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Can a German resident register a UK company?
Yes — German nationals and Germany-based residents can own 100% of a UK limited company, with no notary appointment and no €25,000 share capital requirement. A UK company can also start invoicing the moment it is formed, without Germany's separate tax-number waiting period.
Complete UK company formation with a assured UK business bank account for Germany residents. Personalausweis-friendly KYC support. Setup with bank account in 24–48 hours — from Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, or anywhere in Germany.
Our Germany specialist calls you within 2 hours.
Every service you need to set up and operate a UK business from Germany all handled remotely, all fully compliant.
Register a UK limited company from Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, or anywhere in Germany. Companies House filing, full digital documentation and same day formation guarantee.
Full service details →Guaranteed UK bank account for Germany residents including those who found Geschäftskonto opening slowly through a German bank. We open accounts directly with leading UK banks.
Bank account service →Prestigious London registered address Tower Bridge Business Centre, E1W 1AW. Satisfies Companies House requirements. All official mail forwarded to your German address.
Address service →A UK-resident director on your Companies House records an optional add-on for Germany residents who prefer privacy or need a UK-based name for banking relationships.
Nominee service →Pre-registered UK companies with a clean filing history. Instant ownership transfer as fast as 3 hours from payment. Ideal when Germany-based clients need an established company immediately.
View shelf companies →A UK company structured for Amazon UK, Shopify, and international payment gateways. VAT registration and EORI number included. Tailored for Germany-based sellers trading into the UK post-Brexit.
Marketplace formation →Already run a GmbH or UG in Germany? Add a UK entity alongside it, or let us handle a second EU jurisdiction if your structure calls for one. Coordinated from Germany without a UK site visit.
EU formation →A local EU address for a second European entity alongside your UK company, where your structure benefits from an additional EU presence. Satisfies EU regulatory requirements and enables EU IBAN banking.
EU address →Strategic support for Germany-based businesses entering the UK market post-Brexit. Structure advice, compliance setup, and banking support coordinated from Germany with our UK-based team handling every UK-side requirement.
Expansion support →Total trade in goods and services between the UK and Germany reached £152.5 billion in the four quarters to Q4 2025, up 2.6% (£3.9 billion) Germany is the UK's 2nd-largest trading partner. Thousands of Germany-based founders choose UK company formation each year here's exactly why it appeals over a German GmbH.
A German GmbH requires a notary appointment and a mandatory minimum share capital of €25,000. A UK company has no notary requirement and no minimum share capital at all.
£1 minimum capital, no notary vs GmbH: €25,000 minimum, notary requiredA GmbH cannot legally issue an invoice until the Finanzamt assigns a Steuernummer, which typically takes 2–6 weeks. A UK company can trade and invoice as soon as it's formed.
GmbH often 6–10 weeks to first invoice vs UK company trading from day oneGmbH formation brings compulsory IHK Chamber of Industry and Commerce membership and annual dues. A UK company carries no equivalent chamber obligation.
IHK membership is structural for a GmbH, not a UK companyGmbH formation typically costs €1,500–€3,000 in fees before the €12,500+ capital deposit. A UK limited company with Activate Global starts from £249 (approx. €290).
From £249 vs GmbH formation €1,500–3,000+ plus capitalThe UK and Germany signed a Double Taxation Convention on 30 March 2010, which allocates taxing rights so the same income isn't taxed twice across both jurisdictions.
DTA in force since 30 December 2010Germany-based Amazon sellers register a UK company to activate Amazon UK seller accounts, manage post-Brexit UK VAT and customs, and receive GBP payments into a UK bank account.
Amazon UK access, UK VAT and EORI handledThe entire process is completed remotely from Germany. No UK visit, no notary, no in-person meetings required.
Complete the form or WhatsApp us. Our German specialist responds within 2 hours. (WhatsApp preferred by Germany clients)
We collect your documents digitally — Personalausweis or passport, and proof of German address. (No notary required)
We file directly with Companies House — confirmation within 24–48 hours. (⚡ Same-day formation available)
Receive your digital company pack and start trading immediately — no Steuernummer wait. Your UK bank account follows in 3 days.
All documents submitted digitally - no notarisation, no apostille, no physical delivery required.
A clear scan of the bio-data page or ID card, current and valid.
Dated within the last 3 months: Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate), utility bill, or bank statement.
Preferred name plus 1–2 alternatives; free Companies House availability check before filing.
Trading, consulting, e-commerce, import/export; correct SIC codes selected for you.
Full legal name, date of birth, nationality, address; multiple Germany-based directors/shareholders accepted.
Unlike a GmbH's €25,000 requirement, no capital deposit is needed before registration.
If you already operate as a Freiberufler or own a German company, providing these details helps us structure your UK entity correctly.
You're Fully Eligible: German nationals and any nationality resident in Germany are fully eligible to own 100% of a UK company as directors and shareholders - no notary, no minimum capital, and no requirement to be a UK national.
From Germany's Amazon sellers to its Mittelstand exporters — these are the sectors that benefit most from a UK limited company.
Germany-based Amazon and Shopify sellers register a UK company to activate Amazon UK seller accounts, manage post-Brexit UK VAT and customs requirements, and receive GBP payments via a UK bank account.
E-commerce formation →Germany's small and mid-sized Mittelstand manufacturers exporting engineering, machinery, and industrial components use a UK entity as the UK-side contracting party post-Brexit, enabling UK VAT registration for import/export and EORI numbers for customs clearance.
UK formation for traders →Germany-based consultants and Freiberufler register UK companies to invoice UK clients directly, avoid Gewerbe and IHK obligations that would otherwise apply if this activity were reclassified, and operate under a globally recognised legal entity for international contracts.
Formation for consultants →Germany-based fintech founders use a UK entity to access FCA-regulated environments, onboard UK payment processors, and gain credibility with institutional investors requiring a UK company.
Fintech formation →German investors purchasing UK property, or UK nationals in Germany managing property back home, frequently hold assets via a UK limited company for succession planning, tax efficiency, and separation of UK assets from German estates.
Investment company formation →Germany-based logistics operators running trade routes into the UK use a UK entity as the UK-side contracting party, enabling UK VAT registration and EORI numbers for customs clearance after Brexit.
Logistics company formation →Understanding how UK corporation tax, the UK–Germany Double Taxation Convention, and German GmbH tax and registration rules compare.
Your UK limited company pays UK corporation tax on its profits — currently 19% for profits up to £50,000 and 25% for profits over £250,000 (with marginal relief in between). This applies regardless of where the director lives.
A GmbH pays 15% corporate income tax plus a 5.5% solidarity surcharge (effectively ~15.8%), plus municipal trade tax (Gewerbesteuer) of 7–17% depending on location — a combined burden typically around 30%. A UK company avoids this multi-layered structure for UK-sourced profits.
The Double Taxation Convention between the UK and Germany was signed on 30 March 2010, entered into force on 30 December 2010, and took effect from January 2011 for withholding taxes, April 2011 for corporation tax. It allocates taxing rights between the two jurisdictions so income isn't taxed twice. The Convention was further amended by protocols in 2015 and 2021.
Germany resident directors can extract profits from their UK company as salary (subject to UK PAYE) or as dividends (taxed at UK dividend rates, then declared in Germany under the DTA's relief provisions). Our accounting team advises on the most tax-efficient extraction route for Germany residents.
Disclaimer: The above is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Individual circumstances vary significantly. Please consult a qualified UK tax adviser and German Steuerberater before structuring your business.
Our accounting team handles UK corporation tax returns (CT600), year-end accounts, VAT registration, and compliance for Germany resident company owners — all remotely.
View Accounting ServicesReal clients, verified by country and business type. Read how entrepreneurs from Germany and the wider European region built their UK presence with Activate Global.
"I wanted to sell on Amazon UK but had no idea how to set up a compliant UK company as a non-resident. Activate Global handled everything — company registration, director filings, and guided me on banking and VAT. Their team was very responsive and explained each step clearly. Today my seller account is active and running smoothly. I strongly recommend them to any international e-commerce seller."
"Activate Global is not just a service provider, they are long-term business partners. Their support helped us enter the UK market confidently with two companies which we have registered through them with business bank accounts. From consultation to delivery, the process was clear and professional throughout."
"I contacted them through WhatsApp from their website. Their team is very responsive and knowledgeable. Even after company formation and bank account opening as a non-resident, they supported me with VAT guidance without any extra charges. Genuinely a company that goes beyond what's expected."
The most searched questions from Germany-based entrepreneurs about registering and operating a UK limited company, opening a UK bank account, and using a nominee director.