I am a master degree student and my course will finish within 6 months. After that, I would like to start a business. After my course, can I can apply for job seeker visa or any other work permit visa or business visa? Currently I have student visa with 120 full day work permit.
Thank you for your inquiry and your interest in setting up a business in Germany. www.make-it-in-germany.com provides international professionals with information on working and living in Germany. Detailed information on studying or setting up a business are also available on “Make it in Germany”.
As a graduate of a German university, you can apply for an 18-month residence permit from your local foreign nationals’ registration office to look for a job that corresponds to your qualifications. During these 18 months, you may take up any kind of employment to support yourself and fund your job search. If you already found a job that corresponds to your qualifications before graduating, you can jump this step. You can apply for your residence permit as soon as you have passed your final exam. To find out more about the process please take a look at „Make it in Germany“.
As a graduate of a German university, you can also run a business or work as an independent professional, for example as an engineer.
If you are a non-EU citizen, in order to set up your own business you need a residence permit allowing you to exercise a self-employed activity (“selbstständige Tätigkeit”). Please read more on how to apply for this residence permit on „Make it in Germany“.
For personal advice regarding visa issues, you can also contact the “Hotline Working and Living in Germany” under the telephone number +49 30 1815 – 1111.
Besides, there are many public information centres, which will advise you as you set up your own business. On the Startup Portal, under “advice and information”, you will find the contact information of regional and national information centres for entrepreneurs with a migrant background. A general contact list is available on the Startup Portal. Similarly, the Authority Finder will also tell you about your nearest information centre.
Germany supports entrepreneurs with a number of funding programmes. Most of these funding programmes consist of public loans, which offer you better conditions with regard to their interest, loan periods and repayment terms. In order to apply for such funding, your place of residence and your company’s operations must be located in Germany. On “Make it in Germany” you will find more information on financing and funding.
Keep in mind, as you are 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
For further Information regarding setting up a business in Germany, please visit the Website "Make it in Germany".
We wish you all the best!
*Please note that “Make it in Germany” does not issue or support any visa application even if you may be qualified for that. The information presented on “Make it in Germany” 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.
Reference: Justina Alichniewicz
Projekt „Make it in Germany“
Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln e.V.
Juni 2019
