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I would like to start up a business in Germany but I'm a little confused with the requirements as I am not German or an EU resident. I am currently staying in the UK at the moment. Could someone direct me?

Antwort

Thank you for your inquiry and your interest in setting up a business in Germany.
In order to set up a business in Germany, you will need a residence permit for the purpose of self-employment (“Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur Ausübung einer selbständigen Tätigkeit”). As you are not yet living in Germany, you need to apply for a visa for the purpose of self-employed occupation at the competent German Mission in your current country of residence. You will find the local contact here: www.make-it-in-germany.com
More information on visa process is available on “Make it in Germany”: www.make-it-in-germany.com

Please note that there a several criteria which need to be fulfilled in order to obtain the residence permit for the purpose of self-employment. This depends on whether you work as a freelancer (“Freiberufler”) or set up a business as a self-employed entrepreneur (“Gewerbe”). Being self-employed or a freelancer makes a difference with regard to certain formalities and also has an impact in your company’s legal structure. Here you will find out more about the two different ways of setting up a business: www.make-it-in-germany.com. For further questions regarding the visa process please contact the German Mission in your country of residence - especially for questions concerning the required documents.

There are many ways of setting up your business. You can set up a business by yourself, do it in a team up with others or acquire an existing company. Here you will find first information on the different forms of setting up a business: www.make-it-in-germany.com. Depending on your business idea you may fulfil different requirement (in terms of professional qualifications, personal qualities and language skills): www.make-it-in-germany.com
Step by step information regarding setting up a business in Germany is available on the website "Make it in Germany": www.make-it-in-germany.com

Keep in mind, as you are operating in Germany, a sound knowledge of German is important. Even as you prepare your business, you will find that many official documents are available in German only. If your German isn’t good enough yet, you should make sure to take a language course before you set up your business. Some advanced courses have a special focus on the business world: www.make-it-in-germany.com
We wish you all the best.

* Please note:
The information presented here is a general service offering. Only the German missions and the foreigners’ authorities are responsible for the issuance of visa resp. residence permits. For further questions, please contact directly the respective authority.

Source
Justina Alichniewicz
Projekt „Make it in Germany“
Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln e.V.
April 2017

Tips from the editor:

• BMWi-Business start-up portal: English version
• Germany Trade & Invest: Investment Guide to Germany
• German Federal Central Tax Office: Foreign Investors Help Desk