Business Immigration · Europe
Germany
Germany’s founder route is discretionary Section 21 (§21) self-employment: economic interest, viability, and local assessment. There is no published capital floor. The Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) is a points / skilled framework, not a founder visa. Forming a GmbH or UG is not an Aufenthaltstitel.
- Programme
- Section 21 self-employment
- Path
- Form company · Startup
- Capital / threshold
- Discretionary. No published capital floor. Economic interest, viability, and local assessment.
- Relocate / visit
- Yes — discretionary grant, not a purchased status
This overview is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, fees, and eligibility criteria change. We verify current requirements with licensed counsel before any engagement. Residence and visa decisions are made by host-country authorities and are never guaranteed.
Country overview
About Germany
Section 21 self-employment is a discretionary residence title. Officers look at viability, economic interest, and often a local chamber or Ausländerbehörde view. There is no published euro capital minimum. A GmbH or UG filing is company formation; it is not the residence title.
The Chancenkarte is not a founder visa. It is a points-based / skilled framework for job search and related stays. Founders are assessed under Section 21. Residence is possible where the discretionary file is accepted.
Practice varies by city. Licensed German counsel coordinates the file. Titles are decided by the competent authority and are not guaranteed. A dormant shelf company does not support a Section 21 case. A digital-nomad visa is a separate category. Requirements are verified with licensed counsel before engagement.
Who this is for
Founders with a viable German business plan that can withstand a discretionary Section 21 assessment. Not a fit where the Opportunity Card is treated as a founder visa, or where a UG filing is treated as a residence title.
Timeline
A discretionary Section 21 file is typically many months and depends on the city. The Opportunity Card runs on a different clock and is not a founder visa.
Programme rules, fees, and capital thresholds are set by the host government and change. Figures on this page reflect our latest review and are verified with licensed counsel before engagement.
Residence programmes
What we brief for Pakistani founders
Programme rules, fees, and capital thresholds are set by the host government and change. Figures on this page reflect our latest review and are verified with licensed counsel before engagement.
Section 21 self-employment
Form company · Startup
Requirements
Discretionary. No published capital floor. Economic interest, viability, and local assessment.
Relocate / visit
Yes — discretionary grant, not a purchased status
Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card)
Form company
Requirements
Points / skilled framework. The Opportunity Card is not a founder visa.
Relocate / visit
Yes — job-seeker / points route, not a founder title
How we work
From briefing to a filed application
Route distinction
Section 21 discretionary self-employment versus the Opportunity Card. The Chancenkarte is not a founder visa. There is no published capital floor.
Viability file
Business plan and economic-interest evidence. The GmbH or UG is the vehicle, not the title.
Authority filing
Counsel files with the Ausländerbehörde or mission as applicable. The outcome is not guaranteed.
Operations
If granted, the business still has to be run in Germany. A dormant UG does not sustain the case.
Key considerations
What this corridor is not
- The Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) is not a founder visa.
- Section 21 has no published capital floor; the assessment is discretionary.
- A GmbH or UG is not an Aufenthaltstitel.
- Residence titles are decided by the competent authority and are not guaranteed.
Also available
Company formation
Forming a Germany company is a separate mandate from residence. If the immigration plan requires a local entity, we coordinate that workstream on its own terms. Formation does not grant the right to live in Germany.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Chancenkarte a startup visa?
No. The Opportunity Card is a points / skilled framework. It is not a founder visa. Founders are assessed under Section 21.
What is the German founder capital minimum?
There is no published capital floor. Section 21 is discretionary: viability, economic interest, and local assessment.
Does a GmbH confer residence?
No. Incorporation is not an Aufenthaltstitel. Residence, if granted, is a separate discretionary decision.
Consultation
Start a confidential conversation
Tell us what you are building or where you need to move. We respond within one business day.