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Change of status from full-time to part-time freelance and the impact to my visa
Hello,
I found this community very helpful and others' experiences could apply to some aspects of my experience.
I am currently in a confusing situation, I was employed full-time as a data analyst since 2021. My contract is changed into a part-time consultancy contract as of 1 April 2025, ending on September 2025. I currently have an active EU Blue Card until June 2025, which I understood can't be used for a freelance activity. I think I could be eligible for a freelance visa (I also welcome other advice and recommendations that fit to my situation!)
Furthermore, I am currently registered in Berlin, but I plan to move to Hannover as soon as possible. My questions are:
- Should I tell Arbeitsagentur regarding the change of status and is my situation a ground for unemployment benefits?
- Do you think it is a good idead to move to Hannover, register there, then apply for a freelance visa? Like is it a problem because my EU Blue Card was issued in Berlin, but I may not be able to continue paying for my residence in Berlin
- Do I have to first get the phyiscal freelance visa before creating an enterprise?
- What if I start working as a freelance before I apply for the visa, is it allowed?
- Should I and the employer tell the Ausländerbehörde before I apply for the freelance visa in Hannover?
Thank you in advance, your help would mean so much to me!
1 Comments
Hello @TapiocaBoba
Thank you for reaching out and trusting our platform!
Regarding your first question, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits if you are unemployed, have registered as unemployed at your local employment office and have paid unemployment insurance for 12 of the last 30 months. Make sure to register at least three months before your employment ends. Changing your status from full time to part time freelancer may affect your eligibility for unemployment benefits.
To work as a freelancer, you will need a residence permit that allows self-employment. This could be a residence permit according to 21 AufethG or a permanent residence permit. Since you hold an EU Blue Card you may apply for permanent residence permit after 27 months of residence in Germany, as long as you have worked during that time in qualified employment, made contributions to a pension insurance scheme and have basic knowledge of the German language A1. In case you have a B1 certificate you may apply for a permanent residence permit after 21 months of residence. Since you have been working in Germany since 2021, you likely meet the requirements to apply for the permanent residence permit.
Regarding the requirements to apply for a residence permit for freelance employment, you can check the derails here: https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/328332/en/
Moving to Hannover and applying for the residence permit for a freelance employment is possible, but there are several factors to consider. Since we cannot give legal advice, we strongly recommend consulting a migration advisory centre. As long as you are in Berlin, you can contact BEMA for assistance: https://bema.berlin/
We also recommend that you read more about how to start a freelancing in Germany. You can find useful information here:
https://handbookgermany.de/en/self-employment
I hope this information helps you
Best wishes,
Osama