English
Tailor (Damenkleidermacher)
GewO §94 Z.12
Verified: April 2026
Key Facts
- Type: Regulated trade (Handwerk)
- Qualification: Master exam (Meisterpruefung) or equivalent
- Registration cost: Free (€0)
- Exam fees: Covered by government since July 2023
- Scope: Custom women's clothing, alterations, fashion design
What This Trade Covers
- Design and production of custom women's clothing (bespoke tailoring)
- Pattern making and draping for individual clients
- Alterations and repairs of women's garments
- Bridal wear and evening gown creation
- Small-batch fashion production and atelier work
- Traditional Austrian costume (Tracht and Dirndl) tailoring
Damenkleidermacher vs. Herrenkleidermacher
Austrian trade law distinguishes between women's tailoring (Damenkleidermacher,
§94 Z.12) and men's tailoring (Herrenkleidermacher, §94 Z.27).
These are separate regulated trades with individual qualification exams.
Many tailors register for both to serve all clients.
Related Guides
Qualification: how to prove it
Schneider is a regulated trade under §94 Z.10 of the Austrian Trade Act (GewO 1994). The standard route is the qualification exam (befähigungsprüfung).
- Examined by: 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:
- Individual assessment under §19 GewO
- Appointing a qualified managing director
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
- Certificate of competence (Befähigungsnachweis)
- 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 Linz/Wels/Steyr |
| 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.10 . Last reviewed April 2026. This is not legal advice.
Legally binding: German text of GewO 1994.