Baker Trade License (Baecker)
Key Facts
- Type: Regulated trade (Handwerk)
- Qualification: Master exam (Meisterpruefung)
- Registration cost: Free (€0)
- Exam fees: Covered by the federal government since July 2023
- Start immediately: Yes, upon registration
- Note: Does NOT include confectionery (Konditor is separate)
What Does This Trade Cover?
The baker trade license covers the production and sale of:
- Bread (all types including specialty breads)
- Rolls, baguettes, and small bakery goods
- Simple pastries and baked goods
- Dough products (fresh and frozen)
Qualification Alternatives
- Master exam (Meisterpruefung) for bakers
- Relevant education + practical experience in the trade
- Individual assessment (§19 GewO) with proof of extensive experience
- Qualified manager (§39 GewO) who holds the baker qualification
Food Safety Requirements
Vollstaendige deutsche Version →
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a baker also sell confectionery (cakes, pralines)?
Simple pastries yes. Elaborate torten, pralines, and confectionery require a separate Konditor license (§94 Z.38 GewO).
What food safety rules apply to bakeries in Austria?
HACCP concept mandatory, EU allergen labeling (Regulation 1169/2011), regular health authority inspections, and business premises approval.
Qualification: how to prove it
Bäcker is a regulated trade under §94 Z.2 of the Austrian Trade Act (GewO 1994). The standard route is the master craftsman exam (meisterprüfung).
- Examined by: Meisterprüfungsstelle WK
- Exam modules: 5
- Exam fee: €0 — exam fees are covered by the federal government
If you cannot sit the exam, these routes are open to you:
- Lehrabschluss Bäcker + Berufspraxis
- Individual assessment under §19 GewO
Registering the trade
- Cost: Free — registration itself carries no fee
- Where: District administrative authority (Bezirksverwaltungsbehörde)
- Decision within: max. 3 months
- Typically takes: 1-5 Werktage (bei vollstaendigen Unterlagen)
- Start trading: immediately on registration — you do not have to wait for the decision
You can register in these ways:
- Online via GISA (the trade register)
- Online via USP (the business service portal)
- In person at the authority
Who may register
- Minimum age: 18
- Citizenship or residence: Austria, EU, EEA or Switzerland
- Clean record: no disqualifying convictions (checked by the authority)
Documents to bring
- Photo ID
- Master craftsman certificate (Meisterprüfungszeugnis)
- Criminal record certificate
Terms shown in German are the ones printed on the Austrian forms — you will meet them exactly like this at the authority.
Where to go, by province
| Province | Competent authority |
|---|---|
| Vienna | Magistrat der Stadt Wien, MA 63 |
| Lower Austria | Bezirkshauptmannschaft |
| Upper Austria | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat |
| Styria | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Graz |
| Tyrol | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Innsbruck |
| Salzburg | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Salzburg |
| Carinthia | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Klagenfurt/Villach |
| Burgenland | Bezirkshauptmannschaft |
| Vorarlberg | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Bregenz |
Legal basis: GewO 1994 §94 Z.2 . Last reviewed April 2026. This is not legal advice.