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Can a non-EU person start an Airbnb business in Germany? What licenses or legal regulations are required to fulfil?

Antwort

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: If you are a citizen of the European Union, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland, you are generally free to start up your own business in Germany.

If you are a citizen of another state, 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”).

If 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. The corresponding local contact you can find on our “world map”. General information on visa process are available on “Make it in Germany”.

If you already live in Germany, you need to clarify if your current residence status enables you to start a business in Germany. Therefore, we strongly recommend you to contact your foreigners’ authority (“Ausländerbehörde”). Here you can find the corresponding contact information.

For a first personal advice according your residence status you may 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.

Besides, there are many public information centres, which will advise you as you set up your own business. On the Startup Portal, under “advice and information”, you will find the contact information of regional and national information centres for entrepreneurs with a migrant background. A general contact list list is available on the Startup Portal. Similarly, the Authority Finder” will also tell you about your nearest information centre.

Keep in mind, as you are operating in Germany, a good command 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 is not 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.

For further Information regarding setting up a business in Germany, please visit 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
Projekt „Make it in Germany“
Internet: www.make-it-in-germany.com
Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln e.V.
Februar 2019

Tipps der Redaktion:

• BMWi-Existenzgründungsportal: English version