My current permit allows me to stay for four years, with indefinite extension so long as I'm doing work in tech.
Starting a company is about on par with the U.S. (I also incorporated in Delaware as a foreigner). There's some beaurocracy where knowledge of the language and the required forms, or else friends to help, is very necessary. Taxes are much simpler, payroll is a little more complicated than in the U.S.
I'm not 100% certain if it's the same process for US (I'm Australian), but roughly I needed: - Registered address in Berlin (It's supposed to be a rental lease, but I had my airbnb host write a letter saying this was my address in Berlin). - Bank statement of savings - 3 references from clients saying that I was being paid X amount each month - Portfolio of work (web designer)
You're best off researching companies on cruchbase and angel.co, though http://berlinstartupjobs.com/ sometimes lists good opportunities.
Compared with North America, you don't need to have any local trading licenses or registrations. There are no requirements for lawyers to draw up articles of association and register (accountants just use pre-approved templates).
Opening bank accounts was simpler (and much cheaper in my experience) too. You just take in your ID and confirmation of the company registration. Most banks will give a deal and many even have free banking. North American banks are generally eye-watering in their fee scales in comparison.
Having done both, the UK is way simpler, quicker and less onerous than North America. It also opens up the entire EU as you don't need to keep registering or licensing in each place (unlike in North America).
On residence/citizenship (note, NOT required to have a UK company!), the UK is a pain in the ass. They have become all crazy about immigration and put all sorts of obstacles in your way.
Find a different EU country for residence - forum shop. Some grant based on even a small amount of heritage (like multiple generations back) and some grant based on ca$h. If you have a few hundred thousand $, you should be able to buy your way in. Otherwise, a business startup with employment within a number of months is another route.
Once you have EU citizenship in one country, you have a Charter Right to go to any other you please.
Could you please explain a bit more on this? I'm also googling
However, some basic searching suggests Italy could be one route provided you have Italian heritage : http://www.italyheritage.com/genealogy/citizenship/
And Malta is generous on the financial front : http://www.ccmalta.com/publications/malta-citizenship-invest... A house purchase looks cheaper than pure capital investment. Malta is a nice place to live too.
You need proper professional advice though. Google will get you started on places to inquire.
Canada ranks 2nd in "opening a business" section of the Doing Business site, only beaten by New Zealand.
They also had mandatory "social insurance" payments. These payments don't actually cover you very well if you are foreign, at least they didn't cover me after I'd been in normal employment paying them for a long time and the company I was working for went through insolvency.
When I went for self-employment to do consulting I was told I didn't have to make social insurance payments for the first year which sounded positive. I wasn't told however that that process was not automatic and there was yet another another form to fill out. So I got hit with them anyway, and received no sympathy when I explained my situation.
I didn't use it but I gather the legal system there for business matters is also extremely complex and expensive. In Australia we have fairly straight forward small claims courts where people can settle small to medium disputes without a lawyer.
I would say it was all very unforgiving, bordering on hostile. My interpretation is certainly influenced by the fact I know, having done it in Australia, that 90% of the processes and paperwork were entirely pointless, but that doesn't really excuse any of it.