Germany for business
Open, but judged on your plan — not your bank balance.
There is no minimum investment and no minimum number of jobs. That requirement was abolished on 1 August 2012, and the figure of EUR 250,000 still repeated across the internet is simply out of date — worse, it is usually quoted with the wrong job count attached to it. What replaced it is a judgement: a local authority, advised by the chamber of commerce, decides whether your business idea is viable and whether it serves an economic interest. That is harder to game and harder to fake, but it also means a strong plan with modest capital can succeed where a large cheque with a weak plan fails. The thing to understand before you commit money: the permit is tied to this business. If the business stops, the legal basis for your stay stops with it, and the job-seeking route that covers employees does not cover you.
Where you stand
Make this page about you
0 paths are named in Germany's official demand list, ranked below.
What Germany wants, in its own order
This order is the official shortage analysis, not our opinion. The source is linked under the list.
The routes
Each route below is a separate permit with its own hard requirements. Failing any one requirement means that route is closed to you, however strong the rest of your case is.
Self-employment (§ 21 Abs. 1 AufenthG)
OpenA residence permit to run your own business, granted on an assessment of the business itself.
Who this is for
- Founders with a worked-out business plan and secured financing
- People whose business has an identifiable economic interest or regional need
You must have every one of these
- An economic interest or a regional need for your business
- An expected positive effect on the economy
- Secured financing, through your own capital or a loan commitment
- No minimum investment and no minimum number of jobs — that rule was abolished on 1 August 2012
- The local foreigners' authority decides, normally after the chamber of commerce has assessed your plan
- If you are over 45: adequate provision for old age. The statute requires it to be adequate and sets no figure, so treat any specific number you are quoted with suspicion
Source: § 21 AufenthG — self-employment (Federal Office of Justice) (checked 2026-11-03) · Make it in Germany — self-employment (Federal Government portal) (checked 2026-11-03)
Freelance work (§ 21 Abs. 5 AufenthG)
OpenA separate permit for the liberal professions — writers, artists, teachers, engineers, doctors, lawyers and similar independent work.
Who this is for
- People in the catalogue professions who work for several clients
- People who can show real client interest in their work
You must have every one of these
- Your work falls within the liberal professions rather than a trade
- Evidence of client interest or commissions
- Financing of your living costs
Source: § 21 AufenthG — self-employment (Federal Office of Justice) (checked 2026-11-03) · Make it in Germany — self-employment (Federal Government portal) (checked 2026-11-03)
What it actually costs
Two federal pages disagree on whether this route is EUR 75 or EUR 90. We publish the lower figure and flag the disagreement rather than pick a side.
Source: Federal Foreign Office — visa fees (checked 2026-11-03)
EUR 75You payWhere a blocked account appears above, that is your own money and it comes back to you monthly after arrival. It is not a fee to anyone. No agent needs to hold it for you.
How long it really takes
6 to 18 months
The assessment of your plan is the variable, not the paperwork. A chamber of commerce opinion and an authority decision take as long as they take, and a plan sent back for rework restarts that clock.
Is this route real? The numbers
Published flow figures, so you can see the route is used and not just written down.
None
Minimum investment required today
Source: § 21 AufenthG — self-employment (Federal Office of Justice) (checked 2026-11-03) · Make it in Germany — self-employment (Federal Government portal) (checked 2026-11-03)
None
Minimum jobs you must create
Source: § 21 AufenthG — self-employment (Federal Office of Justice) (checked 2026-11-03)
1 August 2012
When the EUR 250,000 rule was abolished
Source: Make it in Germany — self-employment (Federal Government portal) (checked 2026-11-03)