Gastronomy Trade License (Gastgewerbe)
Key Facts
- Type: Regulated trade (reglementiertes Gewerbe)
- Qualification: Qualification exam (Befähigungsprüfung) — 2 modules
- Registration cost: Free (€0)
- Exam fees: Covered by the government since July 2023
- Start immediately: Yes, upon complete registration
- Legal basis: GewO §94 Z.26
Where did you obtain your qualification?
For a regulated trade you submit your Befähigungsnachweis (qualification proof) with the registration — the Key Facts above show what counts for this trade.
For a qualification obtained in the EU/EEA or Switzerland, Directive 2005/36/EC gives you the right to a formal recognition or equivalence procedure (Anerkennung/Gleichhaltung). Do this before registering.
For a qualification obtained outside the EU/EEA the recommended path is the individual assessment (§ 19): your training and experience are assessed for equivalence.
Three routes without a formal qualification: individual assessment (§ 19), the qualification exam (exam fees covered by the government since 2023), or a qualified manager (§ 39).
Individual assessment (§ 19) Qualified manager (§ 39) All 4 paths
What You Need
- Qualification proof (Befähigungsnachweis) — via exam, hospitality school diploma, or individual assessment
- ID document (passport or EU ID card)
- Criminal record check (if <5 years in Austria)
- Operating permit (Betriebsanlagengenehmigung) — usually required for restaurants; whether a permit is needed depends on the hazard test in § 74 (2) GewO
Qualification Alternatives
| Path | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam | Qualification exam (2 modules). Fees covered by government since 2023. |
| Education | Hospitality school diploma (Gastgewerbefachschule, Hotelfachschule) |
| Individual assessment | Prove your skills through work experience (§19 GewO) |
| Qualified manager | Appoint someone with the qualification as your trade manager (gewerberechtlicher GF) |
Important German Terms
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Gastgewerbe | Gastronomy/Hospitality trade |
| Befähigungsprüfung | Qualification exam |
| Betriebsanlagengenehmigung | Operating facility permit |
| HACCP-Konzept | Food safety management plan |
Vollständige deutsche Version →
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to register a restaurant in Austria?
Trade registration is completely free (0 euros). Exam fees are covered by the government since July 2023.
Can I start my restaurant immediately after registration?
Yes, you can begin operating immediately upon complete registration. No waiting period for standard gastronomy.
Do I need a qualification to open a restaurant in Austria?
Yes, gastronomy is a regulated trade requiring a qualification exam (Befaehigungspruefung) with 2 modules.
Which permit procedure applies — and the music rule
The exception inside the exception is worth quoting. The statute itself says this does not include „bloße Hintergrundmusik, die leiser ist als der übliche Gesprächston der Gäste“ — mere background music quieter than the guests' normal conversation. The line between two procedures runs along a volume the law compares to people talking.
In practice the simplified procedure means neighbours have three weeks to object, and the authority decides within two months.
That is a bed-and-breakfast, described almost literally. Only above it does the simplified procedure up to 100 beds come into play. The operating hours of § 1 (2) expressly do not apply to no. 8.
Qualification: how to prove it
Gastgewerbe is a regulated trade under §94 Z.26 of the Austrian Trade Act (GewO 1994). The standard route is the qualification exam (befähigungsprüfung).
- Examined by: Wirtschaftskammer (WIFI)
- Exam modules: 2
- Exam fee: €318
If you cannot sit the exam, these routes are open to you:
- Individuelle Befähigung durch Nachweis einschlägiger Kenntnisse und Fähigkeiten
- Bestellung eines gewerberechtlichen Geschäftsführers mit Befähigungsnachweis
Registering the trade
- Cost: Free — registration itself carries no fee
- Where: District administrative authority — Bezirkshauptmannschaft or Magistrat
- Decision within: max. 3 months
- Typically takes: 1-5 Werktage (bei vollständigen 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
- By post
Who may register
- Minimum age: 18
- Citizenship or residence: Austria, EU, EEA or Switzerland — third-country nationals with a residence permit are also eligible
- Clean record: no disqualifying convictions (checked by the authority)
Documents to bring
- Valid photo ID (passport or national ID card)
- Befähigungsnachweis (Prüfungszeugnis, Schuldiplom, oder individ. Nachweis)
- Strafregisterbescheinigung (bei <5 Jahren Aufenthalt in AT)
- Betriebsanlagen-Unterlagen (falls Standort genehmigungspflichtig)
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 | MA 63 — Gewerbewesen |
| Lower Austria | Bezirkshauptmannschaft (je Bezirk) |
| Upper Austria | Bezirkshauptmannschaft |
| Salzburg | BH Salzburg-Umgebung / Magistrat Salzburg |
Sole trader, GmbH, or partnership?
Trade law does not prescribe a legal form — but it does draw one line. Under § 9 (1) GewO, legal entities and registered partnerships (GmbH, OG, KG) may hold a trade licence, but they „must have appointed a managing director (§ 39)“ — a named person who carries the qualification and the legal responsibility for the trade. As a sole trader you are that person yourself.
Whether a GmbH pays off financially depends on profit, drawings, SVS contributions and allowances. There is no general profit threshold, and that question belongs to a tax adviser, not to this page.
Running this trade alongside a job
Nothing in Austrian law forbids running a trade as a side business. Two things about social insurance are regularly misremembered, and both cost money.
- The obligation follows Chamber membership, not profit. Under § 2 (1) 1 GSVG compulsory SVS insurance attaches to membership of the Economic Chamber, which you acquire with the trade licence itself. It therefore applies in a year in which you make no profit at all.
- There is an exemption — but only on application. § 4 (1) 7 GSVG lets very small businesses be exempted while turnover and income stay under the limits it refers to. Nothing happens automatically: without the application, the obligation stands.
If you are employed, check your employment contract separately for a secondary-activity clause — that is a matter between you and your employer, not trade law.
Legal basis: GewO 1994 §94 Z.26 . Last reviewed April 2026. This is not legal advice.