I am an international Master student of a German University. Right now I belong a German residence permit with student status. But I would like to know whether, as a non-EU citizen am I able to start a business in Germany with my student residence permit status. If it is possible with student status, then how should I proceed for this purpose and if it is impossible to start a business with student status, could you please provide me suggestions and guidelines regarding this matter.
www.make-it-in-germany.com provides international professionals with information on working and living in Germany. Detailed information on studying or setting up a business are also available on “Make it in Germany”.
Before starting your own business, you should clear up if your residence status enables you to establish such an activity. Since you are a foreign student in Germany, you are holding a residence permit for the purpose of studying according to §16 Residence Act. If it is so, you are allowed to work 120 full or 240 half days during the year without the need for approval by the competent authority, the Federal Employment Agency.
Taking up a self-employed activity while studying in Germany is also possible under the Residence Act (§ 21 (6) Aufenthaltsgesetz). However, the foreigners’ authority (Ausländerbehörde) must authorize the self-employed activity separately. The work must not hinder the success of the study. It should therefore be within the time limits for a dependent employment (this means 120 full or 240 half days). If you want to start a full-time self-employed activity, you will hardly get an approval. (Source: BMI, BAMF, DAAD)
For personal advice, you can also contact the hotline “Working and Living in Germany” under the telephone number +49 30 1815 - 1111. The service is provided in German and English and is free of charge.
More step by step information regarding setting up a business in Germany are available on the website "Make it in Germany".
We wish you all the best for your future plans.
* 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
Kompetenzfeld Bildung, Zuwanderung und Innovation
Projekt „Make it in Germany“
Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln e.V.
November 2018
