Antwort
As a citizen of Russia the following applies to you: 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”) [http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-germany/visa-for-self-employment#general-information-on-the-visa-process-for-citizens-of-other-states].
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” (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/visa/local-contacts). Make sure that you apply for the visa that corresponds to the actual purpose of your stay. This is the only way to ensure trouble-free extension or conversion of your visa by the foreign nationals' registration authority of your place of residence in Germany. For example, it is impossible to stay permanently on a visa that was issued only for a temporary stay. General information on visa process is available on “Make it in Germany” (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/visa).
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”) [http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/de/fuer-fachkraefte/arbeiten/existenzgruendung/visum#voraussetzungen-zur-existenzgruendung-in-freien-berufen-durch-buergerinnen-und-buerger-aus-anderen-staaten ] or set up a business as a self-employed entrepreneur (“Gewerbe”) [http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-germany/visa#requirements-for-citizens-of-other-states-wishing-to-set-up-a-self-employed-business]. 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: http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-germany/ways-of-setting-up-your-business
In addition, you will need to fulfil a number of general criteria and some other requirements, which you should ideally cover convincingly in your business plan (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-germany/requirements-for-an-own-business).
A Residence permit will cost you a maximum of 140 Euro, while a settlement permit will cost 260 Euro at most. As a rule, the fee for visas is 75 Euro. For further questions regarding the visa process, please contact the German Mission in your country of residence - especially for questions concerning the required documents.
For personal advice regarding visa issues, you can also contact the hotline “Working and Living in Germany” under the telephone number +49 30 1815 – 1111 (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/about-the-portal/contact/hotline).
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 (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/training-learning/the-german-language).
For further Information regarding setting up a business in Germany please visit 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.
Oktober 2017
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