Businesses and self-employed individuals must obtain a business license in Austria in order to conduct their activities in various sectors. Our lawyers in Austria can give entrepreneurs information about the required special permits and licenses according to the business field in which they want to carry out the activities.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Activity sectors for which a business license is required in Austria |
– banking, – financial services, – tourism, – transport, – real estate, and more |
|
Licensing requirements for professional services in Austria |
– residence permits for non-EU/EEA businessmen, – clear criminal record, – proof of qualifications, etc. |
|
Minimum age for business license application |
18 |
| Authority that issues the business licenses in Austria | Depending on type: Austrian Economic Chamber, Financial Market Authority, Professional Chambers |
| License for banking activities in Austria |
Issued by the Financial Market Authority |
| How can business license applications be registered in Austria? |
Online or in person. In both cases, we recommend the services of our lawyers in Austria. |
| Providing travel/tourism services in Austria |
Only by licensed travel agents |
| Real estate licensing in Austria |
Real estate agents must prove professional qualification, as stated by the Austrian Trade Act 1973. |
| Recognition of foreign degrees/qualifications |
Might vary depending on the profession. |
| Lisbon Recognition Convention required for: | Recognition of qualifications in the higher education sector to carry out a specific profession |
| Trade license in Austria |
A trade license is issued through informal registration with the responsible trade authorities in Austria. |
| Sole traders without proof of qualifications |
Should name a manager who has the requisite certificate of qualification, under the Trade Act in Austria. |
| Time frame to get a business license in Austria |
About 3 months |
| Representation with a power of attorney for getting a business license in Austria |
Our Austrian lawyers can act on behalf of entrepreneurs for obtaining a business license for their future activities. |
| Working with our attorneys in Austria | We help foreign and local entrepreneurs obtain a business license in Austria, by managing the paperwork and dealing with the relevant authorities. |
Table of Contents
Who needs a trade license in Austria?
The trade license is mandatory for all business establishments in Austria, whether they are a sole proprietor, a partnership, or a corporation. According to law, any activity performed independently, with the purpose of deriving income is a trade. Here is interesting information:
- Pre-conditions for trade licenses apply in the case of sole proprietors in Austria. Our attorneys in Austria can give you further information on opening this type of business entity.
- The Austrian law distinguishes between free traders (those who perform their business without formal qualifications and regulated traders (those who operate under special certificates).
- The first category includes retail traders, the IT sector or the media/advertising sector. Catering or hospitality services are a separate category for which proficiency certificates are needed.
What is a certificate of competence and why is it required?
The certificate of competence can be requested as part of the application for a business license in Austria. This document is necessary for regulated trades and refers to craftsmen certificate, university graduation diploma, etc. If this certificate of competence does not exist, the evaluation of individual qualifications should be applied for, as stipulated by the legislation regarding the trade license in Austria. We recommend those interested in this type of license to contact our Austrian lawyers and familiarize yourself with local regulations. Also, this infographic might help you understand the business license conditions in Austria:
Licensing requirements for professional services in Austria
A professional business license in Austria can be obtained without difficulty and you can even opt for our legal services. If in the case of citizens from the European Union, the condition of having residency in Austria is not imposed, in the case of those coming from non-EU/EEA countries, this requirement is mandatory. Here are other conditions:
- presenting a clear criminal record,
- should fulfill legal qualifications for the respective profession,
- should apply for a trade license in Austria with the Economic Chamber.
We underline the fact that the competencies and foreign qualifications are recognized in Austria, but in certain cases, there may be exceptions. Starting from here, we advise you to discuss all legal aspects with one of our attorneys in Austria when you apply for a business license. You can also discover this video presentation with details on this topic:
Statistics about companies in Austria
We present some interesting statistics about the number of companies registered in Austria in various business sectors:
- An estimated number of 320,000 companies are active in Austria.
- Over 30.6% of all companies registered in Austria operate in the services sector.
- Around 22.4% of the number of companies incorporated in Austria are operational in the finance, insurance, and real estate sectors in this country.
In addition to assistance in obtaining a business license in Austria, our specialists can also help you in other endeavors. For example, you can choose the legal services offered by our immigration lawyers in Austria if you want to relocate. Moreover, even those already established can opt for our services if interested in citizenship in Austria. We are here for any kind of information, so do not hesitate to contact our law firm in Austria.