New practice at the State Office for Immigration: Freelancers now have to upload an earnings forecast – without prior notice on the website.

Anyone currently applying online for a Residence permit for freelance work at The State Office for Immigration (LEA) generally follows the published checklist conscientiously: Passport , rental agreement, proof of Health insurance information and a job description are uploaded, then you wait for an appointment. It is precisely at this point that more and more of our clients are currently experiencing an unpleasant surprise: The online portal now also requires a so-called earnings forecast – a document that has not previously been listed as required anywhere on the official website. This change is new, it was not communicated, and it can have serious consequences. Self-employed individuals whose deadlines are expiring can become a serious problem.

What specific changes have been made to the online application process for freelancers?

For the past few weeks, the upload form of the LEA for applications for a A residence permit for self-employment or freelance work under Section 21 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) now includes an additional mandatory field: the earnings forecast. This affects members of the traditional liberal professions as well as... IT specialists and Software developers , consultants, designers and Artists who are known as Those wishing to become freelancers are faced with a new challenge . The publicly accessible checklist on the state office's website, however, still only lists the "classic" documents: business plan, proof of orders, qualification certificates, and proof of financing. The LEA (State Office for Economic Affairs) already requires a separate earnings forecast in its processing practice – regardless of whether this document is listed on the website. Therefore, anyone who strictly adheres to the published list risks having their otherwise complete application rejected as incomplete.

What exactly is a profit forecast – and how does it differ from a business plan?

Unlike a traditional business plan, which usually describes the business idea, target group, and strategy in text form, a profit forecast is a concrete, figures-based prediction of expected revenues and expenses – typically for the first two to three fiscal years. It should include realistic information on hourly or daily rates, anticipated capacity utilization, existing orders or letters of intent from customers, and a resulting revenue and profit forecast in euros, broken down by quarter or year. Freelancers from the USA , For those in Great Britain or Canada, where documentation requirements are often significantly less stringent in their home countries, this level of detail initially seems unusual – however, it has become standard practice in German administration.

Why doesn't this new requirement appear on the website?

This gap between the official checklist and actual processing practice is not an isolated case, but a pattern we know from hundreds of supported procedures: Internal processing guidelines and service instructions of the Immigration authorities often change their procedures faster than their publicly accessible website can be updated. Case workers follow current internal guidelines that are not accessible to applicants. Legally, this is not a contradiction: According to Section 82 Paragraph 1 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG), applicants are obligated to represent their own interests and provide the necessary documentation – the published list of required documents is always only a guide, not an exhaustive list. Anyone relying solely on the website is therefore relying on a document without binding effect.

What is the legal basis for the earnings forecast?

For self-employed and Section 21 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) requires freelancers to demonstrate an economic interest or regional need, that the activity is expected to have a positive impact on the economy, and that financing for its implementation is secured. While Section 21 Paragraph 5 of the Residence Act grants members of the liberal professions certain simplifications compared to commercial start-ups, the general obligation under Section 5 Paragraph 1 Number 1 of the Residence Act remains unaffected. A secure livelihood must be credibly demonstrated. This credible demonstration is precisely the function of the earnings forecast: it is intended to prove that the freelance activity will actually generate sufficient income to which promises a secure livelihood , instead of relying solely on wishful thinking.

What happens if the earnings forecast is missing or unconvincing?

If the document is missing, the application is usually marked as incomplete and the process is suspended until a written request for further information is answered, often within a deadline of only two to four weeks. This creates real legal uncertainty for individuals whose current residence permit is already expiring. If the submitted revenue forecast is not convincing in terms of content—for example, because the figures appear unrealistic or no reliable basis for the contract is apparent—this can even lead to a rejection, because the A secure livelihood is then considered not credibly demonstrated. Those who submit the application entirely on their own or rely solely on generic templates and legal tech platforms inevitably base their decisions on what is publicly documented – and thus overlook precisely the requirements that only become apparent in the ongoing processing practice. From our consulting experience, we know that employers who rely on a specific Software developer or consultant as Freelancers who rely on such delays are feeling the economic impact significantly.

How should freelancers and self-employed people proceed now?

We recommend submitting the revenue forecast proactively from the outset, ensuring it meets the quality standards expected by current processing practices, rather than waiting for a potential request for additional information and thereby losing weeks. This applies particularly to Freelancers from the USA , Great Britain and Canada, whose procedures are often initially considered The visa application process for self-employment begins at the responsible German embassy or consulate and only takes effect after entry into Germany. LEA into a The residence permit is transferred. This also applies to those who already have one. Opportunity map in Germany lives and in Anyone wishing to change their self-employment status should factor in this new practice from the outset. It is also advisable to inquire specifically about the current status of the required documents before submitting an application, rather than relying solely on the published list.

Conclusion

The case of the earnings forecast exemplifies that administrative practice in this regard The State Office for Immigration is sometimes ahead of public communication. An application that appears complete according to the checklist for However, a residence permit for freelance work can still be delayed because a key requirement simply hasn't been published. Freelancers and Self-employed individuals – especially from the USA , In the UK and Canada, published document lists should therefore be considered a minimum standard, not a guarantee, and a reliable revenue forecast should be provided from the outset. We support freelancers and companies through the current LEA (Local Assessment Authority) procedures to ensure that an unannounced request doesn't lead to months of delay.