Apply for exemption permit for persons from the EU/EEA foreign countries and Switzerland for registration in the register of craftsmen

Registration in the register of skilled crafts is necessary if you want to operate a craft subject to licensing on a self-employed basis in Germany.
This also applies if

• you want to practice a significant part of a craft subject to licensing on a self-employed basis.
• you want to practice several crafts subject to licensing on a self-employed basis. In this case, you need to be entered in the register of skilled crafts for each skilled craft that is subject to registration.

Registration in the register of skilled crafts is possible for

• natural or legal persons and
• partnerships with legal capacity.

In addition to the business, the management of the business is also recorded in the register of skilled crafts. The management of a craft enterprise must have the professional requirements (proof of qualification) for the practice of the craft subject to licensing. Both owners of a craft enterprise and employed persons can be considered as company management. The proof of qualification can be provided by a master craftsman's certificate for the respective craft, but also an equivalent domestic or foreign professional qualification. For nationals of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, special recognition regulations exist in this respect within the framework of a procedure for the granting of an exemption permit.

In principle, you can obtain the exemption permit by having your training certificates and/or professional experience recognized. The periods of professional experience to be proven may be shortened by proof of training in the skilled trades.

Recognition of professional experience:
When professional experience is recognized, it is necessary to prove that at least essential activities of the trade have been performed over certain periods of time. For example, at least six years of uninterrupted full-time work as a self-employed person or self-employed person or person in charge of a business or business within the last ten years may be sufficient. Recognition of practical professional experience is not considered if the pursuit of an occupation in a health care craft (optician, hearing aid acoustician, orthopedic technician, orthopedic shoemaker, dental technician) is sought.

Recognition of formal professional qualifications:
Recognition of formal professional qualifications documented by training or qualification certificates can be considered for all craft professions 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 content differs from that of the domestic reference qualification (master craftsman's diploma) or if the profession in the country of origin does not include essential activities that are the subject of the profession in Germany, the applicant may choose to participate in an adaptation course or take an aptitude test.

Note: Alternatively, professional qualifications can also be recognized on the basis of an equivalence determination. This procedure is governed by Section 50c of the Crafts and Trades Code (HwO) and applies irrespective of any nationality requirement and to all professional qualifications, regardless of where they were acquired.

Requirements

• You must be a citizen or national of a member state of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland.
• Recognition of professional experience:
  You must provide evidence of one of the following requirements regarding your professional experience, taking any training into account:
  
  • You have been active for at least 6 years without interruption as a self-employed person or self-employed person or as a person responsible for a business or business. You have not terminated your activity more than 10 years before submitting your application.
  • You have worked for at least 3 years without interruption as a self-employed person or as a person responsible for an enterprise or as a person responsible for an enterprise. You have previously completed at least three years of training in the craft.
  • You have worked continuously for at least 4 years as a self-employed person or as a person responsible for an enterprise or as a person responsible for an enterprise. You have previously completed at least two years of training in the craft.
  • You have worked continuously for at least 3 years as a self-employed person and at least 5 years as an employee. You have not stopped working for more than 10 years before applying.
  • You have worked continuously for at least 5 years in a managerial position in a company. Of these 5 years, your work has been characterized by technical tasks and responsibility for at least one department of the company for at least 3 years. You have also completed at least 3 years of training in the craft.
• Recognition of formal professional qualifications:
  Recognition of formal occupational qualifications documented by training or qualification certificates is eligible 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 content differs from that of the domestic reference qualification (master craftsman's diploma) or if the profession in the country of origin does not include essential activities that are the subject of the profession in Germany, the applicant may choose to participate in an adaptation course or take an aptitude test.

What documents do I need?

• Application for exemption from registration in the register of craftsmen
• Evidence of professional experience and/or educational qualification