de_aiv
Germany Self-Employment Visa
Germany · Central Europe
Program facts from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database. Unknown facts are shown as Unknown, never as zero.
- Publication state
- Mobility Asset Database
- Lifecycle status
- Unknown
- Facts checked through
- Sep 21, 2026
- Source snapshots
- Database edition
Identity and current status
The route identity and current status.
- Year establishedPublished
- 2005
- Governing lawPublished
- Residence Act
- Responsible authorityPublished
- Federal Office for Migration and Refugees
What the program provides
What the program gives the holder.
- What the program providesPublished
- Power your way into Germany, Europe's economic engine, through investment in innovation
Best suited for
Who the program tends to suit. Research only, never a personal recommendation.
No governed customer claim is present for this section.
Eligibility
Personal qualifications an applicant must establish.
- Minimum agePublished
- 18 years
- Clean criminal record requiredPublished
- Yes
- Local health insurance requiredPublished
- Yes
- Nationality restrictionsPublished
- No
- Basic eligibilityPublished
- Viable business plan with secured financing and an economic interest or regional need; no fixed minimum investment. Applicants over 45 need adequate pension provision.
- Employment statusPublished
- Self-employed
- Type of remote employmentPublished
- Freelance/self-employed work for German, EU or international clients; the residence permit authorizes self-employed activity in Germany without restricting who may be invoiced once granted, though having some German/EU clients strengthens the initial application and case for economic benefit.
- Generational limitPublished
- Not applicable
Household inclusion
How spouses and children are treated.
- Family sponsorshipPublished
- Yes
- Spouse includedPublished
- Yes
- Children includedPublished
- Yes
- Child age limitPublished
- 18 years
Documents
Evidence categories and filing documents.
No governed customer claim is present for this section.
Process and timeline
How you apply and how long it takes.
- Processing timeUnknown
- Unknown
- Can apply without travelingUnknown
- Unknown
- Official application routePublished
- https://digital.diplo.de/navigator/en/visa#/vib
Costs and investment
Fees, income and savings thresholds, and investment amounts.
- Minimum investmentPublished
- None required
- Minimum passive investment (July 2026)Published
- None required
- Minimum active investment (July 2026)Published
- None required
- Processing feePublished
- $110
- Application feePublished
- $75
- Total cost to applyPublished
- $185
- Monthly income requiredPublished
- None required
- Monthly pension income requiredPublished
- None required
- Monthly rental income requiredPublished
- None required
- Savings requiredUnknown
- Unknown
- Proof of sufficient fundsPublished
- Yes
- Local bank deposit requiredPublished
- No
- Minimum local bank depositPublished
- None required
- Fees paidPublished
- Before approval
- Cost notesPublished
- No statutory minimum capital under Section 21 AufenthG; the old EUR 250,000 (about USD 290,000) guideline was dropped in 2012. Capital must fit the business plan, and law firms report EUR 25,000 to 250,000 in practice depending on the business.
Presence and maintenance
Stay, renewal, and how long the status lasts.
- Stay required to keep statusPublished
- 30 days/year
- Physical presence requiredPublished
- Yes
- In-country visit requiredPublished
- Yes
- Move-in windowPublished
- 6 months
- Length of residencyPublished
- 36 months
- Residency is lifetimePublished
- No
- RenewablePublished
- Yes
- Maximum durationUnknown
- Unknown
- Maximum duration is lifetimePublished
- Yes
- Tax residency rulePublished
- Residents staying more than 183 days per year will be considered tax residents
- Personal income taxPublished
- range between 14%-45%
Rights and onward pathways
Work, healthcare and other rights, and the path to permanent residence and citizenship.
- Time to permanent residencyPublished
- 3 years
- Time to citizenshipPublished
- 6 years
- Work for a local employerPublished
- Yes
- Start a businessPublished
- Yes
- Remote or freelance workPublished
- Yes
- Local healthcare accessPublished
- Yes
- University accessPublished
- Yes
- Can buy landPublished
- Yes
- Local bankingPublished
- Yes
- Permanent residence timeline basisPublished
- Years stated
- Citizenship timeline basisPublished
- Years stated
Risks, limitations, and uncertainty
Notes on changes, conflicts, and limits.
No governed customer claim is present for this section.
Sources, freshness, and conflict disclosure
Where the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database took these facts from.
- Official program websitePublished
- https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/types/other/self-employment
Every fact on this page comes from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database (Sep 21, 2026 edition). A blank is shown as Unknown.
This anonymous dossier is read-only research. It does not establish personal fit, eligibility, legal or tax advice, filing, approval, residence, citizenship, or a held Right.