements
Who qualifies?
- You can apply for the extension if you hold a valid residence permit for self-employment or freelance activity under § 21 AufenthG, have your main residence in Berlin, and secure your livelihood permanently from your activity.
- If you are 45 years old or older, you also have to provide proof of an adequate pension provision: from age 67 you need either a monthly pension of at least 1,612.53 euros (for at least 12 years) or assets of at least 232,204.00 euros. This obligation has applied since 01.07.2025. If you are a national of the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines or Sri Lanka, this proof is waived.
- There must be no grounds for expulsion: fines, ongoing criminal investigations, threats to the free democratic basic order, or involvement in politically or religiously motivated violence can prevent the extension.
Additional requirements
- You have to be insured for health in Germany – either through statutory insurance or a comparable private health insurance. A foreign health insurance is generally not enough.
- You can submit the application at the earliest 4 months before your residence permit expires. To submit the application online, you must consent to the electronic payment process. You can pay by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or PayPal.
- You need a current email address so the State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung) can reach you. Check your spam folder regularly as well.
How to apply
At the earliest 4 months before your residence permit expires, check whether you meet all the requirements: main residence in Berlin, valid health insurance in Germany, no grounds for expulsion and – if you are 45 years old or older – an adequate pension provision
Put together all required documents: copy of your current residence permit, colour passport copies, proof of health insurance, rental contract or proof of home ownership and a current bank statement showing rental costs – plus, depending on your activity, the completed audit report (for self-employed people) or tax assessment notice, net profit calculation, bank statements from the past 6 months and proof of orders (for freelancers)
Prepare your documents as PDF, JPG, JPEG or PNG – individual files maximum 7 MB, all files together maximum 100 MB
Submit your application online to the State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung) and pay the processing fee by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or PayPal – be sure to save and print out the PDF confirmation at the end
Wait for the response from the Landesamt für Einwanderung by email – check your spam folder regularly as well, and if needed submit further requested documents
Done! With a positive decision, the Landesamt für Einwanderung invites you to a personal appointment – bring along all the documents listed in the invitation letter and receive your extended residence permit
Extension of the residence permit as a sticker
- Extension of the residence permit as an electronic residence title (eAT)93,00 EUR
- Extension of the residence permit for Turkish nationals up to age 2427,60 EUR
- Extension of the residence permit for Turkish nationals aged 24 and over46,00 EUR
- Creation of a digital passport photo at the on-site self-service terminal (additional)6,00 EUR
Good to know
Your residence permit contains a resolutory condition. If you end your self-employment, your residence title expires automatically. Receiving social benefits under SGB II or SGB XII also leads to expiry.
Erlischt mit Beendigung der selbstständigen Tätigkeit als ____________________. Erlischt mit dem Bezug von Leistungen nach dem SGB II oder SGB XII bzw. AsylbLG
VAB A.21, S. 249-261
After three years of successful self-employment, you can receive a settlement permit. The authority decides on a case-by-case basis. However, this path does not apply to freelancers under paragraph 5.
Bei Freiberuflern -insbesondere Künstlern und Sprachlehrern- kommt der § 21 Abs.4 S.2 ausweislich des § 21 Abs.5 S. 4 nicht in Betracht. Nach fünf Jahren greift der gesetzliche Anspruchstatbestand des § 9 Abs.2.
VAB A.21, S. 249-261
Do you have a residence permit as a freelancer under paragraph 5? Then you do not need an audit report. Other evidence such as tax assessments, bank statements, or a net profit calculation is sufficient.
Für die Verlängerung einer AE nach § 21 Abs.5 ist die Vorlage eines Prüfberichts nicht erforderlich.
VAB A.21, S. 249-261
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Extend the residence permit for self-employment or freelance activity
A residence permit as a sticker can be issued on site at the appointment. If issued as an electronic residence title (eAT), it takes 4–6 weeks until it can be collected.
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