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Register of craftsmen; application for registration on the basis of an exemption permit

Would you like to practise a craft requiring a license as a standing trade and the master craftsman's examination is an unreasonable burden for you? Then you must apply for an exemption permit and use it to register in the register of craftsmen.

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Procedure details

If you want to set up in Germany with a craft requiring a license as a standing trade and you have been granted an exemption permit, you must have this entered in the register of craftsmen before starting work.

You must apply for the exemption permit with a different application before being entered in the register of craftsmen.

The Register of Craftsmen is a register kept by your local Chamber of Crafts.

The Register of Craftsmen lists, among other things

  • natural persons,
  • partnerships with legal capacity or
  • legal entities and
  • the name and qualifications of the company management.

Registration in the Register of Craftsmen is mandatory if you

  • wish to exercise a craft requiring a license,
  • only want to practise the craft in part and
  • wish to carry out essential activities of several trades, then for each of these trades.

You can find a complete list of the trades subject to licensing in Appendix A of the Crafts Code (HwO).

The relevant chambers of skilled crafts provide further information on this service. Please contact the relevant Chamber of Crafts for more information.

An exemption was granted on the following basis:

  • The master craftsman examination is an unreasonable burden for you.
  • You have the knowledge and skills to practice the craft requiring a license.

  • Required document/s

    Sole proprietorship

    • Identity card or comparable identification document (copy)
    • Exemption permit for entry in the register of craftsmen
    • Business registration (copy): Can be submitted after entry in the register of craftsmen

    Companies under civil law (GbR)

    • Identity card or comparable identification document of the partners or authorized representatives (copy)
    • Partnership agreement, if not concluded informally (copy)
    • Exemption permit for entry in the register of craftsmen
    • Business registration (copy): Can be submitted after entry in the register of craftsmen

    Commercial partnerships with legal capacity

    This refers to

    • the general partnership (OHG),
    • limited partnership (KG) and
    • corresponding foreign company forms
    • Identity cards or comparable identification documents of the shareholders or persons authorized to represent the company (copy)
    • For proof of the company's legal form
      • for companies domiciled in Germany:
        • for companies entered in the commercial register: extract from the register, for general partnerships additionally articles of association (copy)
        • if no entry in the register has been made: articles of association (copy)
      • for foreign legal forms:
        • Extract from the relevant foreign register for companies entered in registers, otherwise
        • articles of association (copy)
    • Exemption permit for entry in the register of craftsmen
    • Business registration (copy): Can be submitted after entry in the register of craftsmen

    Legal persons

    • are meant:
      • Limited liability company (GmbH),
      • Limited liability company (UG),
      • public limited company (AG),
      • registered cooperative (eG)
    • Identity cards or comparable identification documents of the authorized representatives (copy)
    • for proof of the company's legal form:
      • for companies based in Germany: extract from the commercial or cooperative register
      • for foreign legal forms: Extract from the relevant foreign register
    • Business registration (copy): Can be submitted after entry in the register of craftsmen
    • Details of the company management

    If a manager is employed, the following documents must also be submitted:

    • Declaration of management
    • Proof of management activity, employment contract (copy)
    • Proof of social insurance for the manager
    • Exemption permit for entry in the register of craftsmen

You can apply for entry in the Register of Craftsmen in writing or, in some cases, online at your local Chamber of Crafts. Please contact the relevant Chamber of Skilled Crafts for information on the procedure. You can also have the necessary documents sent to you.

  • Submit your application documents to your local Chamber of Skilled Crafts.
  • The Chamber of Skilled Crafts will check your application for completeness and, on the basis of the certificate, whether the focus of the qualification corresponds to the craft you wish to practise.
  • In cases of doubt, you can submit additional evidence.
  • If you meet the registration requirements, you will be notified in advance of your expected registration.
  • Once you have been registered, you will receive a written certificate from your local Chamber of Skilled Crafts. Your business will receive the so-called craftsman's card.
  • If the registration is rejected, you will receive a notification from the local Chamber of Skilled Crafts.

The amount of the fees can be found in the fee schedule of the relevant Chamber of Crafts. Please contact the relevant Chamber of Crafts for more information.

You must be entered in the Register of Craftsmen before starting work.

If all documents are complete and no further procedure is necessary, the Chamber of Skilled Crafts must make the entry in the Register of Skilled Crafts within 3 months, otherwise the entry is deemed to have been made after this period has expired. (3 months)

There are no indications or special features.

  • You have the right to appeal against a rejection of your application for entry in the Register of Craftsmen.
  • Depending on the federal state in which you have submitted the application, a preliminary procedure will be carried out first.
  • Please refer to the instructions on legal remedies in your notification for information on the existing legal remedies.

Bavaria-wide supplement

The registration or refusal of registration constitutes an administrative act. The decision of the chamber can be appealed to the administrative courts in accordance with Section 40 of the Administrative Court Code (VwGO).

Status: 12.11.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie + Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft, Landesentwicklung und Energie
Source: Federal Portal
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