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Germany: visas, tax & cost of living

Move to Germany the calm way. Real talk on visas, the freelancer permit, tax residency, the 183-day rule and the cost of living.

Germany: visas, tax & cost of living
Your passport

United KingdomGermany

Your move to Germany on a United Kingdom passport

  • VisitEasyVisa-free entry
  • NomadHardDifficult, indirect route
  • RelocateHardLimited residence routes

Visiting

Visa-free for up to 90 days. Travel on a passport valid for your whole stay, with a return or onward ticket and proof you can support yourself.

Passport validity:Valid at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen, issued within the last 10 years, with at least 2 blank pages; many travellers aim for 6 months validity.

Heads-up:EU Entry/Exit System (EES) began 12 October 2025 with full operation at all Schengen borders by April 2026, replacing passport stamps with biometric entry/exit logging; ETIAS online authorisation (about 20 euros) expected in the last quarter of 2026, mandatory after a transition period around 2027.

At the border:Border police can ask for proof of onward or return travel, sufficient funds, travel insurance and bookings, carried in hand luggage; Germany uses no arrival or landing cards for air travellers.

Working remotely

No dedicated nomad visa; the usual route is a standard residence permit.

Tax and residency

Resident via Wohnsitz (home available) or 183+ days/yr; worldwide income, progressive to 45%.(estimate)

The UK decides residence with its Statutory Residence Test (days in the UK plus your ties). As a non-resident you are usually taxed only on UK income; where one exists, a double-tax treaty with the destination decides who taxes what.

Double-tax treaty:yes, in force since 2010

Practical

Currency:EUR. Cost of living:mid.

Healthcare:Foreigners staying long-term must hold German health insurance through a Krankenkasse, which is a legal condition of the residence permit.

Healthcare agreement:A UK GHIC or still-valid EHIC gives access to medically necessary state healthcare on short visits under the post-Brexit reciprocal arrangement.

Driving:Foreign licences are generally accepted for about six months after taking up residence, after which a German licence is required; an International Driving Permit or certified translation can be needed depending on the issuing country.

Sources: Germany, Federal Foreign Office · GOV.UK: tax on foreign income · HMRC: double-taxation treaties

Estimates, not advice. Confirm with the official sources before you act.

Should you move to Germany?

Germany is the steady, dependable base in the middle of Europe. The job market runs deep, the trains and internet work, healthcare is strong, and cities like Berlin, Munich and Hamburg are properly international. The trade-off is honest: more paperwork than the sunny south, and a quieter, more rule-bound rhythm. If you like things that just function, you will feel at home. If you want spontaneity, this is not that country.

The Germany digital nomad visa and entry routes

There is no German digital nomad visa, and Berlin has shown no sign of building one. What you use instead is the freelancer (Freiberufler) or self-employment residence permit, which covers the same need and, frankly, gives you more: it is issued for up to three years, with a path to permanent residency inside five.

There is no fixed income figure written into law. The immigration office wants to see that you can support yourself, so you bring proof of clients or income, a viability plan, and confirmed health cover. As a working estimate, plan for income in the region of 1,500 euros a month or more, plus a savings cushion (often 10,000 to 15,000 euros), and lean on a German or EU client or two to strengthen the file. EU and EEA citizens skip all of this and move freely. Short visits run on the Schengen 90 days in any 180.

Germany tax residency and the 183-day rule

Two things make you a German tax resident: keeping a home here that is available to you (a Wohnsitz, even a rented flat you barely use), or spending more than 183 days in the country in a calendar year. Cross either line and Germany taxes your worldwide income on a progressive scale that climbs to 45 percent. Health insurance is mandatory, not optional. The cost of living is moderate by Western European standards, though Munich and central Berlin are not cheap. A realistic single-person budget lands somewhere around 2,000 to 2,800 euros a month once you add rent, insurance and the patient grind of German admin.

Figures are estimates, so always check the official source linked below.

At a glance

Currency
EUR
Cost of living
Moderate
Digital-nomad visa
No
Tax & residency
Resident via Wohnsitz (home available) or 183+ days/yr; worldwide income, progressive to 45%.

Frequently asked questions

Germany: is there a digital nomad visa?
No dedicated digital nomad visa; most people use a standard residence permit instead.
Germany: when do you become a tax resident?
Resident via Wohnsitz (home available) or 183+ days/yr; worldwide income, progressive to 45%.
Germany: what is the cost of living?
The cost of living is moderate and the local currency is the EUR. Treat any figures as estimates.
Germany: do you need health insurance?
Foreigners staying long-term must hold German health insurance through a Krankenkasse, which is a legal condition of the residence permit.
Germany: can you drive on a foreign licence?
Foreign licences are generally accepted for about six months after taking up residence, after which a German licence is required; an International Driving Permit or certified translation can be needed depending on the issuing country.

Terms worth knowing

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Put it to work

Last verified: 2026-06-24

Sources: Germany — Federal Foreign Office

Voymo gives general information to help you organise your move. It is not legal, tax, or immigration advice, always confirm with an official source or a qualified professional before you act.

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