Freelancers moving to Germany

The self-employment residence permit, the Freiberufler-Gewerbe distinction, health insurance costs, Scheinselbständigkeit risks, and what Indians actually earn freelancing here.

The mandatory address registration. How to book it, what to bring, what goes wrong, and how to survive the wait in Berlin and Munich.

Public vs private, which provider to choose, what it actually costs, and the rules that catch Indians off guard.

N26, DKB, Sparkasse, or something else. What you need, what each one actually does, and the trap of debit-first culture.

DTAA, Steuer-ID vs Steuernummer, what to claim, which app to use, and when you actually need a Steuerberater.

The four pillars of German Sozialversicherung — pension, health, unemployment, and care insurance. What Indians pay, what they get, and what happens to contributions when they move back to India.

Can you freelance on the side of your German job? The €410 exemption, when to register a Gewerbe, how side income is taxed, and what your work permit allows.

Abmeldung, final tax return, pension refund, closing bank accounts, GKV cancellation, shipping, Indian customs rules, and OCI status when leaving Germany.

How to invest in ETFs as an Indian in Germany. Depot account options, the 26.375% Abgeltungsteuer, Freistellungsauftrag, Vorabpauschale, and what to do with Indian mutual funds and NRE accounts.