Real Estate Agent (Immobilientreuhänder)
Key Facts
- Type: Regulated trade
- 3 specializations: Real estate agent (Makler), property manager (Verwalter), developer (Bauträger)
- Mandatory insurance: Professional liability insurance (Vermögensschadenhaftpflicht) REQUIRED
- Registration: Free (€0)
- Ongoing: Continuing education + anti-money laundering compliance
Three Specializations
| German | English | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Immobilienmakler | Real estate agent | Buying, selling, renting properties |
| Immobilienverwalter | Property manager | Managing residential/commercial properties |
| Bauträger | Property developer | Developing and selling new properties |
You can qualify for one, two, or all three specializations.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need insurance as a real estate agent in Austria?
Yes, professional liability insurance (Vermoegensschadenversicherung) is mandatory. Minimum coverage is 100,000 euros for agents and 400,000 for managers.
What is the difference between agent and manager in real estate?
Agents (Makler) broker property sales/rentals. Managers (Verwalter) manage properties on behalf of owners. Both require the same trade license.
Qualification: how to prove it
Immobilientreuhänder is a regulated trade under §94 Z.31 of the Austrian Trade Act (GewO 1994). The standard route is the qualification exam (befähigungsprüfung).
- Examined by: Meisterprüfungsstelle der Wirtschaftskammer
- Exam fee: €0 — exam fees are covered by the federal government
If you cannot sit the exam, these routes are open to you:
- FH-Studium Immobilienwirtschaft + Berufspraxis
- Rechtswissenschaften-Studium + immobilienrechtliche Praxis
- Individuelle Befähigung bei umfassender Berufserfahrung
- Appointing a qualified managing director
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 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
- 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
- Befähigungsnachweis (Prüfungszeugnis oder Studienabschluss + Praxis)
- Proof of professional indemnity insurance
- Strafregisterbescheinigung (bei <5 Jahren Aufenthalt in AT)
Terms shown in German are the ones printed on the Austrian forms — you will meet them exactly like this at the authority.
Legal basis: GewO 1994 §94 Z.31 + Immobilientreuhänder-Verordnung . Last reviewed April 2026. This is not legal advice.