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I have a valid working visa for 3 years in Germany. I am from a Balkan state. I would like to ask you, if I can open my own business with this kind of visa - I want to open a bakery in Germany.

Antwort

Thank you for your request and your interest in setting up a business in Germany.
Generally, it is possibility to change your working visa into a residence permit for the purpose of self-employment. Please contact your competent foreigners’ authority (“Ausländerbehörde”) to get information on the requirements and on the next steps to be done.

Please note that special rules apply for craft professions, including the profession “baker”: In order to set up your own business, you will also need a master craftsman’s certificate (“Meisterbrief”), which you can obtain on the basis of an advanced training course. Find out here whether this applies for your profession: Übersicht: Anlage A und B zur Handwerksordnung (PDF, 333  KB)

If you have obtained your professional qualification abroad, you can have its equivalency assessed. This means that if you hold a professional qualification which is deemed to be equal to a German “Meister” qualification, you can set up your own business in a trade that is subject to authorisation. If you hold a professional qualification which is equivalent to the normal German qualification without the “Meister title”, you can embark on an advance training course to obtain your “Meister” title. Additional information on how to obtain the “Meister” title can be found in the Guide to “Vocational training in Germany”: http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/training-learning/training/vocational-training-in-germany

Regarding further information on setting up a business, please check out the website "Make it in Germany" for useful advices on business plan, financing and funding, etc.: 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.
Februar 2017

Tips from the editor:

• BMWi-Business start-up portal: English version