Service Finder
Apply for a license as an insurance intermediary
Service Description
You are an insurance intermediary if you work either as an insurance broker or insurance agent:
- Aninsurance broker is someone who arranges or concludes insurance policies for the policyholder on a professional basis without having been commissioned by an insurance company or an insurance agent.
- Aninsurance agent is a person who professionally arranges or concludes insurance policies on behalf of one or more insurance companies or an insurance agent.
The license can be granted to a natural person or a legal entity.
Partnerships such as the civil law partnership (GbR), the general partnership (OHG) or the limited partnership (KG) cannot obtain the license. In these cases, each managing partner must apply for their own permit.
In addition to obtaining a license, you must be entered in the register of intermediaries immediately after commencing your activities.
The content of the license can be restricted and linked to ancillary provisions if this is necessary to protect the general public or policyholders.
As a tied insurance agent, you work exclusively for one insurance company or, if the insurance products are not in competition, for several insurance companies. In this case, you have the option of being entered in the register of intermediaries directly by your insurance company. In this case, you do not need a license.
If you broker insurance policies in addition to goods or services, i.e. as an ancillary product, you can be exempted from the licensing requirement by applying to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) for an exemption from the licensing requirement. In this case, however, you are also subject to the registration requirement.
If you have a license or a trade as an insurance intermediary from another EU/EEA member state and only wish to operate temporarily in Germany under the freedom to provide services or as part of the establishment of a branch office, you do not require a license in Germany. However, you must notify the authorities in your home country of your intended activity.
You cannot work as an insurance advisor at the same time.
Insurance intermediaries are insurance brokers and insurance agents.
Aninsurance broker is a person who professionally arranges or concludes insurance contracts for the client without being entrusted to do so by an insurer or an insurance agent.
Aninsurance agent is a person who is entrusted by an insurer or an insurance agent to broker or conclude insurance contracts on a professional basis.
Insurance intermediaries generally require
- a license in accordance with § 34d para. 1 GewO and
- must be entered in the register of intermediaries.
The license is issued by the responsible IHK. It also keeps the register of intermediaries.
In addition, a business registration is required at the relevant trade office.
Process flow
To obtain a license as an insurance intermediary, you must submit a corresponding application together with the necessary documents to your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).
- At the same time as your application, you can also apply for entry in the register of intermediaries.
- The relevant IHK will check whether you meet the requirements based on the information and documents you have submitted.
- If you meet all the licensing requirements, you will receive your license.
Who should I contact?
Contact the IHK at the headquarters of your company.
Competent authority
Your local IHK
Requirements
- You must be personally reliable. This means that you have not been convicted of a crime or theft, embezzlement, blackmail, fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, forgery, receiving stolen goods, usury or an insolvency offense in the five years prior to submitting the application.
- You must have orderly financial circumstances. This means, for example, that no insolvency proceedings have been opened against your assets or that you are not entered in the debtor register of the central enforcement court.
- You must have professional indemnity insurance or an equivalent guarantee.
- You must be knowledgeable, e.g. be a "Certified Specialist for Insurance Brokerage IHK" or have an equivalent professional qualification.
- Personal reliability
- Orderly financial circumstances
- Proof of expertise
- Proof of the required professional liability insurance
Please contact your Chamber of Industry and Commerce for information on the various types of activity.
The application forms, the legal basis and further information can be found on the homepage of your IHK. The documents you need to submit are listed in the application forms.
Which documents are required?
- Proof of personal reliability (e.g. certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority, information from the central trade register, certificate in tax matters from the tax office)
- Proof of orderly financial circumstances (e.g. information from the debtor register of the central enforcement court and information from the insolvency court)
- Proof of professional liability insurance or an equivalent guarantee
- Proof of expertise (e.g. certificate of having passed the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) examination or certificate of an equivalent professional qualification) (see further information)
- Extract from the commercial register for legal entities and commercial partnerships
Please note:
You can find out which documents are required in your specific case on the application form from the competent authority.
What are the fees?
- Fees apply. The exact amount can be found in the fee schedule of the local licensing authority.
In addition to the fees for business registration, fees are charged for the certificate of good conduct and information from the central trade register. Please refer to the fee schedule of the respective Chamber of Industry and Commerce for fees for licensing, registration and expert examination.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
The permit is valid indefinitely.
Processing duration
Once all documents have been submitted, the application will be processed. This may take several weeks.
Legal basis
- § Section 34d (1) of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO)
- § Section 11a of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO) - Register of Intermediaries
- Insurance Mediation Ordinance (VersVermO)
- Insurance Contract Act (VVG)
- Insurance Supervision Act (VAG)
- § Section 34d of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO)
- § Section 11a of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO)
- Ordinance on Insurance Mediation and Advice (Insurance Mediation Ordinance - VersVermV)
- Insurance Contract Act (VVG)
- Insurance Supervision Act (VAG)
Applications / forms
You can appeal against the Chamber of Industry and Commerce's decision on your application for a permit.
Which legal remedies can be lodged (objection or appeal to the administrative court) varies from state to state. Detailed information on admissible legal remedies can be found in the information on legal remedies in the notification of your permit application.
Appeal
Application form: Application form of the responsible IHK for natural or legal persons
Written form required: no
Personal appearance required: no
The application forms, the legal basis and further information can be found on the homepage of your Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The documents you need to submit are listed in the application forms.
What else should I know?
If you employ staff who are directly involved in brokering or advising, you must ensure that these employees are reliable and properly qualified to broker the insurance in question.
If you employ staff who are responsible for brokerage or advice in a managerial position, you must also have them entered in the register of intermediaries
- Insurance intermediaries who broker insurance policies as a supplement to their main service can be exempted from the licensing requirement (tied agents).
Please contact your Chamber of Industry and Commerce for information on the requirements. - Insurance agents who work exclusively for one insurance company do not require a license, but must be registered (tied insurance agents). Please contact your IHK for information on the requirements.
- You can take the "Certified Insurance Specialist IHK" examination at any IHK that offers this examination (in Thuringia, this is the IHK Erfurt).
- Insurance brokers must fulfill extensive information, consulting and documentation obligations (§ 11 VersVermV, § 59 ff VVG).
Further information can be found on the homepage of the IHK and the professional associations.
Further Information
Here you will find an overview of the professional qualifications that are equivalent to the certificate of competence examination:
Author
IHK East Thuringia to Gera
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
Technically approved by
East Thuringia Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Gera
Professionally released on
15.01.2024
14.06.2018
Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6Plus)
Start your request directly online:
Competent Authority
Industrie- und Handelskammer Ostthüringen (IHK Gera)
Address
07546 Gera
Remark: Head office
Postal address
07490 Gera
Opening times
Monday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Transport connection
Parking spaces
Number: 2
Fees: no
ausreichend vorhanden
Fees: no
