Germany Freelancer Residence Permit (§21 AufenthG) vs Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
Germany freelancer route: 18 months. Germany other route: $86 fee, 12 months.
One of these visas has limited data on file, so some rows read Not specified. Compare the published fields only.
- Duration
- 18 months
- Income
- $1,223/mo
- Fee
- $86
- Duration
- 12 months
Next steps
Germany Freelancer Residence
Germany Opportunity Card
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Side by side
Germany Freelancer Residence Permit (§21 AufenthG)
Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
Visa type
Status
Initial duration, months
Renewable
Built for
Nationality restrictions
Interview required
Medical exam required
Minimum income, per month
Minimum savings, one time
Minimum investment, one time
Investment types
Application fee, one time
Social Security counts as income
Pension income recognized
Local work permitted
Health insurance required
Local bank account required
Apostille required
US FBI background check required
Certificate of coverage required
Leads to permanent residency
Years to permanent residency
US tax treaty
| Field | Germany Freelancer Residence Permit (§21 AufenthG) | Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) |
|---|---|---|
| Visa type | Freelancer | Other |
| Status | Active | Active |
| Initial duration, months | 18 (Longest initial stay) | 12 |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Built for | Not specified | Digital nomads, Remote employees, Freelancers |
| Nationality restrictions | Open to all nationalities | Non-EU nationals only |
| Field | Germany Freelancer Residence Permit (§21 AufenthG) | Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income, per month | Not specified | $1,223 |
| Minimum savings, one time | Not specified | $1,223 |
| Minimum investment, one time | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Investment types | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Application fee, one time | Not specified | $86 |
| Field | Germany Freelancer Residence Permit (§21 AufenthG) | Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security counts as income | Not specified | No |
| Pension income recognized | No | No |
| Local work permitted | Yes (Local work permitted) | No |
| Field | Germany Freelancer Residence Permit (§21 AufenthG) | Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) |
|---|---|---|
| Interview required | No | No |
| Medical exam required | No | No |
| Field | Germany Freelancer Residence Permit (§21 AufenthG) | Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) |
|---|---|---|
| Leads to permanent residency | Yes | Yes |
| Years to permanent residency | 3 years | Not specified |
| Field | Germany Freelancer Residence Permit (§21 AufenthG) | Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) |
|---|---|---|
| US tax treaty | Not specified | Not specified |
| Field | Germany Freelancer Residence Permit (§21 AufenthG) | Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance required | Yes | Yes |
| Local bank account required | No | No |
| Apostille required | No | No |
| US FBI background check required | No | No |
| Certificate of coverage required | No | No |