Step 1
Plan the structure: GmbH, UG, branch or subsidiary, and whether you will need a residence permit
Corporate in Germany
The route in Germany
Pick one to see its full rulesAbout Germany
About Germany
Germany lets founders from outside the EU own and run a German company outright. The usual choice is the GmbH, a private limited company with €25,000 of share capital, of which €12,500 must be paid in before registration; a UG (haftungsbeschränkt) can start from €1. The nationality and residence of shareholders and managing directors do not matter, but every company needs a German business address and articles notarised by a German notary. Forming the company does not by itself give a residence permit. A founder who will live in Germany and run the business applies for a residence permit for self-employment under Section 21 of the Residence Act, which is judged on the business plan and has no fixed investment amount. We deliver Germany company formation with our Berlin partner, Nexus-Europe GmbH.
Capital:BerlinLanguage:GermanCurrency:Euro (€)
- Population
- 84,000,000
- Capital
- Berlin
- Language
- German
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Climate
- Temperate seasonal climate
Why Germany
Why Germany?
GmbH from €25,000 of share capital, €12,500 paid in; UG from €1
100% foreign ownership; shareholders and directors can live abroad
Corporate tax 15% plus a 5.5% surcharge, falling one point a year from 2028 to 10% in 2032
Residence for founders through the Section 21 self-employment permit, with no fixed investment
Delivered with our Berlin partner, Nexus-Europe GmbH
Process
How it works
Step 2
Prepare passports and company documents, apostilled or legalised and translated where needed
Step 3
Sign the articles before a German notary, in person or through a notarised power of attorney
Step 4
Open the business bank account and pay in the capital
Step 5
The notary files the company with the commercial register
Step 6
Register the trade, the tax number and VAT ID, and the beneficial owners
Step 7
Apply for a residence permit for self-employment if you will move to Germany
Eligibility — Requirements
Requirements
The following list outlines the core eligibility requirements for this program.
At least one shareholder and one managing director, of any nationality
A German business address
Articles of association notarised by a German notary
Share capital paid in: at least €12,500 for a GmbH, or the full amount for a UG
Valid passports and, for company shareholders, apostilled or legalised register extracts
Frequently asked questions
Yes. A GmbH or UG can be 100% owned by foreign individuals or companies, and the shareholders and managing directors can live outside Germany.
€25,000 for a GmbH, of which €12,500 must be paid in before registration. A UG can start from €1, paid in full in cash.
No. If you will live in Germany and run the business, you apply separately for a residence permit for self-employment, judged on your business plan, its benefit to the economy and secured financing.
Nexus-Europe GmbH, a Berlin firm working on business development and investment in Germany. They handle the German side of company formation; XIPHIAS handles your documents and the immigration side.
Priority enquiry
Book a FREE consultation
Tell us a bit about your case. An advisor will respond within 24 hours.
Related
Explore other countries
You may also like these destinations
Canada — Corporate Immigration
Canada offers stable economic opportunity, world-class education and healthcare, and streamlined corporate mobility options — including the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) route — for multinational companies expanding their footprint.
Cyprus — Corporate Immigration
Cyprus offers an EU company structure with 100% foreign ownership, no minimum share capital and 15% corporate tax from 2026, for entrepreneurs and companies seeking a European base.