English
Is Photography a Regulated Trade in Austria?
BGBl I 212/2013
Verified against RIS primary sources: August 2026
The short answer: no — photography is a free trade
Professional photography (Berufsfotografie) has been a free
trade since the Austrian Constitutional Court struck down the licence
requirement at the end of 2013 (VfGH 27 November 2013, G 49/2013; published as
BGBl I No 212/2013). No master craftsman certificate, no exam, no proof of
qualification — you register the free trade and can start the same day.
Registration itself is free of charge.
How the Law Got Here
| Until when | Legal situation |
|---|---|
| until 2012 | Photography was a regulated trade — a licence required proof of qualification |
| 2012 | Press photography and photo design were removed from the regulated trade (BGBl I No 85/2012) |
| end of 2013 | The Constitutional Court declared the remaining regulation of professional photography unconstitutional — since then, all commercial photography is a free trade (VfGH G 49/2013, BGBl I No 212/2013) |
Beware of outdated information
Many websites still claim photography requires a qualification in Austria, or cite
wrong years for the change. The binding source is the published Constitutional Court
decision — linked under Sources below.
What You Actually Do
- Register the free trade (e.g. “Berufsfotograf”) — free of charge, at the district authority or online via GISA. See the registration guide
- SVS social insurance starts with the registration — if photography is your side business, check the exemption thresholds on Side business while employed
- WKO membership is automatic (chamber levy applies)
- Videography is included: professional photographers are also entitled to produce video films (GewO §150)
What Still Has Rules
- Artistic photography is not a trade at all — artists count as “new self-employed” and need no trade licence (see activities without a trade licence), but they register with the SVS directly
- Drone photography needs an operator registration and, depending on the drone, a competence certificate from Austro Control — that is aviation law, independent of the trade
- The right to one's own image (UrhG §78): publishing or commercially using photos of identifiable people requires their consent — this applies to wedding portfolios and social media as well
- GDPR applies as soon as identifiable people are photographed and the images are stored
Market Data for Photographers
How saturated is the photography market in your region? Our market-check tool shows active licences, density per district and market movement — for photographers in all of Austria and every Vienna district.
Sources
- BGBl I No 212/2013 (RIS) — publication of the Constitutional Court decision repealing §94 Z 20 GewO
- GewO 1994 (RIS, current version) — §94 list of regulated trades (photography no longer listed), §150 on video rights
- Berufsfotograf:innen Österreich — industry association with yearly price benchmarks
Related Guides
Translation Status: UNOFFICIAL
This English version is for orientation. The legally binding version is the
German text of the GewO 1994.
Legal basis verified against RIS primary sources in August 2026. Aviation and
copyright rules have their own authorities — check them for your specific use case.
This is not legal advice.