Germany Self-Employment Visa (Selbständige Erwerbstätigkeit)

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Passport must be valid for at least 1 year beyond planned stay with at least 2 blank pages.

Two biometric photos in Schengen format.

§ 21(1) requires IHK consultation, business plan review, and German company setup — engage advisors early.

Complete the national long-stay D-visa form from your local German consulate.

Signed letter explaining your business activity, why Germany, and intended city.

Comprehensive CV with prior business experience, portfolio links, prior company registrations.

Comprehensive business plan in German with multi-year revenue/cost projections, regional-need framing, and economic-effect demonstration.

§ 21(1) requires gesicherte financing. Provide proof of equity capital in a German account or a Kreditzusage from a German bank.

Submit business plan to the IHK (or Handwerkskammer for skilled trades) for pre-consultation. IHK opinion is consulted by the Ausländerbehörde.

Constitute the German company (GmbH preferred for capital signaling; UG for lower entry capital) and register at the Handelsregister.

Recent bank statements showing current balances and any income.

Required if you're over 45 on the date of application. Pension projecting €1,612.53/mo at age 67 OR €232,204 in liquid assets (Berlin LEA July 2025 figures). Bilateral exemptions: Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Sri Lanka.

Statutory (GKV) confirmation if eligible, or private (PKV) with §257(2a) SGB V Ausländerbehörde-grade certificate.

Some sectors require a Gewerbeschein (general trade license) or Handwerkskarte (skilled-trade registration). The Ausländerbehörde will request this.

German lease (Mietvertrag) or property deed.

Consular long-stay visa fee.

Book and attend at the German consulate covering your country of legal residence.

Once approved, the consulate stamps a 3-month national D-visa. Book your flight.

Register at the Bürgeramt within 14 days. Required for bank account, Steuernummer, and Ausländerbehörde appointment.

Open a German bank account using Anmeldebescheinigung.

If the company wasn't fully constituted abroad, register at the Handelsregister and obtain Gewerbeschein from local Gewerbeamt.

Register the business with the Finanzamt via ELSTER to receive Steuernummer + USt-ID (VAT number where applicable).

Book the appointment. Berlin LEA: 3–9 month backlog. Fiktionsbescheinigung legally extends your stay past the D-visa.

Attend with originals: passport, D-visa, lease, IHK opinion, business plan, company registration, financing proof, insurance, updated income evidence.

€100 for electronic card (eAT); €56 for label; €13 if proportional.

Pick up the eAT 4–6 weeks after biometrics.

§ 21(4) accelerated Niederlassungserlaubnis at year 3 requires demonstrable project execution, positive economic effect, and Lebensunterhalt coverage including family.