English
How to Register a Trade in Austria
GewO §339
Verified: April 2026
The Good News
Step 1: Determine Your Trade Type
The most important question: Is your business activity a free trade or a regulated trade?
Free Trade
- No qualification needed
- Register and start immediately
- e.g. IT, consulting, trading
Regulated Trade
- Qualification proof required
- 75 specific professions
- e.g. restaurants, electricians
Use our Gewerbe Finder to search for your specific activity.
Step 2: Get Your Qualification (Regulated Trades Only)
If your trade is regulated, you need to prove professional competency. There are 4 paths:
- Master Exam (Meisterpruefung) — Full qualification exam (free since 2023)
- Qualification Exam (Befaehigungspruefung) — Trade-specific exam
- Individual Assessment (§19 GewO) — Based on work experience (no exam)
- Qualified Manager (§39 GewO) — Hire someone with the qualification
See our detailed guides for each trade →
Step 3: Gather Your Documents
| Document | Free Trade | Regulated Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Photo ID (passport or ID card) | Required | Required |
| Qualification proof | Not needed | Required |
| Criminal record check | Only if <5 years in Austria | Only if <5 years in Austria |
| Residence registration | Required | Required |
Step 4: Register
You have three options:
- Online via GISA: gisa.gv.at — fastest option, available 24/7
- Online via USP: usp.gv.at — government service portal
- In person: At the district authority (Bezirksverwaltungsbehoerde) of your business location
GISA-Express (since 2026)
Free trades can now be registered via GISA-Express with automated processing.
The system checks eligibility instantly and confirms registration in minutes.
Step 5: Start Your Business
For most trades, you can start working immediately upon complete registration. The only exception: Zuverlaessigkeitsgewerbe (reliability trades) like security services and funeral services require pre-approval.
A second deadline starts the day you begin trading
Registering the trade is not the last step: the tax office must be notified with the
Verf 24 questionnaire within one month
(§ 121 BAO) —
counted from the day you start the activity, not from the trade registration.
The two dates are often weeks apart. The German guide
Verf 24 ausfüllen walks through the form field by field.
Related Guides
Translation Status: UNOFFICIAL
This English version is for orientation only. The legally binding version is exclusively
the German text of the GewO 1994.
General guidance only, not legal advice. Last verified: April 2026.
Deutsche Version →