Point of Single Contact

The pan-European network of  Points of Single Contact can provide you with details of any legal requirements and help you to complete relevant procedures.

Do you want to start a business or practise your profession in Germany? Do you need information and advice on the formalities you need to complete? Would you like to be able to handle all the paperwork online, easily and all in one place? The Point of Single Contact network is here to help!

The Points of Single Contact work as part of a European network (covering the EU and the EEA) to provide business-friendly access to administrative services. They can give you all the information you need about the requirements for starting and running a business.

The Point of Single Contact network is comprised of a number of electronic portals and personal points of contact.

The services provided by the Points of Single Contact include:

• information on the requirements and procedures for starting and operating a business in Germany, including details of associated fees and any documentation to be submitted;
• information on the requirements and procedures for getting professional qualifications recognised in Germany, including associated fees and any documentation to be submitted;
• electronic completion of administrative procedures for starting and running a business, or practising a profession.
• the service is aimed at entrepreneurs, companies and people applying to have their professional qualifications recognised in Germany and the EU/EEA, including people from non-member countries.

As an EU citizen, you have a legal right to the services provided by the Points of Single Contact. This right is set out in the EU Services Directive and the EU Directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications. In addition, the Points of Single Contact are assistance services that can be reached via a single, digital gateway in accordance with the relevant EU Regulation.

Point of Single Contact: PSC welcome page on the Bundesportal (Federal Portal).

Timescales for completing procedures vary depending on the procedure concerned, and are stated in the relevant procedure descriptions. The timescale for a procedure is measured from the point at which all necessary documents have been completed and submitted.

Provision of information:

• on internet portals: immediately
• email enquiries: usually no longer than 3 days

Completion of procedures:

Processing time varies depending on the individual procedure, and is stated in the relevant process description.

Information from the Point of Single Contact is usually free of charge. However, individual German Federal States may charge fees for providing advice and completing administrative procedures via a Point of Single Contact. You can find details of these fees on the websites of the relevant Point of Single Contact.

Federal States that do not charge fees:

Baden-Württemberg

Bavaria

Berlin

Brandenburg

Bremen

Hesse

North Rhine-Westphalia

Rhineland-Palatinate

Saarland

Saxony-Anhalt

Schleswig-Holstein

Thuringia

Federal States that charge fees:

Hamburg

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Lower Saxony

Saxony

NB:You will be charged the standard fees for completing relevant procedures in addition to any processing fee for services provided by the Point of Single Contact. The amount of these fees will vary depending on the administrative procedure being carried out. You can find more information about this in the applicable terms of reference.

All common payment methods are generally supported. Full details can be found on the portals for the Point of Single Contact in each Federal State.

For provision of information:

The services provided by the Point of Single Contact are available in German or English. Individual Point of Single Contact may offer services in other languages.

For the completion of procedures:

German

You can find further information about the Points of Single Contact network in Germany on the website of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

For information about Points of Single Contact in other EU Member-States, go here.

Further information can also be found on the portals of the Point of Single Contact of the federal states.