Eintragung in die Handwerksrolle als Vertriebene oder Spätaussiedler/Spätaussiedlerin

If you, as an immigrant of German descent, would like to independently exercise a craft subject to licensing, then there are special regulations for the registration of your business in the register of craftsmen.

The Register of Craftsmen is a register in which all

• natural and
• legal persons, and
• partnerships with legal capacity

who operate a craft subject to authorisation as a standing trade (not itinerant trade or market traffic).

A complete list of crafts requiring approval can be found in Annex A to the Crafts Code (HwO). Furthermore, the management is entered in the register of craftsmen, which is responsible for the technical management of the craft business and who has the necessary professional qualification to practice the craft subject to licensing.

Both the owners of craft businesses and salaried persons may be considered as plant managers. In the latter case, the application for registration shall be accompanied by a manager's declaration and supporting documents.

In the case of immigrants of German descent (expellees or ethnic German repatriates), the certificate of competence required for the exercise of the managerial function can be provided on the basis of a comparison of the professional qualification acquired abroad with the domestic master craftsman's examination for the craft to be practised.
 

1. For sole proprietorships:

• Copy of identity card or comparable identification document
• Submission of the decision on the determination of the status of expellees or ethnic German repatriates
• Proof of an examination passed abroad – equivalent to the master craftsman's examination –
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted later after entry in the register of craftsmen)

1. For companies under civil law (GbR):

• Copies of the identity card or a comparable identification document of the partners or authorised representatives
• Copy of the articles of association (unless informally concluded)
• Submission of the decision on the determination of the status of expellees or ethnic German repatriates
• Proof of an examination passed abroad – equivalent to the master craftsman's examination –
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted later after entry in the register of craftsmen)

1. In the case of commercial partnerships with legal capacity, i.e. the general partnership (OHG), limited partnership (KG) and corresponding foreign company forms):

• Copies of the identity card or a comparable identification document of the shareholders or authorised representatives
• for proof of entrepreneurial legal form:
  • if the company is based in Germany:
    • for companies entered in the commercial register: extract from the register, in the case of the OHG additionally a copy of the articles of association if no register entry 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 on the determination of the status of expellees or ethnic German repatriates
• Proof of an examination passed abroad – equivalent to the master craftsman's examination –
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted later after entry in the register of craftsmen)

1. For legal entities (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH), Unternehmergesellschaft (haftungsbeschränkt) or UG (haftungsbeschränkt), Aktiengesellschaft (AG), eingetragene Genossenschaft (eG)):

• Copies of the identity card or comparable identification document of the authorised representatives
• for proof of entrepreneurial legal form:
  • o 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: see 5.

1. When employing a manager, the following documents must also be submitted:

• Plant manager's declaration
• Proof of farm manager activity (copy of employment contract)
• Proof of social security of the management
• Submission of the decision on the determination of the status of expellees or ethnic German repatriates
• Proof of an examination passed abroad – equivalent to the master craftsman's examination –

They must have the status of expellees or ethnic German repatriates in accordance with §§ 1 et seq. of the Law on the Affairs of Expellees and Refugees (BVFG).

The professional qualification obtained in the country of origin must be equivalent to the domestic master craftsman's examination for the craft subject to licensing.

Display of craft activity: before the start.

• Register of craftsmen Registration of expellees and ethnic German repatriates with a passed examination abroad equivalent to the master craftsman's examination
• Register of craftsmen as a register of all owners of a business of a craft subject to authorisation in the standing trade (not itinerant trade or market transactions), exercised by natural and legal persons as well as partnerships with legal capacity.
• Recording of the management of the respective company.
• In the case of immigrants of German descent (expellees or ethnic German repatriates), the certificate of competence required for the exercise of the managerial function can be provided on the basis of a comparison of the professional qualification acquired abroad with the domestic master craftsman's examination for the craft to be practised.
• There is a legal obligation to be entered in the register of craftsmen.
• Deadline: Immediately upon commencement of craft activities.
• Application in writing or online with authentication.
• Application form for download on the website of the responsible Chamber of Crafts or online application via administrative portals.
• The registration fees are derived from the schedule of fees of the respective Chamber of Crafts, which can be viewed on the Chamber's website.
• Responsible: Chamber of Crafts in whose district the commercial establishment is located

Please contact the Chamber of Crafts in whose district your commercial establishment is located.

Advice from your Chamber of Crafts – contact details of the Chambers of Crafts
https://www.handwerkskammer.de

List of all craft trades subject to approval
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hwo/anlage_a.html