Insurance advisor: Apply for a license

If you would like to work as a self-employed insurance consultant, you need a license from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

If you would like to work as a self-employed insurance consultant, you need a license from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

As an insurance consultant, you advise people on

the agreement,

amending or

reviewing insurance contracts.

You also advise or represent people out of court in the event of an insurance claim when asserting claims arising from insurance contracts.

To work as an insurance consultant, you need a license from your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

In addition to obtaining the license, you must also be entered in the register of insurance intermediaries (see "Further information"). When you apply for a license, you can also apply to be entered in the register of intermediaries.

As an insurance advisor, you may

accept inducements (commission) from insurance companies,

be dependent on insurance companies in any other way or

accept any economic advantage.

You act exclusively in the interests of your clients and may only be paid by them.

Special features for foreign nationals

If you are a foreign national and have a branch in another member state of the European Union (EU), you must register in that country. You do not need a license in Germany, nor can you be entered in the German insurance intermediary register.

Foreign nationals from non-EU countries are subject to the same regulations as German nationals. These also apply to EU nationals who only register a corresponding business in Germany (see "Further information").

The Chamber of Industry and Commerce in whose district the head office of the business is/will be registered is responsible.

The Chamber of Industry and Commerce in whose district the head office of the business is/will be registered is responsible.

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Personal reliability

You have the reliability required for commercial operations. As a rule, you are not considered reliable if you have been convicted of one of the following offenses in the last 5 years:

Crime, theft, embezzlement, extortion, fraud, breach of trust, money laundering, forgery of documents, receiving stolen goods, usury, insolvency offenses.

Orderly financial circumstances

You live in an orderly financial situation. As a rule, you do not meet this requirement if:

insolvency proceedings have been opened against your assets or dismissed for lack of assets

or you are entered in the debtor register.

You have the necessary expertise. Proof of the required expertise can be provided by passing an expertise examination at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce or by equivalent educational qualifications and possibly corresponding professional experience.

Sufficient insurance cover

You must have professional liability insurance with the minimum cover required by law for the insurance consultancy industry.

Appeal to the competent administrative court, see the information on legal remedies on the decision.

You can apply for permission to work as an insurance consultant online via the IHK service portal.

Alternatives can be found on the website of your IHK.

As soon as all documents have been submitted in full, the IHK will decide on your application.

After a positive review, you will receive the license and, if applied for, will be entered in the insurance intermediary register.

The issued license is valid indefinitely. It only ends if you renounce it. Under certain circumstances, the IHK can revoke or withdraw the license and have you deleted from the register of intermediaries.

Note for further information on the processing time: If all documents and information are available, the IHK will decide promptly. As a rule, however, within three months at the latest

Note: The fees for obtaining a license for insurance advisors and for registration in the register of insurance intermediaries vary depending on the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Note: Costs may also be incurred if you are required to submit documents during the procedure.

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