Willkommen auf den Seiten des Auswärtigen Amts
Self-employment or for setting up a business
At the opening of the mRNA vaccine plant near the capital Kigali, © Florian Gaertner/AA/photothek.de
Thank you for your interest in an extended stay in the Federal Republic of Germany for self-employment purposes.
Please note that applications must be handed in by the applicant in person. Any matters pertaining to an application will only be discussed with the applicant.
Visa applications may be submitted at this Embassy by appointment only. An online appointment system is available at www.prag.diplo.de/Terminvergabe.
Persons who are in possession of a Blue Card EU of another EU-country for at least 18 months are entitled to file their application directly at the local Alien’s Authority (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany. The application needs to be filed within one month after entry. Taking up employment is allowed only after having received the residence permit.
⬜ 1. 1 Application form
- Comletely filled out, signed by hand
- Link to the VIDEX-form: https://videx-national.diplo.de
⬜ 2. Passport + 1 copy of all relevant sides
The Applicant’s passport has to have at least two blank pages.
Please copy the laminated data page and all pages containing visas and stamps.
Please note, that the validity of the passport must exceed the duration of the visa by at least 3 months.
⬜ 3. Residence permit + 1 copy
- Proof of residence permit for the Czech Republic. Please copy both sides of the residence permit card.
Please note that the Embassy can only accept visa applications from persons habitually residing in the Czech Republic (for at least 6 months).
In case of doubt, the submission of further documents, evidence is required (eg. rent contract, work contract).
⬜ 4. 2 biometric passport photos
- Two recently taken biometric passport photographs (in colour, not older than 6 months, created against white background, with a size of 45 x 35 milimetres).
⬜ 5. Proof of intended gainful employment + 1 copy
- Detailed business plan.
- Detailed documents about the effects on the employment and the training situation, and the contribution to innovation and research.
- If the company already exists in Germany: articles of association and excerpt from the Commercial Register, otherwise: business registration and draft of the articles of association.
- Finance plan, which shows, that you will be able to make your living by the professional activity envisaged plus proof of currently available financial means.
- Evidence of professional qualifications and previous professional career/business experience.
- Lease agreement for the rental of business premises.
- Applicants who are 45 years old or older: Proof of an adequate provision for old age must be provided.
In case you are a skilled specialist planning to set up a business please submit the following documents:
- Proof of professional qualification or university degree
- Proof of graduate qualifications entitling the applicant to the aspired occupation in Germany (e.g. University degree accompanied by the proof that the degree is recognized in Germany).
- You can find out whether a foreign university degree is comparable and whether the university is recognised in the ANABIN database: https://anabin.kmk.org/ - both printouts must be submitted. University degrees that were not acquired at a German or Czech university must be provided with an apostille or legalization note in order to be accepted for the German area of legislation.
- For recognition Applicants who intend to work in a so called regulated profession must provide a written permission to exercise the profession (Berufsausübungserlaubnis) or the proof that it has been expressly assured that this permission will be received.
Proof of a subsistence scholarship from a German business organization or a German public body (e.g. the University-Based Business Start-Up „Exist“).
⬜ 6. Proof of language skills + 1 copy
Proof of sufficient knowledge of German language, if necessary for the intended employment in Germany. Otherwise proof that another language which the applicant speaks is sufficient.
The proof of language skills must not be older than one year.
Recognised language certificates are the language certificates issued by the Goethe Institute, a language school certified by TELC or ECL or the ÖSD-certificate.
⬜ 7. Proof of accomodation + 1copy
- Proof of accommodation during the intended period of stay in Germany (e.g. rental agreement, if already available.
- If not already available, proof of temporary accommodation for at least 4 weeks.
⬜ 8. Proof of health insurance + 1copy
Proof of health insurance valid from the date of arrival and for the duration of the intended stay in Germany (German Statutory – „gesetzliche Krankenversicherung“ - or private health insurance). During the visa process a letter of the insurance company, confirming that sufficient coverage will be guaranteed in case the visa will be granted, is accepted.
Please note that a travel health insurance cannot be accepted.
⬜ 9. CV + 1 copy
- Complete curriculum vitae with original signature.
⬜ 10. Visa fee
- The visa fee is 75 €, payable in cash in CZK at current exchange rate or with credit card (Mastercard or Visa). The visa fee is a handling fee. There will be no refund in case the application will be denied or withdrawn.
⬜ 12. Additional contact and legal representation details
Each visa application is an individual case. The documents to be submitted may therefore differ from case to case. It is possible at any time during the visa procedure that additional documents may be required.
Health Insurance in Visa Procedures
Persons who wish to enter Germany for the purpose of family reunification, to take up employment or to study need permanent private health insurance cover comparable to the provisions of SGB V upon entry