Residence permit for the purpose of freelance or self-employment - extension

• Possession of a valid Aufenthaltserlaubnis (residence permit) for self-employed or freelance activity under Section 21 of the Aufenthaltsgesetz (Residence Act, AufenthG) The application for extension can be submitted at the earliest 4 months before the Aufenthaltserlaubnis (residence permit) expires. • Your livelihood is permanently and sufficiently secured through your self-employed or freelance activity • Adequate provision for old age (only if you have already turned 45) As of 1 July 2025, the following applies: Looking ahead, by the time you turn 67 you must be able to show • either a monthly pension of 1,612.53 euros (for at least 12 years) • or assets of 232,204.00 euros. Proof of old-age provision is waived for nationals of the following countries: Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. • Sufficient health insurance www.berlin.de/einwanderung/_assets/merkblatt_zur_krankenvers You are covered by health insurance in Germany, either through statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) or comparable private health insurance. Foreign health insurance is generally not sufficient. For more information, please read the Merkblatt (information sheet). • No grounds for expulsion (kein Ausweisungsinteresse) • Even fines or an ongoing investigation (Ermittlungsverfahren) can prevent the granting of the Aufenthaltserlaubnis (residence permit). • You pose no threat to the free democratic basic order (freiheitliche demokratische Grundordnung) or the security of the Federal Republic of Germany. • In pursuit of political or religious goals, you are not involved in acts of violence, do not publicly call for the use of violence, and do not threaten to do so. • Main residence in Berlin A secondary residence in Berlin is not sufficient. • Current email address The Landesamt für Einwanderung (State Office for Immigration) will contact you using your current email address. Please also check your spam folder regularly. • For online applications: consent to the electronic payment procedure The following payment methods are available to you: • Credit card (Visa, Mastercard) • PayPal

Application for extension of the residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) for self-employed or freelance activity • only possible online • You will receive a PDF document confirming your application. This certifies that your current residence permit remains valid in the federal territory beyond its previous expiry date. This does not apply if the residence permit had already expired on the day the application was submitted. • Please be sure to save this document and, if possible, also print it out. • If the application is submitted by an authorized representative: power of attorney (Vollmacht) stating the subject matter of the proceedings • Copy of your current residence permit • Copies of your passport (in colour) • Entrepreneurs and self-employed persons (residence permit under Section 21 (1), (2a) or (2b) of the Aufenthaltsgesetz [Residence Act, AufenthG]): "Prüfungsbericht" (examination report) form • The completed examination report must be prepared by a tax advisor (Steuerberater), auditor (Wirtschaftsprüfer), or a lawyer with relevant professional experience (e.g. as a certified specialist lawyer for tax law, Fachanwalt für Steuerrecht). • It should generally bear an official round stamp (Rundstempel). • Together with the documents listed in the examination report • Freelancers (residence permit under Section 21 (5) AufenthG): proof of means of subsistence (in the original) Freelancers do not need to submit an examination report. The following documents are required to prove secure means of subsistence: • most recent tax assessment notice (Steuerbescheid) and a net profit calculation prepared by a tax advisor, • bank statements for the last 6 months showing a regular inflow of funds from the freelance activity, • invoices/statements, e.g. with gallery owners and auction houses, and • proof of future contracts • proof of other regular income for example own assets or maintenance payments • If you are self-employed: extract from the commercial register (Handelsregisterauszug) or trade registration (Gewerbeanmeldung) • If your profession requires registration with a professional chamber (Standeskammer): chamber registration (Kammereintrag) • If you work as a freelancer: proof of registration as a freelancer with the competent tax office (Finanzamt) • Proof of your health insurance • for statutory health insurance: current confirmation from the health insurance provider stating the contribution to be paid, or proof of registration with the Künstlersozialkasse (Artists' Social Insurance Fund) • for private health insurance: certificate from the insurer regarding the scope and cost of the insurance under Section 257 (2a) of the SGB V (Social Code Book V, Sozialgesetzbuch V). Please inform your insurer that you need the certificate for a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) for gainful employment. • Rental agreement or proof of home ownership (in the original) • Housing costs (in the original) Proof of monthly rental costs (current bank statement) or costs of the property you live in; each in the original.

• Audit report form ("Prüfungsbericht") for entrepreneurs and self-employed persons www.berlin.de/einwanderung/_assets/pruefungsbericht_bis.docx

• 49.00 euros: for issuance of the residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) as a sticker • 93.00 euros: for issuance of the residence permit as an electronic residence permit • 27.60 euros: for Turkish nationals up to the completed age of 24 • 46.00 euros: for Turkish nationals from the completed age of 24 • 6.00 euros (additional): for creating a digital passport photo at the self-service terminal on site

• Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 21 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__21.html

A residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) as a sticker can be issued directly on site at the appointment (Termin). If issued as an electronic residence permit (eAT), it takes 4-6 weeks before it can be collected.

• Niederlassungserlaubnis für Selbstständige (Dienstleistung) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/326564/en/ • Permanent settlement permit for Freelancers (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/121864/en/

This service can only be used at the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA, State Office for Immigration) at the Friedrich-Krause-Ufer location.