Student visa to self Employed GERMANY

[Zelda]

Hello Everyone,
I am a foreigner living in Germany with student status, I have been doing business online and made some money.
But as a student, I should not be doing that as it's considered illegal, the only activity that I am allowed to do is work at Mcdonald's and get paid hourly!
I have paid consultation with a lawyer to see what can I do to switch my student visa to a self-employed visa! He gave me some options which all of which are a big no.
I have to work for another company for some time which I cannot do because my business comes first.
And after a lot of talks, he concluded that it would be a miracle to get it switched. (from student residence to self-employed residency)
I have enough capital to start a business and fail and be comfortable. and I will also consider moving to other countries if Germany doesn't accept me. I feel discriminated in a way! that I can't switch visas in a capitalist country with free-market
but I guess I am just a foreigner to them. I will do my best to get it switched. if not I'll consider other countries that treat me well.
the business idea is a startup idea that has to do with my study which legally I am allowed to apply for and get it! but 2 lawyers said that it gets rejected most of the time!
Any insight or advice or info on how to get the switch in Germany is really appreciated I'm a young person and this decision will play a big role in my future.
thank you guys I trust you with my life.

 

[JackAlabama]

Zelda said:
Hello Everyone,
I am a foreigner living in Germany with student status, I have been doing business online and made some money.
But as a student, I should not be doing that as it's considered illegal, the only activity that I am allowed to do is work at Mcdonald's and get paid hourly!
I have paid consultation with a lawyer to see what can I do to switch my student visa to a self-employed visa! He gave me some options which all of which are a big no.
I have to work for another company for some time which I cannot do because my business comes first.
And after a lot of talks, he concluded that it would be a miracle to get it switched. (from student residence to self-employed residency)
I have enough capital to start a business and fail and be comfortable. and I will also consider moving to other countries if Germany doesn't accept me. I feel discriminated in a way! that I can't switch visas in a capitalist country with free-market
but I guess I am just a foreigner to them. I will do my best to get it switched. if not I'll consider other countries that treat me well.
the business idea is a startup idea that has to do with my study which legally I am allowed to apply for and get it! but 2 lawyers said that it gets rejected most of the time!
Any insight or advice or info on how to get the switch in Germany is really appreciated I'm a young person and this decision will play a big role in my future.
thank you guys I trust you with my life.
Click to expand...

"I feel discriminated in a way! that I can't switch visas in a capitalist country with free-market"

It is not as what it is portrayed to people outside eu.
Germany is run by an ex ddr / communist inclined totalitarian leader.
It is neither capitalist nor free-market, instead bureaucracy is the name of the game there as well as equality, fairness and such things.

Where are you from? That will also shape the answers.

Last edited: Mar 4, 2021

 

[Silvio]

Move ASAP out of the Germany tax prison. Be smart and move to a zero tax country before you start actually making big money, it will save you a lot of headache in the future. It is much harder to escape any tax prison once they smell that you got money and once you paid some taxes.
You wrote you're open to moving, just choose a nice zero-tax country like Cyprus\Malta\Ireland\UK\Malaysia or any other tax island and set up your business with good foundation. You wrote that you need a visa so I guess you are not European, do you mind sharing your nationality?

 

[JackAlabama]

maxmmm said:
Move ASAP out of the Germany tax prison. Be smart and move to a zero tax country before you start actually making big money, it will save you a lot of headache in the future. It is much harder to escape any tax prison once they smell that you got money and once you paid some taxes.
You wrote you're open to moving, just choose a nice zero-tax country like Cyprus\Malta\Ireland\UK\Malaysia or any other tax island and set up your business with good foundation. You wrote that you need a visa so I guess you are not European, do you mind sharing your nationality?
Click to expand...

Good points.
Yeah op better share his nationality, this (sadly) determines to a large extent in what part of the world you will enjoy smooth sailing.
A large $ stack can of course offset most rocky waters.

 

[Silvio]

JackAlabama said:
Good points.
Yeah op better share his nationality, this (sadly) determines to a large extent in what part of the world you will enjoy smooth sailing.
A large $ stack can of course offset most rocky waters.
Click to expand...

Yep, with enough money you will be accepted everywhere but I doubt Op wants or is able to spend 6 figures just for some "entrepreneur visa".

 

[John Andrews]

Funny how non-europeans are entitled to EU residency.

I agree with what others have said, Germany is terrible for running a business, move out (while you still can lol)

 

[Don]

Assuming you´re not European, do you want to keep the Schengen visa, or are open to other options as well?

 

[Zelda]

Sorry for the long reply, but it isn't yet figured out was working in silence, and now I am ready to act. My nationality is Moroccan!

 

[Sols]

So you have broken the conditions⁣ of your visa. You're playing with fire here. Your visa hasn't been valid for probably⁢ two years, and that might come up if you try to switch it. They may︀ ask to see documents from your institute of education to process a switch.

Even if︁ this is discovered under the friendliest of circumstances, those two years of residence may not︂ count as years of residence since it wasn't valid.

Do you have︄ enough to buy Maltese passport? Just under a million EUR should cover all fees and︅ leave some margin.

So you have committed some form︊ of fraud. Not very wise. Just more problems that risk coming up in case of︋ an in-depth review of your status and financial situation in case of a visa/status switch.︌

What if you⁠ find a local partner to form a company with, transition your business into that company,⁤ and use that to become employed or self-employed? Discuss the details with a lawyer to⁣ ensure it isn't done fraudulently.

Despite an active︁ startup scene in several cities, Germany's bureaucracy is not aligned with that reality. Your application︂ for a switch is likely to be unsuccessful. The lawyers you have spoken to have︃ said as much.

 

[elaine053099]

Marry a German! 3 years too and you can get a German pass. Provided you‌ passed the language and citizen's test. 🙂

 

[Soterus]

Germany is the country with the worldwide highest taxes and fees for self-employed people. What‌ do you want there if you really have enough money for your business? Almost everywhere‍ else outside Europe you can do better. If you really like Europe, consider GB, Portugal,⁠ Romania or Bulgaria. I also agree, if you wish to have a German Passport, you⁤ should get married and study the language (most difficult), and that's it.

 

[RealDude]

Fun fact: Even‌ the most native Germans can't pass the test 😉