14/09/2017
Information for Students considering opening a company in Germany
Many students from the international business schools finding the German market as very attractive for products from their country or services connected with their country.
Unfortunately the visa policy in German prevents sometimes to be an entrepreneur.
We want to give you some information what you have to consider if you want to open a company in Germany with student visa.
If you are a student from one of the EU countries you have no regulations concerning entrepreneurship. You can open any kind of company a being also director of it.
If you are coming from a third country (outside the EU) you can have two different visas.
During your study you will be provided with a student visa. This excludes in general the possibility of employment or independent / self-employed activities. Exception from this is a depended employment of 120 days or 240 half days as well as internships.
Under this visa you are able to open a company in form of a limited liability corporation (GmbH) but you are not allowed to be a director or run the company.
After completion of the studies, there is the possibility of finding a job for a maximum period of 18 months. For this your student visa will be changed into a job-seeking visa.
An independent / self-employed activity is possible during this time, without having to be related to the studies.
Latest after the expiry of the 18 months, an independent or self-employed activity can only be exercised if there is a causal link between the activity and the course of studies and the study is obligatory or usually required for the exercise of the activity. Additional to that the Chamber of Industry and Commerce has to agree to the project.
For this purpose, the business owner has to submit a meaningful business plan to the chamber of commerce.
A corresponding business plan can, of course, also be presented immediately, without taking advantage of the times to search for job. The disadvantage is that the listed business figures are then only based on assumptions and forecasts, whereas in the alternative case at least approximately stable figures could be present.
If the business plan is approved the Business Owner can apply for a working visa.