Red Tape Translation

Do you need help with German bureaucracy?

Do you want to get married in Berlin?
Or start a freelance business in Germany?
Have you got a visa appointment soon?
Are you an artist trying to join the KSK?

Visas. Residence permits. Starting a business. Freelancing. Family.

Talk to an expert and get reliable advice.

Book a 60-min call

My experience with Kathleen has been fantastic. She gave me plenty of useful advice and insights on matters regarding my personal and freelancing life in Berlin. Talking to her also heightened my motivation to get all the (dreadful!) administrative tasks done. I would definitely hire her again and happily recommend her services to my friends. Thank you, Kathleen!

Corinne, Berlin

Red Tape Translation has served thousands of expats over the last 10+ years.

Our consultants are informed, competent and compassionate.

We work with you to get your applications approved.

You’ll know exactly what to do next time.

    Book an hour for €104

    Prepare to sail through the process with confidence.

    Getting a visa or residence permit for the first time

    • The freelance (“artist”) visa
    • Blue Card
    • Skilled worker’s employment permit
    • Language learning permit
    • Spouses and family members
    • Working holiday visas
    • Study preparation, students
    • Exceptions and lesser-known permit types

    Work and freelance life

    • Starting a business
    • Getting a freelance tax number
    • Unemployment (ALGI, ALGII)
    • ALGI grant for self-employment (Gründungszuschuss)
    • Getting into the Künstlersozialkasse

    Babies and children

    • Baby bureaucracy
    • Benefits (Elterngeld, Kindergeld, Mutterschaftsgeld)
    • How to find childcare (Kita)
    • Choosing the right school
    • Visas and residence permits for children

    Renewing your residence permit

    • Switching permit types
    • Finding a new purpose of stay
    • Permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis)
    • EU settlement (Daueraufenthalt-EU)
    • Fiktionsbescheinigung (fictional certificate)
    •  Converting a type D visa into a residence permit
    • Trouble getting an appointment
    • Removing restrictions (Erwerbstätigkeit gestattet)

    Family matters

    • Getting settled in Germany – first steps
    • Getting married in Germany
    • Finding a flat to rent
    • Purchasing property in Germany
    • Visas and residence permits for spouses

    … and more

    • Getting a real estate broker’s license
    • Leaving Germany, tying up loose ends
    • Health insurance and pension
    •  Kitas and schools
    • TV tax

    As an American, I have quickly realized how different the logistics of living in a foreign place can be. Kathleen’s advice helped this process go very quickly and smoothly. You simply must make Red Tape Translation a part of your preparation.

    Katelin S., Berlin

    Our coaches

    Kathleen Parker

    Kathleen is the managing director of Red Tape. As a freelancer, mother, wife, artist, foreigner and business owner, she’s gained a whole bunch of expertise dealing with her own red tape and that of thousands of clients over the last eleven years. Talk to Kathleen about baby bureaucracy, getting married in Germany, visas and permits, the Gründungszuschuss (government grant for ALG1 recipients), purchasing property and getting permanent residency in Germany.

    Lioba Grunow

    Lioba has had a huge influence on the success of Red Tape Translation’s coaching programme – she is well known for her compassion and clever solutions for solving bureaucracy problems. Talk to Lioba about the Künstlersozialkasse (the artists’ social insurance scheme), the Deutsche Rentenversicherung (pension), finding a rental apartment, unemployment, the job center, the Agentur für Arbeit, the freelance permit (artist’s visa) and getting started as a freelancer in Germany.

    How it works

    • Book your consult

      Write down your questions or upload letters – whatever you need help with. The more info you give us, the better.

    • 2. Pay for your consult

      After booking, you’ll receive an invoice. Bank transfer, credit card, or PayPal are all fine. Remember, this is a business expense if you’re a freelancer.

    • 3. Talk to us

      At your scheduled date and time, we’ll hop on the call together and work through your applications. You’ll need to use at least 30 minutes of your phone time in your call. If we accomplish your tasks with time left over, you’ll receive a credit to put towards your next consult.

    • 4. We work together with you

      Your consultant is dedicated to preparing you for what to expect during the application process during your consult. This ensures that the job is done to your satisfaction and you gain experience dealing with German bureaucracy in a non-stressful, easy way.

    • Cancellation policy

      One working day’s notice is required for cancellation or to reschedule your consult. If you cancel within that time frame, you’ll receive a credit.

    Appointment coming up?

    We’ll give you the tools you need to handle it with ease.

    Always great to speak to someone with empathy and understanding when it comes to business…

    Suzanne Fischer, Berlin

    This stuff is hard. Go easy on yourself. Don’t waste sleepless nights on confusing forums and blogs. You need solid advice tailored to you and your circumstances. Arm yourself with the right tools and a generous dose of “you got this”.