English
Austrian trade law, explained in English
Everything you need before registering a trade in Austria — written for people who do not read legal German. Every statement carries the paragraph it comes from, linked into the official RIS.
A note on language
What is translated here is the explanation, not the law. The
Gewerbeordnung 1994 is binding in German only; where a detail matters,
follow the paragraph link and read the original. This is information, not
legal advice.
Registering a trade — step by step What you need, where you go, what happens afterwards. The whole process in one place. Free vs. regulated trades The first question, and the one that decides everything else. Comparison table and the usual mix-ups. Founding as a foreigner — EU, third country, permits Requirements for non-Austrians: EU equal treatment, criminal record, recognition of foreign qualifications. Proof of qualification — all four routes Master exam, qualification exam, individual assessment, or a qualified manager. Which applies to you. Individual assessment (§ 19) — no exam required Work experience instead of an examination. For career changers and experienced professionals. Qualified manager (§ 39) — start without the qualification Someone else contributes the qualification. Requirements, duties, and where it stops. What registration actually costs Registration €0, exams free since 2023 — and the costs nobody mentions, listed honestly. What is GISA? — Austria’s trade register What it holds, who may see what, what a GISA number is — and why access is free by law. GISA-Express — instant digital registration Automated processing since February 2026: who benefits, how it runs, where it stops. Entrepreneur exam — do I need it? Integrated into the master and qualification exams since 2017. When you still need it separately. When you need no trade licence at all Liberal professions, agriculture, hobbies — the exemptions from the licensing requirement. “Kleingewerbe” — it does not exist in Austria Unlike Germany, Austria has no such legal form. What people actually mean, and how it really works. What changed in 2026 GISA-Express, exam fees covered, and the running change log. All 75 regulated trades The complete list under § 94 GewO with qualification type and English names.