I wish to apply for a freelancer visa from India, but I could not find any information on how and where to apply within India, concerning the processes and documents required. Please help me with the required knowledge, so that I can book an appointment as VFS says, they do not have any such category for appointment.
Thank you for your inquiry and your interest in setting up a business in Germany. We will gladly give you more information.
Regarding your residential status:
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”). Therefore you will need to apply for a visa for the purpose of self-employed occupation (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-germany/visa-for-self-employment#general-information-on-the-visa-process-for-citizens-of-other-states) at the competent German Mission in your country of residence. The German mission abroad will send your visa application to the foreigners’ authority (“Ausländerbehörde”) at your future place of residence in Germany. Please note that this process normally takes two to four months. On basis of the outcome, the German mission abroad will decide whether it can grant an entry visa for the occupation you would like to pursue. The entry visa is usually valid for a period of three months, and once you are in Germany, it will need to be converted into a term Residence permit by the foreigners’ authority. Generally, there a several criteria, which need to be fulfilled in order to obtain the residence permit for the purpose of self-employment. On “Make it in Germany” you will find a list of documents you will normally need in the process (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/de/fuer-fachkraefte/arbeiten/existenzgruendung/visum#voraussetzungen-zur-existenzgruendung-in-freien-berufen-durch-buergerinnen-und-buerger-aus-anderen-staaten). As this list is not exhaustive or universal, we strongly recommend you to get in touch with your competent mission. You can for example fill out this form (https://india.diplo.de/Vertretung/indien/en/01__Embassy/Visa__Consular/Contact__Visa.html) and contact the Visa and Consular Section in New Delhi.
To get first personal advice on visa issues you can also contact the hotline “Working and Living in Germany” (telephone number +49 30 1815 – 1111, web http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/de/fuer-fachkraefte/ueber-das-portal/kontakt/hotline). Counseling sessions will be provide in English or German.
We which you all the best for your new business.
* 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.
März 2018
