Apply for permission to work as an insurance advisor

To obtain a license as an insurance advisor, you must submit a corresponding application together with the required documents to your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

• It is also possible to submit an online application
• Together with the application for a license, you can also apply for entry in the register of intermediaries
• The IHK will check whether you meet the requirements based on the information you provide and the documents you submit.
• After checking, you will receive the license by post
• It may also be possible to apply online

You may only commence your activity once the permit has been issued and you have been entered in the register of intermediaries. You must apply for entry in the register at the relevant Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

The competent authority for issuing a license is the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in whose district the registered office is or is to be located. In Rhineland-Palatinate these are IHK for Rheinhessen, IHK Koblenz, IHK for the Palatinate and IHK Trier.

Alternatively, you can contact the Single Point of Contact in Rhineland-Palatinate.The Single Point of Contact is a public body through which you can handle all administrative procedures and formalities required for the commencement and exercise of your service activity and for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification. Further information can be found on the website of the Point of Single Contact.

• Koblenz Chamber of Industry and Commerce
• Palatinate Chamber of Industry and Commerce
• Rheinhessen Chamber of Industry and Commerce
• Trier Chamber of Industry and Commerce
• Single point of contact for administrative matters

In order to obtain a license in accordance with Section 34 d (2) GewO, you must

• have the necessary reliability for the business operation
• live in orderly financial circumstances, i.e. you are not in private insolvency or entered in the debtor register
• have professional liability insurance with a minimum cover of EUR 1,130,380.00 for each insured event and EUR 1,924,560.00 for all insured events in one year in total
• be able to provide evidence of the required expertise

The following evidence must be provided:

• Copy of a valid identity card or passport

for proof of the legal form of the company:

• if the company is based in Germany:
  • Extract from the commercial register or the partnership register for companies entered in a register, otherwise a copy of the articles of association
• if the company is based abroad:
  • Documents from the country of domicile proving the legal form

for proof of personal reliability:

• for residence in Germany:
  • Certificate of good conduct (document type O) and
  • Extract from the central trade register
• for residence abroad:
  • Corresponding documents from the applicant's home country that prove their personal reliability

for proof of orderly financial circumstances:

• for residence in Germany:
  • Extract from the debtor register of the central enforcement court (enforcement portal)
  • Information on entries in the insolvency register and a declaration from the competent local court as to whether insolvency proceedings have been opened
  • Certificate from the tax office in tax matters
• if you live abroad:
  • Corresponding documents from the applicant's home country proving their orderly financial circumstances
• Proof of expertise from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) regarding existing necessary knowledge and legal regulations of the insurance industry
• Alternatively, a certificate of a profession recognized as a qualification
• Proof from an insurance company of the existence of professional liability insurance for the insurance industry (certificate from an insurance company licensed in Germany for submission to the IHK) in the original and not older than three months

In the case of legal entities, you only need to complete the application form for the legal entity itself. You must submit all personal documents for all persons authorized to manage the company. For the legal entity, you also need an excerpt from the central trade register. Partnerships as such are not eligible for a license. Therefore, each managing partner requires a permit. The applicant must submit a completed application form and all personal documents for each of these persons.

The responsible Chamber of Industry and Commerce may request further documents to verify personal reliability. Some of the documents submitted may not exceed an expiry date at the time of the decision (not only at the time of submission).

Depends on the respective administrative fee schedule of the state or on the fee statutes of the authorities responsible under state law.

Processing takes several weeks once all the documents are complete.

• § Section 34 d (2) of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO)

Appeal (appeal may be excluded depending on state law), administrative court action

The following information is available:

If you have employees who are involved in providing insurance advice, they do not need their own license. However, you must register them in the register of intermediaries and ensure that they have the necessary expertise and personal reliability.

03.01.2025