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Frage

I am from Iraq and I can secure a visa entry for Germany. Can I own a truck or something more valuable for running my own business or participating in operation with another company?

Antwort

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 home Country. 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. You will find the local contact here: www.make-it-in-germany.com.

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: www.make-it-in-germany.com. Here you will find first information on the different forms of setting up a business. 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. Furthermore you may need to possess a valid driver’s license in Germany: www.make-it-in-germany.com.

More step by step information regarding setting up a business in Germany are available on the website "Make it in Germany": www.make-it-in-germany.com.

Keep in mind, as you are operating in Germany, knowledge of German never hurts. 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
Economist
Projekt „Make it in Germany“
Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln e.V.
März 2017

Tips from the editor:

• Business start-up portal: English version