Apply for a background check in air traffic
Description
Before you can work in areas of an airport that are not open to the public or in a company with a direct influence on aviation security, your reliability will be checked. This applies, for example, to companies with personnel from the following fields of activity:
- Aviation security checks at airports
- Aviation companies
- Ground handling services
- Freight and postal companies
- Suppliers of goods
In addition to the necessary training, the background check is the basic requirement for obtaining access authorization to a security area and thus being able to take up work at the airport or in the company concerned.
The regulation applies in particular to persons who regularly
- carry out security checks
- handle aircraft,
- transport goods
- check air freight
- carry out other activities in security areas.
Security areas include
- Designated areas of an airport where screened passengers can stay shortly before departure
- designated areas of an airport where screened checked baggage is located or transported through
- designated areas of an airport where aircraft and other aircraft are parked for boarding, disembarking, loading and unloading
The regulation therefore affects, for example
- Persons with more than occasional access to security areas,
- Personnel of companies, organizations and companies whose activities have a direct influence on aviation security,
- natural persons on loan as well as trainers or validation auditors for aviation security,
- pilots, student pilots, club members, student trainees and student interns
The background check examines whether you pose a risk to the safety of civil aviation. The check includes
- Personal details
- past periods of employment and training and a record of any gaps over the past 5 years
- Your residences in the past 10 years
- Check of criminal record entries
- Information from authorities
The fact that you are being checked serves the safety of civil aviation.
As a rule, you must apply for a background check yourself via your employer. Your employer will usually bear the costs.
Obligation to cooperate:
You are obliged to cooperate in your check. In rare cases, this may also mean that you have to undergo a test for narcotics.
As a rule, your reliability will be denied if
- you have been sentenced to imprisonment, a juvenile sentence or a fine of at least 60 daily rates for an intentional criminal offense
- you have been sentenced twice or more to a lesser fine and the last sentence was less than 5 years ago
- you have been sentenced to at least one year's imprisonment for a crime or other intentional criminal offense and the last conviction was less than 10 years ago
- in the past 10 years, there are findings that you support efforts that are directed against the free democratic basic order, the existence or security of the federal government or a state
You can waive a background check if
- you have already been checked with an Ü2 or Ü3 in accordance with the Security Check Act. In this case, the background check can be waived upon application
- you only very rarely and exceptionally require access to security areas at the airport and can therefore work with a day pass, for example (observe the regulations of the respective airport)
you work exclusively in public areas of the airport
You belong to one of the following groups of people and require a background check to carry out your work:
- Persons with more than occasional access to security restricted areas,
- Personnel of companies, organizations and companies whose activities have a direct impact on aviation security,
- natural persons under contract as well as trainers or validation examiners for aviation security,
- pilots, student pilots, club members, student trainees and student interns
General:
- copy of identity card on both sides or
- Copy of passport on both sides
- Places of residence for the last 10 years,
- Periods of employment over the last 5 years (to the day)
Special:
- for pilots and trainee pilots: confirmation from the flight school; for re-testing: Pilot's license
- for self-employed persons: business registration
- if residence has been abroad for more than 6 months in the past 5 years: certificate of no criminal record or European certificate of good conduct
For renewal:
- Notification of the previous background check.
Fee: 6,00 - 211,50 EURPayment in advance: no
Fee: 64,00 EURPayment in advance: noKosten für die positive Feststellung der Zuverlässigkeit.
Fee: 130,00 EURPayment in advance: no
Fee: 30,00 EURPayment in advance: no
Application Deadline: 1 MonthVor dem Arbeitsantritt oder der Ausbildung am Flughafen.
Application Deadline: 3 Months
Period of Validity: 5 Years
Processing Time: 3 - 6 Weeks
- Appeal
- Further information on how to lodge an objection can be found in the notification of your application for a background check under aviation safety law
- Appeal to the administrative court
Please note: Neither an objection nor an action for annulment have a suspensive effect.
State Administration Office
Student pilots and private pilots can apply directly to the relevant aviation safety authority for a background check.
Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)
19.12.2025
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.







