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Checklist for Visa Self-employment (Section 21 Residence Act)
Important
Documents not in the English language must be submitted with a certified German translation. A translation of the personal data page of the passport is, however, not required.
Certificates, diplomas, etc. must be presented in the original. Your original documents will be returned to you once your application has been processed.
The visa must be approved by the Federal Employment Agency and, where applicable, the competent foreigners´ authority in Germany. The visa can only be issued when these approvals have been received.
Processing time is as a rule ca. 4 weeks but can take longer in individual cases.
Flight reservations are not required to apply for a visa – please only book when you have received your visa.
The mission abroad reserves the right to request further documents.
Missing documentation delays the procedure and can result in your application being rejected.
Please do not contact the mission abroad to check the status of your application during the normal processing period. Such inquiries are extremely time-consuming for the visa section and can thus not be answered.
Please do not staple the documents.
Required documents
Use the following checklist to make sure your application documents are complete. All documents listed here are to be submitted in the requested form and order.
One (1) fully completed and signed application form including declaration pursuant to Section 54 Residence Act
One (1) recent biometric passport photo (see specimen photos)
- Valid and personally (signed passport with at least two completely empty pages)
- One (1) uncertified copy of the data page of your valid passport
Complete curriculum vitae in tabular form in German
Proof of qualification, e.g. university degree, training certificate, experience certificates, reference letters
Business plan - a well-structured and detailed description of the business idea, covering the following : (+ 1 copy) (for further information on the business plan, please check https://www.existenzgruender.de/EN/Die-ersten-Schritte/Gruendung-planen/inhalt.html and https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/jobs/setting-up-a-business/business-plan/preparation/)
- Business concept (e.g. information on products/services, legal form…)
- Financing and investment plan
- Capital requirement plan
- Revenue forecast for the first three years
- Market and competitive analysis
- Marketing strategy
- If applicable: expected number of employees and trainees
- If applicable: explanation of the extent to which the areas of innovation and research will be positively influenced by the project
Proof of available capital
If applicable: documents concerning your (planned) company in, such as:
- deed of association (Gesellschaftsvertrag)
- excerpt from the commercial register (Handelsregisterauszug) or at least the application for registration in the commercial register via a notary public
- business registration (Gewerbeanzeige) with the Trade Office (Gewerbeamt)
- employment contract of the managing director/s (Geschäftsführer/innen-Anstellungsvertrag)
If applicable: further supporting documents depending on the specific case (2 copies), such as:
- Rental contract, if already concluded
- Proof of existing business relations in Germany/Europe
- If applicable: degree from a state or a state-recognised higher education institute or comparable training institution in Germany
Proof of secure means of subsistence for at least one year.
From the age of 45: Proof of adequate provision for old age (original and one (1) copy (only if salary does not amount to at least 55% of the annual contribution assessment ceiling for the general pension insurance scheme – 2025: 53 130 € gross/per annum))
If as an employee you are subject to mandatory statutory health insurance, you must bear in mind that this insurance can only begin when you take up residence in Germany and enter into employment. If you enter Germany beforehand, private health insurance must be taken out for the period prior to employment beginning and prior to being eligible for statutory health insurance. In its terms and conditions, travel health insurance can exclude protection if a long-term or permanent stay is planned. So-called incoming travel insurance can also contain such exclusions.
For applicant of a nationality other than Mauritian.
Visa fee of 75 €. Payable in Ariary.