Guides
Holding and Several GmbHs at One Address in Germany
Can a holding and several GmbHs share one address in Germany? What the law requires, tax residency, costs and how to set it up.
Emily Schreiber
October 5, 2026
Short answer
Yes, non-residents and non-EU founders can start a German GmbH or UG, and without travelling to Germany. There is no citizenship or residency requirement to be a shareholder or managing director. The online video notarization needs an electronic ID that most non-EU founders do not have, so the usual route is a power of attorney signed at a notary in your own country. You also need a registered business address in Germany, a notarial deed, and share capital (from €1 for a UG, €25,000 for a GmbH). A virtual office provides the required German address.
What you will learn
- Whether non-EU founders can register a company in Germany
- What you need to set one up
- How a virtual office provides your registered address
- GmbH or UG: which fits non-resident founders
- How to form a company remotely
- Which remote route applies to you and whether you have to travel
- Challenges to plan for
Germany is one of the most attractive markets in Europe, and you do not need to live there to run a company. Non-residents and non-EU founders can set up a German GmbH or UG remotely, as long as they have a proper registered address and follow the formation steps. Here is how it works.
Note: This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Company formation involves legal and tax steps. For your specific situation, consult a lawyer, notary, or tax advisor.
Can non-residents and non-EU founders start a company in Germany?
Yes. German company law does not require shareholders or managing directors to be German citizens or German residents. A founder from outside the EU can own and manage a German GmbH or UG.
What matters is not your passport, but that the company itself meets the formal requirements: a registered business address in Germany, a notarized formation, share capital, and an entry in the commercial register (Handelsregister).
What you need to register a company in Germany
✓A registered business address in Germany
✓Notarized articles of association
✓Share capital (UG from €1, GmbH €25,000)
✓Entry in the commercial register
✓A German business bank account
✓Tax registration with the Finanzamt
How a virtual office provides your registered address
Every German company needs an address that is ladungsfähig, meaning legal documents can be served there and the company has a real link to it. If you do not live in Germany, a virtual office solves this: you get a professional business address you can use for the commercial register, the imprint required under § 5 DDG, and your official mail.
A GmbH or UG must state a German business address (inländische Geschäftsanschrift) when it applies for entry in the commercial register, under § 8 Abs. 4 Nr. 1 GmbHG. A virtual office address can serve as that address, provided the company is genuinely reachable there.
A provider like Teeberg receives your mail at the address and scans it every working day, so you see official post the day it arrives, wherever you are. If you're planning to found a UG specifically, our guide on starting a UG in Berlin covers costs and process in more depth.
GmbH or UG: which fits non-resident founders?
Both are limited liability companies. The difference is mainly the share capital and how established each looks to partners and banks.
| Type | Share capital | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| UG | from €1 | starting small, testing the market |
| GmbH | €25,000 (at least €12,500 paid in) | established business, more credibility |
* General figures under German company law, without warranty.
How to set up a company remotely
1
Secure a registered address
Book a German business address with a virtual office provider.
2
Notarize the formation
Cash-founded GmbHs and UGs can be notarized online by video since 2022, but the video procedure needs an electronic ID that most non-EU founders do not have. Without one, you sign a power of attorney at a notary in your own country instead, and a representative attends in Germany. Both routes work without travelling.
3
Deposit share capital and register
Open a business bank account, pay in the capital, and register with the commercial register.
4
Register for tax
Complete the tax registration with the Finanzamt to receive your tax number.
Which remote route applies to you
Online notarization runs as a video conference through the German notaries' platform, and identification happens through an electronic ID document rather than by holding a passport up to the camera. Three documents are accepted: a German ID card with the eID function, an eID card issued by another EU or EEA state, or a German electronic residence permit with eID. A passport from the US, the UK, Canada, India or any other third country is not enough on its own.
That rules out the video route for most non-EU founders, and it is the point where remote formation is usually assumed to be simpler than it is. The power of attorney route covers the same ground. You sign the authorization in front of a notary where you live, have it apostilled or legalized, and send it to Germany, where your representative signs the deed for you. German law places no restriction on founding through a representative.
| Your situation | Route | Travel needed |
|---|---|---|
| EU or EEA citizen with an eID card | Online notarization by video | No |
| Non-EU citizen with a German electronic residence permit | Online notarization by video | No |
| Non-EU citizen living outside Germany | Power of attorney, notarized and apostilled at home | No |
* Accepted eID documents per the Bundesnotarkammer; general information, not legal advice. Your notary confirms which route applies to your documents.
Neither route changes what the company itself needs. A UG still needs a German business address that is ladungsfähig before the notary appointment, because the address goes into the deed and the commercial register application.
Challenges to plan for
✗
Bank account
Opening a German business bank account as a non-resident can take time. Some digital banks are more flexible than traditional ones.
✗
Notary and documents
The power of attorney usually needs a certified translation and an apostille before it is accepted in Germany. Build in time for both.
Your German business address, from anywhere.
A registered address in Berlin, ready for your commercial register entry.
A registered German address with Teeberg
Teeberg offers a registered business address at Kollwitzstraße 76 in Berlin, suitable as a company seat for the commercial register and the imprint, with a daily mail scan service. Every customer who wanted to register their company at this address has been able to do so.
Mail is scanned every working day and appears in your account the same day, rather than on a weekly batch or a monthly scan allowance. For a founder abroad, that is the difference between seeing a Finanzamt letter today and seeing it next week.
Virtual Office
€79 / month
Registered business address and daily mail scan service, suitable for the commercial register and imprint. This is the tier to choose for a GmbH or UG.
Mailing Address
€35 / month
A business address with mail forwarding as an affordable entry point. It does not include the daily scan service and is not suitable for registration in the commercial register.
Paid annually: Virtual Office €63 / month, Mailing Address €28 / month.
* Prices exclude VAT, no guarantee, as of October 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a non-EU citizen start a company in Germany?+
Yes. There is no citizenship or residency requirement to be a shareholder or managing director of a German GmbH or UG. You need a registered German address and must complete the formal formation steps.
Can I set up a UG in Germany without travelling there as a non-EU citizen?+
Yes. There is no citizenship or residency requirement to found a UG, and you do not have to be in Germany for the notary appointment. Online video notarization needs an electronic ID that most non-EU founders do not hold, so the usual route is a power of attorney signed at a notary in your own country and apostilled. A representative then signs the deed in Germany. You need a German business address before the appointment, because it goes into the deed and the commercial register application.
Do I need a German address to register a company?+
Yes. A GmbH or UG must state a German business address (inländische Geschäftsanschrift) when applying for entry in the commercial register, under § 8 Abs. 4 Nr. 1 GmbHG, and that address must be ladungsfähig. A virtual office can provide this address if you do not have your own premises in Germany.
Can I set up a GmbH remotely from abroad?+
Yes, and you do not have to travel to Germany for it. The online video procedure requires an electronic ID: a German ID card with eID, an eID card from another EU or EEA state, or a German electronic residence permit. A passport alone does not work, so most founders outside the EU use the second route and sign a power of attorney in front of a notary in their own country. The document is apostilled and a representative in Germany signs the deed.
What is the difference between a GmbH and a UG?+
A UG can be founded from €1 of share capital, a GmbH requires €25,000 (at least €12,500 paid in at registration). The UG is popular for starting small, the GmbH looks more established.
Does a virtual office count as a registered business address?+
Yes, as long as the address is ladungsfähig and has a real link to your company. Then it can be used as the inländische Geschäftsanschrift for the commercial register under § 8 Abs. 4 Nr. 1 GmbHG, and for the imprint under § 5 DDG.
Which Teeberg plan do I need for a GmbH or UG?+
The Virtual Office plan at €79 per month plus VAT, or €63 per month paid annually. It includes the registered address at Kollwitzstraße 76 in Berlin for the commercial register and imprint, plus a daily mail scan. The €35 Mailing Address plan is a mail address only and cannot be used for the commercial register.
