Authorisation for self-employment for third-country nationals
Third-country nationals and their family members can apply for a permit for self-employment.
Course description
Visa procedure
In many cases, you will need a visa to be allowed to enter Germany. To obtain a visa, you must contact the German embassy or consulate in your home country. The Federal Foreign Office will provide you with all the information you need about whether you are allowed to enter Germany with or without a visa.
After entering the country
You must first register your residence at the Citizens Office.
Application for a residence permit
Please submit the application form and the required documents online or by post. After submitting your online application, you can download a completed document as a PDF for your records. The document will confirm your application and the authorisation/continuation of your previous residence. Once we have checked your application, you will receive an appointment for a personal interview.
EU citizens and nationals of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland and their families do not require a separate residence permit for self-employment. The same applies to holders of a residence permit with the entry "Gainful employment permitted".
Prerequisites
- an economic interest or a regional need
- a positive impact on the economy
- secured financing (through equity or loan commitment)
Required documents
- If you are being represented: A power of attorney signed by you
- detailed CV (with references and information about your experience as an entrepreneur, certificates, diplomas, proof of training)
- for foreign documents: German, certified translation by a sworn translator in Germany and, for example, formal recognition of proof of qualifications
- complete business concept (business plan)
Please provide us with the above-mentioned documents as up-to-date and clearly organised as possible. Missing or incomplete documents may lead to a negative decision.
Unless expressly stated otherwise, we only require copies of the documents. Please note that we will keep the documents submitted and will not return them.
We will treat all documents submitted by you as strictly confidential.
Please note: The documents submitted (such as proof of identity and language certificates) will be checked for authenticity. Further documents may be required in individual cases.
Questions & Answers
- Description of your business idea
- Founder profile/ founding team (assessment of your professional and personal requirements, industry experience)
- Market assessment (market potential, target group)
- Competitive situation (competitor analysis, strengths and weaknesses analysis - SWOT)
- Location analysis
- Company organisation and personnel management (choice of legal form, task organisation (organisation chart), process organisation, personnel structure)
- Risk analysis
- Financial planning (investment and capital requirement planning, sales and profitability forecast for three years, personnel development planning with information on timetable and number of planned jobs and training places, liquidity plan for three years)
- Further information and evidence relating to the information provided in the business plan
- Detailed explanation of the turnover, expense and profit figures estimated in the financial planning, explanation of the calculation bases presented
- Proof of equity or proof of financing for the stated capital requirements (e.g. bank statements, financing commitments, bank confirmations)
- in the case of recruitment: job profile with detailed information on the requirements profile, area of responsibility, remuneration, starting date, part-time/full-time
- Business contacts in Germany and abroad, type and extent of their involvement (if available), e.g. letters of intent, preliminary contracts, order confirmations
- Information on the project's contribution to innovation and research
Further documents may be required in individual cases.
Legal basis
§ Section 21 (1) Residence Act
Ausländerbehörde
Phone number
Postal address
Ausländerbehörde
Ruppertstraße 19
80466 München
Fax: +49 89 233-45497
Address
Ruppertstraße 19
80337 München
Lagehinweis: Eingang A
By appointment only
By appointment only