Can I move to Germany for 1 year to test how it is, with a remote job?

Question

I have a remote job since 1 year, and I'm earning 5000 USD a month. In my future plans, I would like to go to Germany to see what it is like to live there.

Is there a chance to go for one year or more while keeping my remote job?

I am not an EU citizen and I don't have a job offer there, and I don't have an university degree (or I do, but 3 years, half term degree for a 5 years career in Information Systems (IT)). I'm already taking German language classes.

I have two children and the reason for the 1 year is so that they can be there the entire school year. They are currently attending a German school in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Answer 1

The main issue would be that one needs to have a reason to apply for residence permit in Germany.

If one wants be working in Germany as employee (does not matter remote or not), the company should follow German laws, i.e. pay social and medical insurance, and some kind of registration. If one's company can do it, then one can try to get a residence permit for the purpose of working.

Alternatively, one can become a contractor/freelancer. In that case, one can apply for residence permit for freelancers, §21 (5) AufenthG.

Finally, one can be employed through some payroll company, which is located in Germany.

However, I'm not a lawyer, and I do not have too much experience with getting residence permits for freelancers or foreign companies hiring employees in Germany. I would suggest you to ask a lawyer specialised on immigration law (many of them now work remotely and also speak English) and/or the corresponding consulate for details.

Answer 2

I have made initial and renewal applications for an "Aufenthaltserlaubnis" (residence permit) while working as a postdoc. I believe the permitting process is essentially the same as far as the "Ausländeramt" (Foreigners' Office) is concerned.

The public employee reviewing your materials is ultimately going to have a fair amount of discretion, but

1. You must have German health insurance (Krankenversicherung) - your US or travel insurance is not acceptable
2. You have to have an address (there is a formal requirement to register your address every time you move - "Meldepflicht")
3. You need to demonstrate that you can finance yourself: this is somewhat subjective and may be a combination of a current work contract with stated wages, current bank statements, some other kind of grant or funding, etc.

I actually have a spare, blank form for the next renewal, so I scanned it so that you can see exactly what is asked of you (and they'll want evidence for all of it!): German Residence Application N.B. Mine is from Aachen, where I live but I think the process is nationally more or less consistent.