Self-employment residence permit in Germany

Are you interested in setting up a business in Germany? If so, you will need a special residence permit. In this article from Wise Business Group, we provide you with information about self-employment visas in Germany. We will also highlight the requirements for obtaining a self-employment residence permit in Germany.

Self-employment in Germany

In general, there are two ways to start a personal business in Germany:

You can work as a freelancer (Freiberufler) or create your own business in this country as a self-employed entrepreneur (Gewerbe).

Self-employment residence permit in Germany

Want to start your business in Germany as a self-employed entrepreneur, you must apply for a self-employment residence permit. It is necessary to meet the general criteria and some requirements to receive this type of residence permit in Germany. Ideally, you must convincingly provide the desired criteria and prerequisites in your business plan.

Requirements

The requirements to obtain a self-employment residence permit in Germany are as follows:

• There should be a demand or commercial interest for the products or services you offer in the target area in Germany.
• The positive impact of your business activity on the German economy should be predictable.
• You should be able to ensure the financing of your business through a loan commitment or personal capital.

Some consulting service providers in Germany, such as Wise Business Group, can help you assess your ability to meet the mentioned requirements.

In addition, our consultants are ready to answer your questions regarding obtaining a residence permit to start a business and self-employment in Germany. You can contact us to receive more information.

Self-employed residence permit for research purposes

You may ask, under which conditions can people who have research purposes or graduated from one of the German universities obtain a self-employed residence permit in Germany?

If you intend to start a business related to your degree or research activities in Germany, you must apply for a self-employment residence permit. However, you do not have to meet all the conditions mentioned before.

You must be able to make a living in Germany. In addition, if you are over 45, you must prove that you have sufficient pension provisions.

Duration of self-employment residence permit in Germany

If your business idea is prosperous and you can make a living for yourself and your family, you can extend your self-employment residence permit in Germany. Initially, the self-employment residence permit extension is possible for a maximum period of three years. After three years, you can get a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis), which allows you to stay in Germany for an unlimited period.

The costs of obtaining a residence permit for self-employment in Germany

Usually, when you submit your application for a visa, temporary residence permit, settlement permit, or renewal of any of these documents in Germany, you have to pay a fee. The amount of this fee depends on your residence place, length of stay, and purpose.

The cost of obtaining a temporary residence permit in Germany is a maximum of 100 euros, while the cost of getting a settlement permit in this country is 147 euros. As a rule, the visa fee is also 80 euros. It is better to consult with competent immigration authorities or missions regarding the possible costs of applying for a self-employed residence permit in Germany.

Required documents

Usually, when applying for a residence permit in Germany, you must provide the following documents:

• Completed application form
• A valid passport
• Business plan
• Health insurance certificate

It is also mandatory for certain groups to provide some documents as follows:

• Researchers and academics must present the employment contract they are currently working on.
• People who have graduated from one of the German universities must provide a copy of their degree.
• People over the age of 45 must also provide documents that show they have sufficient pension provisions.

It also makes sense to submit documents regarding the following topics:

• Your references
• Your entrepreneurial experiences

A point

The provided list above regarding the documents required to obtain a self-employed residence permit in Germany is not comprehensive or universal. In most cases, the documents you need to provide are determined case-by-case according to your circumstances.

The best way is to contact the relevant immigration authorities or missions before applying for a self-employment residence permit in Germany and ask them to provide you with Informational leaflets. In this case, you will also know the requirements for providing a health insurance certificate. Also, the immigration authorities can determine whether you have sufficient pension provisions.

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Obtaining a self-employment residence permit in Germany

To start your own business in Germany, you must apply for a self-employed residence permit. There are specific requirements to obtain this permit that you must provide convincingly in your business plan. These requirements include:

• The existence of business interests or demand for your services or products in Germany
• The positive impact of your business activity on the German economy
• Ability to finance the business with personal capital or loan commitment

If your business idea is prosperous and you can make a living for yourself and your family, you can extend the residence permit up to three years. After three years, you can get a settlement permit in Germany.

The cost of applying for a self-employed residence permit in Germany varies depending on your residence place, length of stay, and purpose.

Generally, to apply for this permit, you must submit your completed application form, valid passport, business plan, and health insurance certificate. However, certain groups are required to provide more documents.

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Services for obtaining a self-employment residence permit in Germany

At Wise Business Group, we provide comprehensive services for starting a business, registering a company, and receiving a self-employed residence permit in Germany for you, dear compatriots. To successfully set up and run your desired business in Germany, do not hesitate to contact us. We will show you the best self-employment solutions in Germany.

Also, to participate in the online counseling session, you can fill out the following form and send it to us.