Self-employment
Are you an international student looking to start a business?
Here you will find an overview of the legal framework and tips on how to overcome bureaucratic hurdles in a structured and successful manner if you want to start your own business alongside or after your studies.
Many students are aware of the rule that they are allowed to work 140 full days or 280 half days per year. Please note: This rule only applies to dependent employment (salaried employment)!
For any form of self-employment (trade or freelance work such as freelancing), you require a separate permit from the immigration office in accordance with Section 21 (6) of the Residence Act. Starting work without this permit is a violation of the Residence Act.
The "studies first" principle
For the immigration authorities, the main purpose of your stay is and remains your studies. Any entrepreneurial activity must be clearly subordinate to this goal and must not jeopardize your academic success.
If you want to start a business while studying, you do not need to apply for a new residence permit, but rather for an additional permit.
Prerequisite: Your studies must remain your main focus. The activity must not take up the majority of your time (secondary activity).
You must prove that your livelihood is secure without having to rely on the still uncertain income from the start-up.
- Informal application for a permit to engage in self-employment
- Valid passport.
- Current residence permit for study purposes.
- Proof of sufficient funds to cover living expenses (e.g., current bank statement
from the blocked account). - Detailed business plan or description of activities (these are not
mandatory, but they make the evaluation much easier). - Detailed financial plan (this is not mandatory, but it makes the
evaluation much easier). - Curriculum vitae of the founder.
- Current certificate of enrollment and transcript of grades.
After graduation, there are often easier paths for graduates of German universities:
With this residence permit, you will have up to 18 months after graduation to find a job. During this phase, you are permitted to engage in any type of gainful employment without restriction. This means that during this time, you can not only look for a permanent position, but also work as a freelancer or take the first steps toward starting your own business while securing your livelihood.
This residence permit is ideal if your business idea is directly related to the knowledge you acquired during your studies in Germany. For example, if you studied computer science and are now starting a software company, this residence permit makes the process much easier, as the immigration authorities will recognize the economic benefits for the region more quickly.
This path is specifically intended for innovative and scalable business models. A prerequisite here is often that your project is financially supported by a recognized German start-up grant (such as the EXIST start-up grant). Since the economic and technical quality of your idea has already been assessed by the grant, the residence permit is usually granted much more smoothly.
You are not alone! Take advantage of counseling services and networks:
Contact points and communities
University start-up centers
Initial consultations usually take place here.
Exclusively for female founders
