🇩🇪Germany
Self-Employment Visa (§21 AufenthG)
Founder route into Germany — chamber of commerce assesses your business plan.
Required documents
- ·Detailed business plan and 3-year financial projection
- ·Proof of financing (loans or own capital)
- ·Professional CV with relevant experience
- ·Pension provision plan if over 45
Things to know
- ·Freelancers (Freiberufler) use a parallel, lighter §21(5) route.
- ·Decisions taken jointly with the IHK and immigration office.
Apostille & legalization
Apostille routeApostille only — both United States and Germany are parties to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.
Apostille / legalisation
None of the listed documents are civil-status, criminal-record, medical or academic records, so an apostille is generally not required for this visa. Bank statements, employment contracts and application forms are accepted as-is (translated when needed).
Bank statements, employment contracts, photos, passport copies and the application form itself do not need an apostille.
- Obtain originals or certified copies of each civil/criminal record (birth certificate, marriage certificate, police clearance, diploma, etc.).
- Have each document apostilled by the competent authority in United States (U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications).
- Translate the apostilled document into the official language of Germany — the apostille itself is also translated.
- Submit the apostilled + translated bundle directly to the Germany immigration authority or consulate; no further consular stamp is required.
Translation: Germany only accepts translations from a court-sworn / officially recognised translator — agency translations are routinely rejected.
Issuing authority in United States: U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications
Documents older than 3–6 months are often rejected. Plan to obtain fresh originals shortly before your visa application.
Last verified 31 May 2026 — reconfirm on the official portal before applying.
Other residency programs in Europe
