Residence permit for the purpose of founding a company (start-up stipend holders)
Residency route facts
Identity
| Official name (local) | Aufenthaltserlaubnis für einen Aufenthalt zur Gründung eines Unternehmens (§ 21 Abs. 2b AufenthG) as of 2026-08-08[1] |
|---|---|
| Official name (English) | Residence permit for the purpose of founding a company (start-up stipend holders) as of 2026-08-08[6] |
| Legal basis | Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 21 Abs. 2b as of 2026-08-08[1] |
| Instrument type | residence permit as of 2026-08-08[1] |
Permit terms
| Initial duration | Not applicable[1] Issued for the duration of the awarded stipend (sec. 21(2b) s.2); see initial_duration_basis and max_total_duration. |
|---|---|
| How the initial term is set | length of the programme |
| Renewable | Not established from a qualifying source |
| Maximum total duration | 18 months as of 2026-08-08[1] Statutory maximum: at most 18 months (sec. 21(2b) s.2). |
| Work rights | Not established from a qualifying source |
Permanent residence and citizenship
| Counts toward permanent residence | Not established from a qualifying source |
|---|
Requirements
| Minimum capital | Not applicable[1] |
|---|---|
| Business plan required | Not established from a qualifying source |
| Endorsement required | Yes as of 2026-08-08[1][6] |
| Innovation criterion | Not established from a qualifying source Stipend programmes typically require innovative ventures, but the statute itself sets no innovation criterion; not closed. |
| Jobs to be created | Not applicable[1] |
| Own means requirement | Recorded at the source, but not reducible to a single value[1] The stipend itself must secure subsistence (sec. 21(2b) s.1 no.2); no amount is fixed in the statute. |
Process
| Where to apply from | either as of 2026-08-08[3][6] IHK guidance describes application via the German mission abroad; sec. 41 AufenthV nationals may apply in-country after visa-free entry. |
|---|---|
| Fees |
|
Physical presence
| maximum consecutive absence | 6 months · to keep the permit as of 2026-08-08[2] Sec. 51(1) no. 7 AufenthG: the permit lapses if the holder leaves Germany and does not re-enter within six months (or a longer period set by the foreigners authority); it also lapses on departure for a reason that is not temporary by nature (no. 6). |
|---|
Family inclusion
| Family members may be included | Not established from a qualifying source |
|---|
Your next step
Read the requirements above considering your own situation: the income multiple, the absence limits, who you can bring. Check the country record for the reference figure those amounts are calculated from, and for anything that has changed recently.
The next step is your own case. That assessment is legal work. Create profile for our assistance in this.
Profile benefits
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Verification
| Sources cited | 6 |
|---|---|
| of which official (tier 1) | 6 |
| Oldest as-of date | 2026-08-08 |
| Newest as-of date | 2026-08-08 |
| Reviewed on | 2026-08-11 |
| Schema version | 1.1 |
Sources
- [1] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 21 – Selbständige Tätigkeit (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 · Archived copy - [2] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 51 – Beendigung der Rechtmäßigkeit des Aufenthalts (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [3] Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) § 41 – Vergünstigung für bestimmte Staatsangehörige (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [4] Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) § 45 – Gebühren Aufenthaltserlaubnis (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · fee schedule · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 · Archived copy - [5] Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) § 46 – Gebühren Visum (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · fee schedule · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [6] Aufenthaltserlaubnis für Gründungsstipendien
Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Berlin (public-law chamber) · official guidance · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08