Conducting a business in Austria through tourist guides from other EU/EAA states

1. On the basis of a branch establishment in Austria

An application for registration of a business with the district administrative authority, in whose administrative district the branch establishment lies, is required. Moreover, legal entities require the entry in the Austrian commercial register. Proof of qualification is to be furnished upon registration (can also occur in the way of diploma recognition - § 373c und 373d GewO [Austrian Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act] 1994).

2. Temporarily and occasionally as a cross-border service

A prerequisite for the cross-border provision of commercial services by a tourist guide is that the person in the home country is authorized to provide this service. Since the business of "tourist guide" is a regulated business in Austria, a service notification (“Dienstleistungsanzeige”) must be submitted or acknowledged by the Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism.

The prerequisite for the acknowledgment of the service notification is that:

• the profession of tourist guides is regulated in the country of establishment, or
• the tourist guide has completed regulated training, or
• has carried out the profession at least 1 year in the past 10 years.

Required documents for the service notification (original or certified copy; additional certified translation of documents not written in German language):

• Proof of citizenship of a member state of the EU or a contracting member state of the EAA
• Certificate of the responsible authority concerning the professional authorization ▪ Proof of professional qualification
• Confirmation of previous activity in the trade

The service notification including all documents must be sent to:

Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft, Energie und Tourismus
Referat Gewerberechtsvollziehung
Stubenring 1
1010 Wien

To check whether a tourist guide is authorized to cross-border rendering of services, a publicly accessible service register can be called up online. Engaging in cross-border activity without entry in the service register is punishable by a fine of up to 1.090 Euros (§ 368 GewO).

Please find further information and contact details here.

Reference for further inquiry¹:

Fachverband Freizeit-/Sportbetriebe
E-mail: freizeitbetriebe@wko.at

¹ Despite careful treatment, all details in this information paper occur without guarantee. A liability on the part of the author is out of the question.

Status: April 2025