Is it possible to open a business bank account as a non-German citizen?

Opening a German bank account as a non-German citizen & resident: How it works

The obstacles non-German founders face when establishing businesses in Germany aren’t limited to the incorporation process – opening a business bank account in Germany can be just as challenging. If you’re not a German citizen nor reside in Germany, opening a business account with a German bank won’t be easy.

Here, we’ll explain how opening a bank account from abroad works and from which countries it is currently possible or not possible to do so.

Is it possible to open a business bank account as a non-German citizen?

Although it is theoretically possible for anyone to open a business account with any bank, non-German citizens who don’t reside in Germany can usually only open accounts with so-called direct banks (Direktbanken).

Unlike multi-branch banks (Filialbanken) such as Sparkasse or Volksbank, direct banks have no customer-accessible locations and can only be found online. Each bank can generally decide what requirements for opening an account to set for its customers. Direct banks are often much more accommodating when it comes to opening a business account from abroad.

Banks differentiate between the following groups when opening a new account:

Citizenship	Country of residence	Opening a business account
German	Germany	Possible at all banks (no restrictions on accounts and products)
German	Outside of Germany	Possible with most banks (but with account and product restrictions)
Non-German	Germany	Possible at most banks (no restrictions on accounts and products)
Non-German	Outside of Germany	Only at certain banks (but with account and product restrictions)

How to open a business bank account in Germany as a non-German citizen

Before you embark on any enterprise in Germany, it’s important to realize that it can be extremely difficult for non-German citizens who don’t reside in Germany to successfully open a German bank account. For some, it is impossible, for others, it requires sheer determination.

To open an account, you will generally need the following:

• Documents confirming your identity
• Apostille or legalization for foreign documents/certificates (the respective authentication process depends on the country issuing the documents and the country where the bank account will be opened, which is Germany in this case)
• Proxy form allowing a representative to open the account in your name (if you can’t be there to complete the process in person)
• Before you open an account in Germany, you absolutely must make sure that Germany accepts document legalizations or apostilles from the country in question.

NB: There are several countries whose authentications are not accepted for political reasons, despite the fact that those countries participate in this process.

Having a representative open your bank account in Germany

If the possibilities mentioned above are not an option for you or are not accepted by your bank, you can have someone represent you in some cases to complete the process in Germany. The authorized person can then open the account for you in a branch of your bank of choice.

In order to allow that person to represent you, you’ll need a notarized power of attorney. Your relevant consulate or embassy (click here for a country overview) can prepare one for you. Print out the text of the power of attorney or authorization form and bring it to the consulate or embassy along with a valid ID.

Make sure to find out in advance if your bank of choice even accepts such representation. If they do, request the apostille or legalization of the documents necessary for opening the account and for the power of attorney well ahead of time. If your bank rejects your request to open an account with a representative, you’ll either have to choose another bank to open an account with or travel to Germany.

Necessary documents for verifying your identity before opening an account

If you want to open a bank account in Germany, you must be able to confirm your identity. There are various types of supporting documents to be submitted, depending on whether the bank account is to be opened in your name or your company’s name.

Proof of your identity: Necessary information and document

If you want to open a bank account as a natural person (for a sole proprietorship, for example), you must prove your identity. To do so, you’ll need:

• Identification document with an apostille or legalization that includes your name, date of birth, place of birth, citizenship, and address
• Certificate of registration, tax returns, or current utility bills, if necessary (these are usually requested if your form of identification does not include your address)

Proof of your business’s identity: Necessary information and documents

If you want to open a business account on behalf of your company as a legal person, you’ll need the following information:

• Company name
• Legal company form
• Commercial register number (if you’ve already received it)
• Addresses and names of the members of the company’s representative body (such as the management board of an AG)
• Commercial register excerpt (if available)
• Official proof of your right to represent the company (including an apostille or legalisation)
• Certificate of registration or tax return/current utility bills of the company’s representative, if necessary (these are usually requested if the submitted identification documents do not include an address)

Which non-German citizens may or may not open an account in Germany? (List of countries)

In order to open a bank account in Germany, you’ll need to submit documents confirming your identity that are recognized in Germany. Documents issued abroad must be authenticated by an apostille or legalization, depending on the country of issue. Take a look at the following lists to see which countries’ authentication processes are recognized in Germany.

Which countries issue apostilles that are recognized in Germany?

Identification documents from most of the member countries of the so-called Hague Agreement are recognized in Germany if they are accompanied by an apostille. If this authentication process is not possible in a given country or if it is not recognized in Germany, legalization might still be possible.

Apostilles from the following countries are recognized in Germany:

• Albania
• Andorra
• Antigua
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Australia
• Austria*
• Bahamas
• Bahrain
• Barbados
• Barbuda
• Belarus
• Belgium*
• Belize
• Bolivia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei Darussalam
• Bulgaria
• Cape Verde
• Chile
• China (only for certificates from Hong Kong and Macao)
• Colombia
• Cook Islands
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark* (except for Greenland and the Faroe Islands)
• Dominica
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Fiji
• Finland
• France*
• Georgia
• Greece*
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Island
• Israel
• Italy*
• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Latvia
• Lesotho
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxemburg*
• Macedonia
• Malawi
• Malta
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Monaco
• Montenegro
• Namibia
• Netherlands (as well as Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba)
• New Zealand (not including Tokelau)
• Nicaragua
• Niue
• Norway
• Oman
• Panama
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Russian Federation
• Samoa
• San Marino
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Suriname
• Swaziland
• Sweden
• Switzerland*
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• Uruguay
• United States of America
• United Kingdom (as well as for Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands)
• Vanuatu
• Venezuela

*There are additional bilateral agreements with these countries that waive the need for formalities such as an apostille for certain certificates.

Countries whose apostilles are not recognized in Germany

Although the following countries are member countries of the Hague Agreement, their apostilles are still not recognized in Germany:

• Azerbaijan
• Burundi
• Dominican Republic
• India
• Kyrgyzstan
• Kosovo
• Liberia
• Morocco
• Moldavia
• Mongolia
• Paraguay
• Tajikistan
• Tunisia
• Uzbekistan

Source: Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt)

Which countries issue legalizations that are recognized in Germany?

If it is not possible to obtain an apostille in a specific country or if it is not recognized in Germany, legalization might still be possible.

Legalization can be issued in almost all countries where apostilles are not possible, and they are generally recognized in Germany. There are, however, several exceptions:

Countries whose legalizations are not recognized in Germany:

• Afghanistan**
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
• Benin
• Burundi
• Cambodia
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic**
• Chad**
• Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Dominican Republic
• Djibouti**
• Equatorial Guinea**
• Eritrea**
• Ethiopia
• Gabon**
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Haiti
• India
• Iraq**
• Republic of the Congo
• Kenya
• Kosovo*
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Liberia**
• Libya*
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Morocco*
• Mongolia
• Myanmar
• Nepal
• Niger**
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Sierra Leone**
• Somalia**
• Sri Lanka
• Sudan
• South Sudan**
• Syria*
• Tajikistan
• Togo
• Tunisia*
• Turkmenistan**
• Uganda
• Uzbekistan

* Only applies to certain certificates in these countries. You can find more details on the websites of the relevant German consulates or embassies.

** Document verification via German consulates or embassies is currently not possible in these countries.

Source: Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt)

From which countries is it currently not possible to open a bank account in Germany?

The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, or BaFin) informs banks as to which countries pose a considerable risk to the international financial system according to the European Commission.

Applications to open bank accounts from citizens of these so-called ‘high-risk countries’ will, therefore, most likely be declined by any bank.

High-risk countries (according to the European Commission)

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
• Iran
• Iraq
• Guyana
• Lao People’s Democratic Republic
• Uganda
• Vanuatu
• Syria
• Yemen

Source: European Commission as of November 2018

Countries with no authentication process recognised by Germany

Germany does not recognise apostilles or legalisations from the following countries:

• Azerbaijan
• Burundi
• Dominican Republic
• Kyrgyzstan
• India
• Mongolia
• Liberia*
• Tajikistan
• Uzbekistan

As of November 2018

* Document authentication via German consulates or embassies is currently not possible in this country

Opening an account in Germany from one of the countries listed above is either impossible or incredibly difficult. Certificates from countries with one star are only partially affected. Contact your relevant foreign agency to find out what certificates and documents are not currently recognized in Germany.

Opening an account with DKB Bank or comdirect from abroad

DKB is a direct bank that is currently accepting customers who do not reside in Germany (with the exception of Iran and North Korea due to current EU sanctions).

To open an account, simply fill out the application form online. As soon as it is reviewed (DKB Bank accepts identity verification via any bank), DKB will inform you of the possibilities for identity verification in your country. After you have completed one of the above-mentioned identification processes, your account will be opened.

comdirect also opens accounts for non-German citizens who don’t reside in Germany, but with one condition: Your credit must be accessible via Schufa. This is a prerequisite if you have acted as a consumer within Germany (by signing a mobile phone contract, for example).

How long does it take to open an account for non-German citizens who don’t reside in Germany?

It can take several days for the bank to reach a decision. Most banks will not make a decision until all documents and information have been provided. Therefore, you should ideally turn in all necessary documents when you apply. If you find out that a document is missing, do make sure to act as quickly as possible.

Can I withdraw money abroad free of charge?

Whether or not you can withdraw money from your German account without paying a fee depends on what your bank offers. Most banks charge a fee of 1 to 2 percent of the withdrawal amount when withdrawing money abroad. Be sure to request that information from the bank before opening an account with them.

Why did my bank of choice refuse my request to open an account?

Several German direct banks reject around 60 percent of account applications due to their high requirements for potential customers. In addition to having a strong credit standing, non-German customers who don’t reside in Germany must always provide a legitimate reason for opening the account (self-employment, for example). If one or both of these aspects fall short, it can become incredibly difficult for non-German citizens to successfully open the account.

Many banks act conservatively when it comes to those who are self-employed, preferring a steady income. Missing Schufa records can also result in a rejection. Schufa operates and collects data exclusively in Germany, which generally poses an immediate obstacle to non-German citizens attempting to open an account.

Moreover, many banks have fully automated the processing of account applications. Even applicants who have perfect credit and have provided all necessary documents can be refused. If you feel that your request was unfairly rejected, you can contact the bank’s customer support and request that your application be personally reviewed.

 

The information published on our site is all written and checked by experts with the greatest care. Nevertheless, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information, as laws and regulations are subject to constant change. Therefore, always consult an expert in a specific case – we would be happy to connect you with the right professional.