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Frage

I am Iranian and I would like to know, how I can set up a new trading company in Germany and get temporary residence permit. Kindly let me know all details, if you do not mind.

Antwort

As an Iranian citizen, in order to set up a business in Germany, your client will need a residence permit for the purpose of self-employment (“Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur Ausübung einer selbständigen Tätigkeit”). If he is not yet living in Germany, he will need to apply for a visa for the purpose of self-employed occupation at the competent German Mission in his current country of residence. The local contact can be found here: http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/visa/local-contacts
General information on visa process are 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 he is going to work as a freelancer (“Freiberufler”) or set up a business as a self-employed entrepreneur (“Gewerbe”). If he would like to set up a business as a self-employed entrepreneur he will need to apply for a residence permit for the purpose of self-employment (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-germany/visa#general-information-on-the-visa-process-for-citizens-of-other-states). To obtain this permit, he will need to fulfil a number of general criteria (http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-germany/requirements-for-an-own-business) and some additional requirements, which he should ideally cover convincingly in your business plan. A residence permit will cost 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 the country of residence - especially for questions concerning the required documents.

Please note: There are many ways of setting up your business. You can set up a business by yourself, do it in a team up with others or acquire an existing company. Here you will find first information on the different forms 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

Furthermore, you will find helpful advices on financing and funding on “Make it in Germany”: http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-germany/financing-and-funding

Further step by step information regarding setting up a business in Germany are available on the website "Make it in Germany": http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/setting-up-a-business-in-Germany

Keep in mind, that while 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

* Please note:
The information presented here is a general service offering. Only the German missions and the foreigners’ authorities are responsible for the issuance of visa resp. residence permits. For further questions, please contact directly the respective authority.

Source: Justina Alichniewicz
Projekt „Make it in Germany“
Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln e.V.
März 2018

Notice from the editor:

• BMWi-Existenzgründungsportal: English Version
  
• Germany Trade and Invest - Gesellschaft für Außenwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH: Investment Guide to Germany
  
• German Federal Central Tax Office: Foreign Investors Help Desk