Can I do contract work while on a family reunion visa?

Most FRV holders are allowed to work with free access to the labour market. What does your visa specify (check the entry in your passport or other peperwork you received)?

If so, you can do freelance work, but are subject to the same licensing, registration, accountancy and taxation requirements as any other freelancer in Germany - and that is a lot of paperwork, for which you have to engage (costly) professionals if you are less than fluent in buerocratic German. Furthermore, you have to bear all costs of compulsory insurances and other fees from your own pocket (health insurance alone will cost you at least 170 €/month). Altogether, this makes freelance work inattractive for most foreigners.

Hi Beppi, thank you for the detailed response! My visa says "family reunification, employment permitted, duration of stay corresponds to validity".