I am from India and currently doing my PHD in Germany. During my PHD studies, can I start a UG (haftungsbeschränkt) to check whether my idea will turn to a successful business later? I am not taking any money out of this UG and I am spending just 5 hours per week in it.
Thank you for your inquiry and your interest in setting up a business in Germany.
www.make-it-in-germany.com provides international professionals with information on working and living in Germany. Detailed information on studying (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/training-learning/study) or setting up a business are also available on “Make it in Germany” (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-germany/visa-for-self-employment).
It depends on your current residence status, whether you are eligible to start your own business parallel to your PHD studies. Therefore, we highly recommend you to get in touch with your competent foreigners’ authority (“Ausländerbehörde”) to clear up if your residence permit also enables you to set up a business. You can also contact the hotline “Working and Living in Germany” (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/about-the-portal/contact/hotline) under the telephone number +49 30 1815 - 1111. If you currently hold a residence permit for the purpose of studying according to § 16 Residence Act, taking up a self-employed activity is generally possible under the Residence Act § 21 (6) (“Aufenthaltsgesetz”). However, the foreigners’ authority (“Ausländerbehörde”) must authorize the self-employed activity separately. (Source: BMI, BAMF, DAAD: https://www.uni-bonn.de/studium/studium-in-bonn-fuer-internationale-studierende/betreuung-auslaendischer-studierender/pdf.dateien/arbeitsmoeglichkeiten-fuer-ausl.-stud.-2012)
More step by step information regarding setting up a business in Germany are available on the website "Make it in Germany": http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-Germany
Source: Justina Alichniewicz
Projekt „Make it in Germany“
Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln e.V.
April 2018
