I am a foreigner that intends to open an activity here in Germany and I need your advice in this matter. The activity would be in beauty field such as micropigmentation und make-up. I had started my own activity in Romania since 2009 until present and I would like to continue it here.
Please note that if you are not a citizen of the European Union you will need a residence permit for the purpose of self-employment (Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur Ausübung einer selbständigen Tätigkeit) in order to set up a business in Germany. 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. Information on visa process as well as application forms are available here: 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) (www.make-it-in-germany.com) or set up a business as a self-employed entrepreneur (Gewerbe) (www.make-it-in-germany.com). 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
For further information regarding setting up a business in Germany please visit the Website "Make it in Germany": www.make-it-in-germany.com. For personal advice, you can either contact the hotline “Working and Living in Germany” (www.make-it-in-germany.com) under the telephone number +49 30 1815 – 1111 or enter the chat of the Migration Support Centre (VWC) of the Federal Employment Agency of Germany: www.make-it-in-germany.com.
Source: Sarah Berger / Justina Alichniewicz
Kompetenzfeld Bildung, Zuwanderung und Innovation
Projekt „Make it in Germany“
July 2016
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) offers some English publications:
