{"id":2680,"date":"2021-09-30T18:29:12","date_gmt":"2021-09-30T16:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zellerseyfert.com\/?page_id=2680"},"modified":"2025-02-26T15:26:25","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T14:26:25","slug":"business-visa-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/zellerseyfert.com\/en\/expertise\/expat-law\/business-visa-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Visa Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Residence Permit in Germany<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Company<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Mehr erfahren<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Employee<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Mehr erfahren<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Entrepreneur<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Mehr erfahren<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Real Estate Owner<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Mehr erfahren<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Business Immigrants applying for a German Residence Permit<\/h2>

The ability to reside long-term and work or set up a business in Germany depends on your nationality. If you are from a country within the\u00a0European Union<\/strong>,\u00a0Switzerland<\/strong>,\u00a0Liechtenstein<\/strong>,\u00a0Norway<\/strong>, or\u00a0Iceland<\/strong>, you are welcome to start your business without a visa or residence permit.<\/p>

For citizens from countries not listed above (third countries), you will need a\u00a0residence permit<\/strong>.<\/p>

Residence permit for self-employed and foreign professionals from non-EU countries:<\/h2>

If you are planning to start a business or pursue self-employment in Germany, or if you are a foreign professional and are seeking a residence permit in Germany, you should consider the following:<\/p>

I. Getting a residence permit<\/h2>

In order to get a residence permit (or\u00a0Aufenthaltstitel<\/em>\u00a0in German), you must submit an application to the competent authority, which depends on whether you are currently abroad or you are already a legal resident of Germany.<\/p>

If you are still living abroad, you must contact the German embassy or the German consulate general in your respective country, in accordance with \u00a7 71 Para. 2 of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz<\/em>, AufenthG). Local jurisdiction depends on your habitual residence (where you legally reside for most of the year).<\/p>

If you are already a legal resident of Germany and plan to engage in self-employment, which is currently not permitted to you by virtue of ancillary provisions to the residence permit, an application is required. This must be addressed to the competent immigration authority (Ausl\u00e4nderbeh\u00f6rde<\/em>) at your place of residence.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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II. Residence permit for self-employment, \u00a7 21 of the Residence Act<\/h2>

Self-employed activities include all activities carried out by an entrepreneur in their own name, in their own permanent establishment, on their own account, and at their own risk. Self-employment must always be distinguished from an employment relationship.<\/p>

1. General provisions on the right of residence<\/h5>

Citizens from third countries (neither the EU nor the EEA) who wish to pursue self-employment in Germany require a residence permit according to \u00a7 21 of the Residence Act. The residence permit for the purpose of self-employment is issued as a temporary residence permit for a maximum of 3 years, according to \u00a7 21 (4) of the Residence Act, provided that certain conditions are met. Subsequently, you can apply for a permanent resident permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis<\/em>) in accordance with \u00a7 21 (IV) of the Residence Act if you have successfully implemented your business idea and furthermore fulfil the provisions for a secure livelihood. \u00a7 9 of the Residence Act regulates the requirements for a residence permit.<\/p>

2. Assessment criteria for the issuance of a residence permit<\/h5>

The legal basis for issuing a residence permit is \u00a7 21 (1) of the Residence Act. Under that provision, a foreign national may be granted a residence permit for their own activities if the following conditions are met:<\/p>