Business Visa Germany: How Company Ownership Opens a Residence Permit

A business visa for Germany is, in everyday use, two very different things. One is the short-stay Schengen business visa that lets you attend meetings and trade fairs for up to 90 days. The other, which most company buyers actually want, is the long-stay route that lets you live in Germany and run a business: a national visa followed by a self-employment residence permit under Section 21 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG). Owning or buying a German company, usually a GmbH, is one of the cleanest ways to support that second route. Müller Konsult helps international founders set up the company and build the case behind it.

To be clear from the start: this page is not about a tourist or a short business trip. It is about moving to Germany lawfully through genuine business activity. Germany has no “golden visa”, so residence is earned, not purchased.

What “business visa for Germany” really means

The phrase covers two separate permissions, and confusing them is the most common mistake we see. A short-stay business visa is a Schengen C visa: it allows visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, costs around €90, and is meant for conferences, negotiations and trade fairs. It does not let you live in Germany or operate a company day to day.

What a founder needs is the long-stay path: a national (D) entry visa, then a self-employment residence permit issued in Germany. That permit is the document that lets you stay, run your company, and bring your family.

The self-employment residence permit (Section 21 AufenthG)

The route that matters for company owners is the residence permit for self-employment, governed by Section 21 of the Residence Act. Under §21(1), the authorities weigh three things before they grant it:

• An economic interest or a regional demand for your product or service.
• A positive economic effect that your business is expected to have, for example through investment, innovation or jobs.
• Adequate financing, shown either through your own capital or a firm loan commitment, backed by a viable business plan.

There is no single fixed investment figure written into the law. In practice, financing in the range of roughly €25,000 to €250,000 is typical, depending on the business and the region, and the plan is often reviewed by the local Chamber of Commerce (IHK). One extra condition applies by age: applicants over 45 must show adequate old-age provision, such as a pension or assets, under §21(3).

If you are weighing this against an employment-based route, our guide to the EU Blue Card in Germany covers the salaried alternative.

Freelancer or business founder? Two routes under Section 21

Section 21 actually contains two doors. Liberal-profession freelancers, called Freiberufler, apply under §21(5) and mainly need to show they can finance their work and hold any required professional licence. People running a trade or a company, called Gewerbetreibender, use the §21(1) founder route described above. A founder who owns or buys a GmbH almost always falls into the second category, which is the path this page focuses on.

Can buying a company in Germany get you a visa?

This is the question we hear most, so it deserves a straight answer. Buying or forming a German company does not hand you a visa automatically, but it is one of the strongest building blocks for the §21 self-employment permit. The permit is granted to a person who will genuinely run a viable business that benefits the German economy. A clean, ready-to-operate company gives that case real substance: it shows the structure exists, the capital is in place, and trading can begin at once.

Many founders choose a ready-made entity precisely to move faster, which is why a GmbH for sale or a shelf company in Germany is a common first step before the visa application. The company is the vehicle; the residence permit is granted to you, the owner-manager, on the strength of what that vehicle will do.

Which company and entity works best

For most foreign founders the GmbH is the natural choice: it is Germany’s standard limited liability company, with a minimum share capital of €25,000 (GmbHG §5), of which at least €12,500 must be paid in before registration (§7). Other forms exist, such as the UG “mini-GmbH”, the AG, and the European SE, and the right one depends on your plans. You can compare them in our overview of the types of companies in Germany.

You can either form a new GmbH in Germany or buy an existing one. Buying is usually faster because the entity is already registered; forming gives you a company built exactly to your specification. Both support a §21 application equally well, so the decision comes down to speed and preference.

Is there a German golden visa?

No. Germany does not run a golden visa or a citizenship-by-investment programme, and you should treat any offer to “buy” German residence with caution. What Germany does offer is a genuine route: set up a real business that has economic value, and you can earn the right to live there. This matters because the golden visa Europe searches that bring people to this topic often imply a passive purchase, which is not how the German system works. Residence here follows real activity, and that is also what makes it durable once granted.

Step-by-step: moving to Germany through a company

The journey from interest to residence runs through a clear sequence. We coordinate the corporate side and work alongside immigration counsel on the rest:

1. Plan and assess. We discuss your goals and decide on the right route and entity, and whether to buy or form the company.
2. Set up the company. You buy a ready-made GmbH for speed or form a new one, and we help prepare a viable business plan and financing proof, which the Chamber of Commerce may review.
3. Apply for the entry visa. Most non-EU applicants apply for a national (D) visa for self-employment at the German embassy or consulate in their home country.
4. Enter and register. Once in Germany, you register your address (Anmeldung) and arrange an open business bank account in Germany.
5. Apply for the residence permit. You apply for the §21 self-employment residence permit at the local foreigners’ authority (Ausländerbehörde).
6. Operate and bring family. You run the business; spouses and children can join through family reunification with work and study rights.
7. Settle, then naturalise. After three years of a successful business you may apply for a settlement permit, and after roughly five years of legal residence you become eligible for citizenship.

Requirements and documents

German authorities assess both you and your business, so the file needs to be complete and honest. For a §21 self-employment permit you should expect to provide:

• A valid passport and the completed application.
• Proof of company registration or purchase.
• A viable business plan with financing proof, whether your own funds or a loan commitment.
• Your CV and relevant professional qualifications or experience.
• Proof of accommodation in Germany, such as a lease.
• Valid health insurance.
• Evidence of old-age provision if you are over 45 (§21(3)).
• A criminal-record clearance where required.

Documents are usually accepted in German or English, and some may need an apostille or certified translation. We help assemble and check the corporate documents so nothing is missing at the decisive moment.

Timeline: from visa to settlement and citizenship

Many founders want to know not just how to enter, but how the status grows over time. The headline timeline looks like this:

These are general expectations, not promises. Processing times depend on the consulate, the authority, and the strength of your file, which is exactly why the planning stage is worth doing well.

Thinking about moving to Germany through your own company? Request a free callback with our lawyers, with no commitment. Talk to our team.

Applying from inside Germany or at a consulate

Most non-EU nationals must apply for the entry visa at a German mission before travelling. There is a useful exception: nationals of certain countries that enjoy visa-free entry, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Israel, can usually enter Germany first and then apply for the self-employment residence permit from within the country, at the local foreigners’ authority. If you hold one of these passports, this can save a step. We confirm the right path for your nationality before you book any travel.

Costs: official fees and what else to budget

It helps to separate the small, fixed government fees from the larger, variable cost of building the business. The statutory fees are modest and set by the Residence Regulation (AufenthV); the real budget sits in the company and the supporting work.

A key point: the €25,000 share capital is not a fee. It belongs to your company and works in the business once you own it. We quote our own services transparently on request, and we never guarantee a visa or residence outcome, because no honest adviser can.

Keeping your permit: ongoing business viability

A residence permit through self-employment is not a one-off hurdle; it is tied to your business staying real. When the first permit comes up for renewal, and again when you apply to settle, the authority looks at whether the company is genuinely operating and viable. That makes ongoing compliance part of your immigration strategy, not just your bookkeeping. We support clients with accounting, annual filings, tax returns and corporate housekeeping so the business that earned the permit keeps it in good standing. Our wider corporate-tax picture is covered in corporate tax in Germany.

Business visa vs EU Blue Card

Not everyone should take the self-employment route. If you would rather be employed, including in a genuine salaried managing-director role within your own company, the EU Blue Card can be a faster, more predictable path, because it turns on a recognised degree and a qualifying salary rather than a business case. The §21 self-employment permit suits owners who want to build and run their own venture; the Blue Card suits qualified professionals in salaried positions. We help you weigh which fits your situation rather than pushing one answer.

Why work with a lawyer-led DACH adviser

German business immigration sits at the meeting point of company law, tax and the Residence Act, and a weak file in any one of them can sink an otherwise good case. Working with a lawyer-led adviser means your company is set up correctly, your business plan and financing are presented in the way authorities expect, and someone accountable stands behind the work. Müller Konsult brings corporate, tax and compliance experience together, with a named lawyer, a real Düsseldorf office, and clients from India, the UAE, the United States, the United Kingdom and beyond. If you are coming from one of those markets, see our dedicated guidance for India, the UAE, the US and the UK.

Frequently asked questions

A note on advice

This page is general information about German business immigration and company ownership. It is not immigration, tax or legal advice, and the rules can change. Decisions on visas and residence permits rest with the German authorities, and outcomes depend on your individual circumstances. We do not guarantee any visa or residence result. Always confirm the current requirements for your case before acting.

Official sources

• German Residence Act (AufenthG), official English text, including §21 - gesetze-im-internet.de
• Visa for self-employment, Make it in Germany (Federal Government) - make-it-in-germany.com
• Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) - bamf.de

Ready to plan your move to Germany?

Contact Müller Konsult to set up the company and build the case behind your residence application. We assess your goals, propose the right entity, and guide you through every step. Müller Konsult · Königsallee 27, 40212 Düsseldorf · +49 211 5403 8800 · info@gmbhforsale.com · Request a callback

Reviewed by Stefan Stelthove, Corporate & Commercial Lawyer, Müller Konsult. Last updated 7 June 2026.

Related: How to buy a company in Germany as a foreigner · EU Blue Card Germany · GmbH for sale · Residence permit Austria · Residence permit Switzerland