Our employees only speak German in the office and on the phone.

Apply for a residence permit for self-employed individuals with a college degree and for those engaged in academic and research work

  • Migration und Integration
  • Arbeit

Have you completed a degree in Germany, or are you engaged in academic or research work? If so, under certain conditions, you can start your own business in Germany with a residence permit.

  • Basic information

    If you are from a third country and wish to become self-employed in Germany, you can obtain a residence permit under simplified conditions. The requirement is that you:

    • have successfully completed a degree program at a public or state-recognized university in Germany, or
    • already hold a residence permit as a scientist or researcher, or hold an EU Blue Card.

    The conditions are more lenient because some requirements are assessed less strictly, for example:

    • Your entrepreneurial experience
    • Financing
    • positive impact on the regional economy.

    Your planned self-employment must be related to the knowledge you acquired during your studies or to your work in academia or research.

    If you are over 45 years of age, you must have adequate retirement savings.

    Under immigration law, “third countries” include all countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

    Requirements

    • Your identity and nationality have been verified.
    • There are no grounds for deportation or entry ban against you.
    • You meet the passport requirement.
    • You entered the country with the required visa. Your stay is lawful.
    • You have adequate health insurance coverage.
    • Your primary residence is in the city of Bremen
    • The intended self-employed activity must be demonstrably related to the knowledge acquired during your studies or to your work in
    • research or academia
    • Adequate retirement benefits (if you are already 45 years of age or older)

  • Procedure
    • The application and the required documents can be submitted to us by email or mail. 
    • If necessary, the Immigration Office will request additional documents.
    • If your application is approved, you will receive an appointment to come in for an interview.

    More information

    Due to the complexity of residence law, this description is provided for informational purposes only and is not legally binding.

    Starting May 1, 2025, passport photos will only be accepted in digital form. The passport photo must be taken using a registration system on-site at the immigration office, at a photo studio, or by a photo service provider. You cannot submit a digital passport photo from your cell phone. For more information, please visit our website. Limited exceptions to the biometric requirements are permitted for infants and young children.

    A residence permit can only be issued for the duration of your national passport’s validity. Please apply for renewal well in advance of your national passport’s expiration date.
    If you do not possess a valid national passport, you must provide evidence of your efforts to obtain one (for example: written confirmation from the embassy, reasons for any delays).

  • Necessary Documents
    • National Passport / Proof of Identity
    • A current biometric passport photo
    • Evidence of self-employment:
      • A brief business plan with details on financing and the expected income from the
      • planned self-employment
      • Proof of health insurance, including for family members
      • Proof of qualifications for the intended activity (degree certificate, with a translation if necessary, and proof of recognition/equivalence of the degree in Germany through two years of appropriate employment)
      • Ages 45 and older: Proof of adequate retirement provisions
      • Most recent tax assessment notice
      • Business registration
      • Current balance sheet or income statement or business analysis
      • Current certificate from the tax advisor regarding net income as specified in the attachment
    • Proof of Housing
      • For rental apartments: Lease agreement specifying the square meters and proof of the current rent, including all utilities 
      • For rent-free housing: Written confirmation from the primary tenant regarding the rent-free housing
      • For owner-occupied housing: Land registry extract, proof of monthly mortgage payments including utilities/bank statement, proof of property taxes and insurance
    • Proof of Property Taxes and Insurance
    • If the application is filed by an authorized representative: Power of attorney specifying the subject matter of the proceeding
    • If you already have a residence permit or another German residence authorization for the federal territory: A copy of your residence authorization
    • If you have entered the country and are applying for a residence permit for the first time, you must also:
      • Entry stamps, as well as a visa for entry or a residence permit from another EU country in the passport (if applicable)
    • Proof of primary residence in the municipality of Bremen

  • Forms

  • Fees / Costs

    100,00 EUR When a residence permit is issued for the first time as an electronic residence permit
    93,00 EUR When renewing a residence permit as an electronic residence permit
    27,60 EUR For Turkish nationals up to age 24 for initial issuance / for renewal
    46,00 EUR For Turkish citizens aged 24 or older: for initial issuance / for renewal
    56,00 EUR when the residence permit is issued for the first time as a label
    49,00 EUR when renewing a residence permit as a label
    6,00 EUR in addition, for taking a digital passport photo at the on-site self-service terminal.

  • Deadlines & processing time

    What deadlines must be paid attention to?

    8 weeks You should apply for a residence permit no later than 8 weeks before your current visa or residence permit expires.
    3 years The residence permit is issued for a maximum of 3 years.

    How long does it take to process

    Once we receive your application, we will need some time to process and review it. Once the review is complete, we will get back to you.

  • Legal Bases

  • More Information

This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.

The official information in German is complete and correct.

Updated on 11.08.2026

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