Apply for permission to work as an insurance intermediary

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

A license is required to work as an insurance intermediary, which is issued by the competent authority.

The duty to provide information applies to holders of the license.

This means that certain information must be provided to the customer during the first business contact. Mandatory information includes, for example

• Name and address of the insurance advisor,
• statement,
  • whether certain insurance policies are represented (insurance agency) or
  • whether insurance policies are brokered (brokerage activity) or
  • whether advice is given on insurance (insurance advice).

An insurance intermediary may act as an intermediary without a license in the following cases in particular:

• Insurance mediation is carried out on a minor basis as a sideline ("petty intermediary").
• The brokerage only takes place as a supplement to another activity.
  Example: Brokerage of liability insurance by car dealers. However, this simplification only applies under certain conditions and only if a license exemption for ancillary insurance intermediaries is applied for.

An entry in the register of intermediaries is required.

When applying for a license as an insurance intermediary, an application for entry in the register of intermediaries can be submitted to the competent authority at the same time.

Special features for foreign nationals

Foreign nationals who have a branch in another member state of the European Union (EU) must register in that country. They neither require a license in Germany nor can they be entered in the German register of insurance intermediaries.

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.

General provisions under immigration law must be observed. If certain German qualifications are sufficient as proof of expertise, comparable certificates from the European Economic Area (EEA) are considered equivalent.

Your local IHK

The responsibility lies with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

This procedure can also be carried out through a "Point of Single Contact". The "Point of Single Contact" is a special service offered by municipalities and the state for service providers.

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• Reliability required for commercial operations
  • Anyone who has been convicted of a crime or specific offence in the last five years does not have the requisite reliability.
• Orderly financial circumstances
  • These are not fulfilled if:
    • opens insolvency proceedings against one's own assets, or
    • has been rejected for lack of assets, or
    • the applicant is entered in the register of debtors.
• Conclusion of a financial loss liability insurance
  • Currently, there is a minimum coverage amount of
    • 1,130,000.00 euros for each insured event and
    • 1,700,000.00 euros for all insured events of a year in total.
• adequate knowledge and skills.

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Fees are payable in accordance with the fee regulations of the competent authority.

The permission granted is valid for an indefinite period. It does not end until the insurance intermediary waives it. Under certain conditions, the competent authority may revoke or withdraw a licence and have the insurance intermediary deleted from the register of intermediaries.

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