A route for establishing and running a business in Germany with economic interest, financing, and a positive economic effect.
Route overview
Residence permit for business self-employment
Typical timeline / duration: Up to 3 years initially
Important notes
Show an economic interest or regional demand for the proposed business and a positive expected economic effect.
Provide a viable business plan and evidence of financing through own capital or an approved loan.
Provide identity, accommodation, health-insurance, and, where applicable, pension-provision evidence; applicants over 45 have additional pension requirements.
This is the business self-employment route, separate from freelance work in a liberal profession.
Preparation checklist
Passport and application
Business plan
Financing and source-of-funds evidence
Professional and business documents
Accommodation, insurance, and pension evidence where required
Self-employment routes
These routes serve a similar purpose or sit within the same visa family, so they are shown together for comparison; each has its own page.