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Alien Law
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Consultancy & Service
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Settlement-Guide
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Go-To-Do
Setup your business in Dortmund, Germany: www.go-to-do.com
Economic Development Dortmund
Alien law in Germany
Ready to Invest in Germany
In Germany, there is a common freedom of trade – foreign investors
are not subject to particular requirements. There are the same legal regulations
for foreigners as well as for natives with regard to investments or the
foundation of a business.
But yet there is a substantial difference: before a foreigner can act
as entrepreneur in the Federal Republic of Germany, he has to receive
an appropriated residence permit for independent professional
activities. On the application, you have to point out that you
have the intention to act as entrepreneur in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Residence Permit
It depends primarily on your nationality which requirements you have
to fulfil to receive a residence permit. There are different conditions
of entry and residence for different groups of states.
- European Union: citizens of member states of the EU do not
need any visa for the entry into Germany and they are not subject to
any restrictions. They can enter Germany without formalities, but have
to apply for a granted residence permit (EU) within three months after
the entry.
- New EU member states: since 01 May 2004, the national
subjects of the new EU member states have to be treated in the same
way as the subjects of the other EU member states as long as the take-up
and the exercise of independent professional activities is concerned.
The only exceptions are the building industry as well as interior decoration
and building cleaning companies.
- Australia, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Canada, Liechtenstein, New Zealand,
Norway, Switzerland, USA, Puerto Rico: for the time being, citizens
of these states can enter the Federal Republic of Germany with a tourist
visa and can make an application for the necessary unrestricted residence
permit after the entry at the competent municipal Foreign Affairs Office.
- Other states: citizens of other states have to make an application
for the residence permit before the entry at the competent consular
representation of Germany. Depending on the country of origin, here
are very different regulations which may change from time to time. Therefore
please get information about the current entry formalities for your
country of origin on the
Internet
homepage of the Federal Foreign Office.
Generally, the municipal Foreign Affairs Office checks the request of
a foreigner to start business activities in Germany. Foreigners normally
have to give evidence of their intention to setup a business in Germany.
This may be business plans, financial documents, etc. You should find
out together with the local Foreign Affairs Office what is necessary in
your individual case.
Note
Those persons who have to make an application for a visa must contact
the municipal Foreign Affairs Office. This
office handles the visa application. An early contact probably may avoid
delays and quicken the application process.
The residence permit application normally is handled by the German consular
representation in the particular home country. On the
homepage
of the Federal Foreign Office, you can search the German foreign representation
in your country. There you will receive the necessary application forms.
For persons from English, Russian, French, and Spanish speaking countries,
the application form can be downloaded
as pdf file.
Necessary Documents
You need some documents for the application of a visa:
- your passport,
- 2 visa applications,
- 2 photos.
Probably, you will need further documents, e.g. an income proof or the
like. Therefore please ask the German consular representation in your
country about further formalities.
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German Green
Card 
Alien law -
overview