Entry in the register of craftsmen as a displaced person, ethnic German repatriate

Are you a recognised displaced person, ethnic German repatriate, have a foreign vocational qualification and would like to practise a craft in Germany that requires a licence on your own? Then you must first register in the register of craftsmen.

With the recognised status as a displaced person or as a late repatriate and a professional qualification from abroad equivalent to the master craftsman's examination, you can practise a craft in Germany that requires a licence as a standing trade. You must register in the register of craftsmen before setting up.

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

Among other things, the Craftsmen's Roll

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

Entry in the register of craftsmen is mandatory if you:

• want to practise a craft subject to licensing,
• want to practice the craft only in parts and
• essential activities of several trades, then for each of these trades.

In order to be entered in the register of craftsmen, you or the company management must provide proof of a successfully completed master craftsman's examination for the craft to be practised or an equivalent professional qualification.

The following companies are eligible for management:

• owners of the craft business or
• Employees of the craft business

A complete list of crafts requiring approval can be found in Appendix A to the Crafts Code (HwO).

The responsible Chambers of Crafts provide further information on this service. Please contact the responsible Chamber of Crafts for more information.

Chamber of Crafts in whose district the main commercial establishment is located.

In the case of sole proprietorships:

• identity card or comparable identification document (copy)
• Notification of the determination of the status as a displaced person or ethnic German repatriate (copy)
• Proof of having passed an exam abroad
• Business registration (copy): You can submit it after entry in the register of craftsmen.

In the case of civil law companies (GbR):

• Identity cards or a comparable identification document of the shareholders or persons authorised to represent the company (copy)
• of the articles of association, unless informally concluded (copy)
• Notification of the determination of the status as a displaced person or ethnic German repatriate (copy)
• Proof of having passed an exam abroad
• Business registration (copy): You can submit it after entry in the register of craftsmen.

In the case of commercial partnerships with legal capacity

• These are:
  • general partnership (OHG),
  • limited partnership (KG) and
  • corresponding foreign company forms
• Identity card or a comparable identification document of the shareholder or the persons authorised to represent the company
  • for proof of the entrepreneurial legal form at the company's registered office in Germany:
  • Extract from the register of the company registered in the commercial register. In the case of general partnerships, additional articles of association (copy) if no registration has been made
  • in the case of foreign legal forms:
    • Extract from the register of the competent foreign register in the case of companies entered in registers, otherwise
    • Memorandum of Association (copy)
• Notification of the determination of the status as a displaced person or ethnic German repatriate (copy)
• Proof of having passed an exam abroad
• Business registration (copy): You can submit it after entry in the register of craftsmen

In the case of legal entities

• This means:
  • Limited Liability Company (GmbH), Entrepreneurial Company (Limited Liability),
  • Joint-stock company (AG),
  • registered cooperative (eG)
• identity card or a comparable identification document of the persons authorised to represent
  • for proof of the entrepreneurial legal form: if the company is based in Germany: Excerpt from the register of the commercial or cooperative register in the case of foreign legal forms: Extract from the register of the competent foreign register
• Business registration (copy): You can submit it after entry in the register of craftsmen.
  • Information on the management of the company

• If an operations manager is employed, the following documents must also be submitted:
  • Operator's Declaration
  • Proof of managerial activity: Employment contract (copy)
  • Proof of social security of the management
  • Notification of the determination of the status as a displaced person or ethnic German repatriate (copy)
  • Proof of having passed an exam abroad

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

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

• They must provide proof of a recognised status as a displaced person or as a late repatriate.  
• Your professional qualification acquired abroad must be equivalent to the German master craftsman's examination for the craft you wish to practise requiring authorisation or to a craft related to it.

• A rejection of the application is subject to legal recourse.
• Depending on the federal state in which the application was submitted, a preliminary procedure must first be carried out.
• Information on the existing legal remedies can be found in the instructions on legal remedies in the notices.

A rejection of the application is subject to legal recourse. Depending on the federal state in which the application was submitted, a preliminary procedure must first be carried out. Information on the existing legal remedies can be found in the instructions on legal remedies in the notices. 

You can submit your application in writing or, in some cases, online to your local Chamber of Crafts.

Please inform yourself about the procedure at the responsible Chamber of Crafts. You can also have the required documents sent to you.

• The Chamber of Crafts and Crafts will use the certificate to check whether the focus of the degree corresponds to the craft you want to practice.
• In cases of doubt, you can submit proof of individual achievements (such as seminar papers or diploma theses) in training as well as framework curricula and training regulations for the examination.
• If you meet the registration requirements, you will receive a written notification of the registration.
• Together with the notification of registration, the company receives the so-called craftsman's card.

You must be registered in the register of craftsmen before starting the activity.

The amount of the fees can be found in the fee schedule of the responsible Chamber of Crafts.

There are no hints or specifics.