Working remotely outside Germany with a german Blue Card?

Member since 22 March 2021

StrawberryCoderMember22 March 2021 18:37:02

Hi all,

One that is a German resident (w/ Blue Card), that has a job in Germany, pays rent and taxes each month but is physically else-where (outside EU, in Europe) for most of the year (working remotely).

Is this all fine, legal-wise? Are there any restriction to do this?

beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

Member since 08 August 2010

Germany & Singapore Expert

beppiGermany/Singapore Expert22 March 2021 21:30:50

15584

There are no German restrictions to this - one can only comment on the stupidity of paying rent, taxes, etc. while not being there.
But the country are actually living and working in might (actually, in almost all cases: will) require a residence and wok visa for it - and the right to tax the income thus generated.
In most jurisdictions, you'd be classed as self-employed in this case, which does not make things easier to get the formalities right. But everything else is illegal.

TominStuttgart Germany Expert

Member since 19 March 2012

TominStuttgartGermany Expert23 March 2021 05:48:55

2793

beppi wrote:
There are no German restrictions to this - one can only comment on the stupidity of paying rent, taxes, etc. while not being there.
But the country are actually living and working in might (actually, in almost all cases: will) require a residence and wok visa for it - and the right to tax the income thus generated.
In most jurisdictions, you'd be classed as self-employed in this case, which does not make things easier to get the formalities right. But everything else is illegal.

Even with a blue card, the first 3 years will usually be a limited residency permit that only allows one to be up to 6 months outside of the country. Not that one is not allowed to travel abroad but there is a specific limit. Otherwise, the permit will be conditioned abandoned. Having a registered residence and paying rent is necessary but not the only conditions to maintaining a legal presence. If one goes beyond these 6 months and officials find out about it, one can lose their residency and blue card. I don't really understand the statement that there are no restrictions on this!?