Residence permit for the purpose of self-employment - Issuance -

• Founder of a company,
• Sole proprietor and
• Managing directors and legal representatives of partnerships and corporations, if they have entrepreneurial responsibility.

Prerequisites

• Main residence in Berlin
• Economic interest of the state of Berlin
  
  A foreigner may be granted a residence permit for the pursuit of a self-employed occupation if
  

  • an economic interest or a regional need exists,
  • the occupation is expected to have a positive impact on the economy and
  • the implementation is financed by equity or a loan commitment.

  Exception: different standards apply to university graduates, researchers and scientists.
• For university graduates, researchers and scientists
  
  Another examination standard applies to foreigners who
  

  • have successfully completed a course of study in Germany at a state, state-recognised or comparable training institution, or
  • work as a researcher or scientist in Germany and hold a residence permit.

  The intended self-employed occupation must have a connection with the knowledge acquired during the studies or the occupation as a researcher or scientist.
• Adequate pension plan (only if you have already completed the 45th year of life)
  
  The following applies from 1 July 2024:
  Perspectively, at the age of 67, you must have
  

  • either a monthly pension of 1,565.03 euros (for at least 12 years)
  • or an asset amount of 225,364.00 euros.

  Proof of a pension plan is not required for these nationalities: Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the United States of America
  (Note: An adequate pension is always necessary for the issuance of a permanent settlement permit - regardless of age or nationality.)
• Adequate health insurance
  
  You have health insurance in Germany, either in the statutory health insurance system or a comparable private health insurance.
  Foreign health insurance is generally not sufficient. For more information, please read the leaflet (see section "More information").
• Personal appearance by appointment is required
  
  • To make an appointment, please contact the relevant department using the contact form (see section "More information").
  • If possible, please send your appointment request 8 weeks before your current residence permit expires.

Documents required

• Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit) - in German, English, French, Italian
  
  (see section "Forms")
  Only required for first-time application
• Valid passport
• 1 current biometric photo
  
  • From May 1, 2025, biometric passport photos may only be taken digitally directly in the authorities or in photo studios and transmitted by secure electronic means.
  • Please check the website of the Berlin Immigration Office (see “More information”) in good time before your appointment for the current status.
• Businessplan
  
  You can find tips for creating your business plan, for example, on the start-up portal of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy - BMWi (see section "More information").
• Financing plan
  
  (see ‘Forms’)
• Resume / Curriculum vitae
  
  Details of professional career, qualification certificates, diploma, references/sponsors
• For university graduates: A statement by the university
  
  A statement by the university regarding the knowledge acquired in higher education and the connection to the business idea
• For university graduates: Degree from a state-recognised university or comparable training institution in Germany (Original)
• For researchers and scientists: A statement of the previous employer
  
  A statement of the previous employer (e.g. research institution) on the connection between the occupation as researcher/scientist and the business idea
• Excerpt from the Trade Register - Handelsregisterauszug (Original)
  
  However, at least the application for registration in the commercial register via a notary public; in the original
• Trade registration (Gewerbeanmeldung)
  
  Only if no entry in the trade register is required; in the original
• Health insurance
  
  • If you have statutory health insurance: electronic health card and a current confirmation from the health insurance company stating the contribution to be paid
  • In the case of private health insurance: certificate from the insurer regarding the scope and costs of the insurance in accordance with § 257 Para. 2a SGB V. V. Please point out to your insurer that you need the certificate for a residence permit for self-employment
• Lease or proof of home ownership
• Housing costs (Original)
  
  Proof of the monthly rental costs (e.g. current account statement) or costs of the inhabited property; in each case in original form
• Adequate pension plan (only if you have already completed the 45th year of life)
  
  You can provide evidence of adequate retirement benefits (see section "Prerequisites") by:
  

  • an offer from a private pension or life insurer,
  • own assets,
  • acquired pension rights or
  • operating assets
• Proof of your residence in Berlin
  
  • Certificate of registration at the main residence or
  • lease and written confirmation of occupancy from the landlord

Forms

• Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit) - in German, English, French, Italian
• Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit) - in German, Greek, Turkish, Vietnamese
• Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit) - in German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian
• Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit) - in German, Serbian, Bosnian
• Financing plan

Fees

• 100.00 euros

• From the age of 24 years: 37.00 euros
• Until the age of 24 years: 22.80 euros

Legal basis

• Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 21 Abs. 1 oder 2a

Average time to process request

After the appointment, it takes at least 4 weeks until the residence permit is issued as an electronic residence permit and can be collected.

More information

• Contact forms for making an appointment (Berlin Immigration Office)
• Digital passport photos for residence documents from 01.05.2025 (Berlin Immigration Office)
• Gründen in Berlin – Die Gründungsbroschüre (Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Berlin)
• Business start-up portal - Existenzgründungsportal (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie)
• Health insurance leaflet (Berlin Immigration Office)
• Certificate of registration at the main residence (Melde-Bestätigung)
• Example: confirmation of occupancy from the landlord (Wohnungsgeber-Bestätigung)
• Permanent settlement permit for self-employed persons (service)
• Residence permit for a freelance employment - Issuance (service)

Your point of contact

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