Registration in the register of craftsmen

Registration in the register of skilled crafts is done electronically via online service or in writing at your local Chamber of Skilled Crafts.

Online application

• Go to the website of your local Chamber of Skilled Crafts or to the service portal of your federal state and select the correct online service.
• The online service will guide you through the application step by step.
• You can submit the required documents digitally.

Written application

• Download the application form from the website of your local Chamber of Skilled Crafts.
• Alternatively, you can have the required documents sent to you via your local Chamber of Skilled Crafts.
• Complete the form and send it to your local Chamber of Skilled Crafts along with the required supporting documents.

The responsible Chamber of Skilled Crafts will check the documents.

If you meet the registration requirements, you will receive a written notification that you have been registered.

Together with the notification of registration, your company will receive the so-called craftsman's card (§ 10 para. 2 HwO).

More information

Essential (partial) activities of a craft

The craft does not have to be practiced as a whole. Essential (partial) activities can also be carried out. Even then, registration in the register of craftsmen is required.

Several trades

You may only ever practise the craft requiring a license that has been registered.
If you wish to carry out several trades requiring a license, you must have each of these trades entered in the Register of Craftsmen.

Several persons as company management

If you employ more than 1 person to manage your business, you must also register this person.

• For sole proprietorships:
  
  • Copy of identity card or comparable identification document
  • Proof of qualification (e.g. copy of master craftsman's certificate, technical certificate) of the owner or the employed management
  • Copy of the business registration (can be submitted after entry in the register of craftsmen)
• In the case of civil law partnerships (GbR):
  
  • Copies of the identity card or a comparable identification document of the shareholders or persons authorized to represent the company
  • Copy of the articles of association (if not concluded informally)
  • Proof of qualification (e.g. copy of master craftsman's certificate, technical certificate) of the partner(s) or the employed management
  • Copy of the business registration (can be submitted after entry in the register of craftsmen)
• In the case of commercial partnerships with legal capacity, i.e. general partnerships (OHG), limited partnerships (KG) and corresponding foreign company forms:
  
  • Copies of the identity card or a comparable identification document of the shareholders or persons authorized to represent the company
  • for proof of the legal form of the company:
    
    • if the company is based in Germany:
      
      • for companies entered in the commercial register: extract from the register, for general partnerships additionally a copy of the articles of association if no entry in the register has been made: copy of the articles of association
    • for foreign legal forms:
      
      • Extract from the relevant foreign register for companies entered in registers, otherwise a copy of the articles of association
  • Proof of qualification (e.g. copy of master craftsman's certificate, technical certificate) of the partner(s) or the employed company management
  • Copy of the business registration (can be submitted after entry in the register of craftsmen)
• For legal entities (limited liability company (GmbH), entrepreneurial company (haftungsbeschränkt) or UG (haftungsbeschränkt), stock corporation (AG), registered cooperative (eG)):
  
  • Copies of the identity card or a comparable identification document of the persons authorized to represent the company
  • for proof of the legal form of the company:
    
    • for companies based in Germany: extract from the commercial or cooperative register
    • for foreign legal forms: Extract from the relevant foreign register
  • Copy of the business registration (can be submitted later after entry in the register of craftsmen)
  • Details of the company management
• The following documents must also be submitted if a plant manager is employed:
  
  • Manager's declaration
  • Proof of management activity (copy of employment contract)
  • Proof of social insurance of the management
  • Proof of qualification of the business manager (e.g. copy of master craftsman's certificate, technical certificate, exemption permit)
  • Note: If you employ a second person to manage your business - for example, if you carry out several trades that require a license - you must also submit the business manager's declaration with the documents listed here for this person.

• handwerk:digital
  handwerk:digital offers you the possibility to submit your applications to the responsible Chamber of Crafts online. The login is done with the OSI account, which is available to citizens and companies alike.

The specific fee results from the fee schedule of the Chamber of Crafts, which is available on the Chamber's website.

What deadlines must be paid attention to?

Display of craft activity: before the start

How long does it take to process

The processing time depends on the completeness of the submitted documents.
If all documents are complete and no further procedure is necessary, registration in the register of skilled crafts can be completed within a few days.
Further procedures extend the processing time, such as the granting of an exemption permit.

• § 6 Absatz 1 Handwerksordnung (HwO)
• Gebührenordnung der Handwerkskammer

• Kontaktdaten der Handwerkskammern
• Liste aller zulassungspflichtigen Handwerksberufe
• Verordnung über verwandte Handwerke
• Datenschutzinformation zur Leistung