Apply for exemption for persons from other EU/EEA countries and Switzerland for entry in the Register of Craftsmen
Description
The entry in the register of craftsmen is necessary if you want to operate a craft in Germany that requires approval.
This also applies if:
- You wish to independently exercise a substantial part of a craft subject to licensing.
- You want to practice several crafts subject to approval independently. In this case, you need to be entered in the register of craftsmen for each craft subject to approval.
Registration in the Register of Craftsmen is possible for:
- natural or legal persons, and
- partnerships with legal capacity.
In addition to the company, the management is recorded in the register of craftsmen. The management of a craft business must have the professional prerequisites (proof of qualification) for the exercise of the craft subject to licensing. Both the owner of a craft business and salaried persons can be considered as managers. The proof of qualification can be provided via a master craftsman's certificate for the respective craft, but also an equivalent domestic or foreign professional qualification. If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland and would like to independently practice a craft subject to approval in the Federal Republic of Germany, you have the option of having your professional qualifications acquired in your home country recognised within the framework of an exemption permit. In principle, both practical professional experience and formal professional qualifications (training certificates) are possible for most crafts subject to authorisation. On this basis, an entry in the register of craftsmen can be made.
Recognition of professional experience
- In the case of the recognition of professional experience, the exercise of at least essential activities of the trade over certain periods of time must be demonstrated. For example, at least six years of continuous full-time activity as a self-employed person or self-employed person or business manager within the last 10 years may be sufficient.
- A recognition of professional experience is not possible in the field of health crafts. These include the following professions:
- opticians,
- Audiologists
- Orthopaedic technicians
- Orthopaedic shoemakers
- Dental technicians
Recognition of formal professional qualifications
- Recognition of formal professional qualifications documented by evidence of training or competence is possible for all craft occupations subject to licensing.
- The prerequisite is the acquisition of a corresponding qualification in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland.
- In detail, the recognition regulations differentiate according to whether the profession or at least the training in the country of origin is also regulated or not.
- If the training contents differ from those of the domestic reference qualification (master craftsman's certificate) or if the profession in the country of origin does not include essential activities that are the subject of the profession in Germany, participation in an adaptation period or passing an aptitude test may be considered.
Note: Alternatively, professional qualifications can also be recognised on the basis of an equivalence assessment. This procedure applies regardless of nationality and to all professional qualifications, regardless of where they were obtained.
Sole proprietorship:
- Copy of identity card or comparable identification document
- Submission of the decision granting an exemption
- Copy of the business registration (can be submitted later after entry in the register of craftsmen)
Companies under civil law (GbR):
Copies of identity cards or comparable identification documents of the shareholders or authorised representatives
- Copy of the articles of association (unless informally concluded)
- Submission of the decision granting an exemption
- Copy of the business registration (can be submitted later after entry in the register of craftsmen)
Commercial partnerships with legal capacity – general partnership (OHG), limited partnership (KG) and corresponding foreign company forms:
- Copies of identity cards or comparable identification documents of the shareholders or authorised representatives
- for proof of entrepreneurial legal form at company headquarters in Germany:
- for companies entered in the commercial register: extract from the register, for the OHG additionally a copy of the articles of association
- if no registration has been made: copy of the articles of association
for foreign legal forms:
- Extract from the register of the competent foreign register for companies entered in registers, otherwise copy of the articles of association
- Submission of the decision granting an exemption
- Copy of the business registration (can be submitted later after entry in the register of craftsmen)
- Legal entities – Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH), haftungsbeschränkte Unternehmergesellschaft (UG), Aktiengesellschaft (AG), eingetragene Genossenschaft (eG):
- Copies of identity cards or comparable identification documents of authorised representatives
- for proof of entrepreneurial legal form:
- if the company is domiciled in Germany: extract from the commercial or cooperative register
- for foreign legal forms: extract from the register of the competent foreign register
- Copy of the business registration (can be submitted later after entry in the register of craftsmen)
- Management details
When employing a manager, the following documents must also be submitted:
- Plant manager's declaration
- Proof of management activity (copy of employment contract)
- Proof of social security of the management
- Submission of the decision granting an exemption
The specific fee can be found in the list of fees of the Chamber of Crafts, which is available on the Chamber's website.
You can only practise a craft subject to authorisation once you have been entered in the register of craftsmen. Since an exemption procedure is much more complex than the actual entry in the register of craftsmen, the application should be submitted accordingly early.
Duration: 0-3 months
Note for further information on processing time:
- The competent authority must acknowledge receipt of the documents within one month, indicating whether any documents are missing.
- A decision on the application must be taken no later than 3 months after submission of the complete dossier. This period may be extended by one month if justified in the individual case, in particular by reason of the extent or the factual or legal difficulties of the case.
- If necessary, participation in an adaptation period or passing an aptitude test may be required.
Please contact the Chamber of Crafts in whose district your commercial establishment is located.
There are no clues or peculiarities.
The Senator for Economics, Labour and Europe of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
