Permit requirements are the reliability of the trader, proof of training from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce on the basic principles of the food law knowledge required for the prospective business, space and location-related requirements including accessibility.

• The reliability of the trader is checked by the licensing authority on the basis of the certificate of good conduct and the extract from the central trade register.
  In the case of EU citizens, the reliability is checked on the basis of documents issued in the country of origin which prove that the reliability requirements are met. A certified copy of the documents and a certified German translation may be required. If such documents are not issued in the country of origin, they can be replaced by an affidavit in lieu of an oath by the trader or comparable acts under the law of the country of origin.
  In the case of non-EU citizens, an official certificate of good conduct or good character or an extract from the criminal record of the home country or an equivalent document and/or a certificate of good conduct for authorities and information from the central trade register are generally required to verify reliability. If, based on the foreigner's previous residence, it can be assumed that the aforementioned certificates and proofs no longer or not yet contain facts of significance under trade law, the foreign or German certificates may be dispensed with.
• The Chamber of Industry and Commerce will certify (following up to 6 hours of instruction) that you have the necessary knowledge of food law (if you run a pub or restaurant) (proof of instruction). In the case of legal entities (GmbH, AG), these personal licensing requirements must be met by the authorized representatives (managing director, board of directors). Holders of certain completed professional qualifications (e.g. boulanger in France, master baker in Austria) who can provide proof of the relevant qualification are exempt from the proof of instruction.
• A further prerequisite for the granting of the permit is that the rooms intended for the operation of the business or the stay of the employees are suitable, that the rooms intended for guests can be used without barriers and that the business does not conflict with the public interest with regard to its local location or the use of the rooms, in particular that there is no fear of harmful environmental effects or other significant disadvantages, dangers or nuisances for the general public.
• In particular, a building permit must be available for the intended type of business.
• In the case of non-EU citizens, a residence permit allowing the exercise of self-employed activity is generally required.

You must also register the business with the relevant municipality (see "Business registration" under "Related topics").