A Soft-landing for Digital Nomad in Germany Part 2

Germany is, at least to my mind as a person who lives here, one of the safest places for digital nomads to live and work. With low crime rates, efficient healthcare systems, and a strong social safety net, it’s a great “home base.” Whether you are in a city or out in the country, German culture prioritizes safety and well-being for everyone. Germany is also a very open and tolerant society, so living and working in Germany is a safe and comfortable experience for LGBTQIA2S+ digital nomads as well.

All of this being said, however, I would tell digital nomads of all identities the same thing I tell my 18-year-old son: make good choices and don’t be stupid–i.e., be conscious of your surroundings; if someone or something strikes you as odd or makes you uncomfortable, leave; lock your doors at night, etc.. Living in Germany is really no different than living in any other safe place in the world.

Although Germany does not yet have an official “digital nomad” visa, there are two types of visas which are appropriate for digital nomads who are not EU residents and want to stay in Germany longer than the 90 days allowed by the Schengen Treaty.

You can apply for a one-year freelancer visa (“Freiberufler”) or a three-year visa for self-employed people (“Selbständiger"), although you must apply for them at the German Embassy in your home country. Both visas require you to pay an application fee as well as prove your income and/or means of support for the duration of the visa. You will also need to prove that you have insurance coverage. German bureaucracy is not the fastest but individual bureaucrats are quite friendly.

Conclusion:

And finally, in case this sounds too good to be true, I promise you it isn’t because I’ve been living and working in Germany for the past four years. My name is Helen, I hold a Ph.D. in English, and I’m an American, having grown up about 50 miles (80km) from the Canadian border. My husband wants to live closer to the water, though, so we’re moving to Austria in the fall and then I‘ll be able to tell you all about life as an “Austrian” digital nomad!

But one last plug for Germany before I move: it’s a fantastic location for digital nomads, thanks to its perfect blend of infrastructure, culture, work environment, and lifestyle. Whether you are an urban person who thrives off the energy of vibrant cities or someone who prefers the tranquility of scenic landscapes, you will find tons of opportunities for both personal and professional growth. Once your visa expires, you might even decide to apply for permanent residence! That’s another blog entry, though…