Apply for a license as a fee-based financial investment advisor

In order to obtain a license as a fee-based financial investment advisor, you must submit a corresponding application together with the necessary documents to your authority.

At the same time as your application, you can also apply for entry in the register of intermediaries.

The competent authority will check whether you meet the requirements based on the information you provide and the documents you submit.

If you meet all the licensing requirements, you will receive the license.

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the local trade offices are responsible.

Alternatively, you can contact the Single Point of Contact in Rhineland-Palatinate. The Single Point of Contact is a public body through which you can handle all administrative procedures and formalities required for the commencement and exercise of your service activity and for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification. Further information can be found on the website of the Point of Single Contact.

• Einheitlicher Ansprechpartner in Verwaltungsangelegenheiten

• 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.
• This also applies to persons who are entrusted with the management of the company or a branch office.
• They 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 liability insurance.
• You must be knowledgeable, e.g. "Certified Finanzanlagenfachmann/Geprüfte Finanzanlagenfachfrau" or have an equivalent professional qualification.

• 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 enforcement court and information from the insolvency court)
• Proof of professional liability insurance
• Proof of expertise (e.g. certificate of having passed the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) examination, 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.

Fees apply. The exact amount can be found in the fee schedule of the local licensing authority or registry.

The permit must be issued before the activity begins.

At the same time, you must notify the office responsible for business registrations of the start of the activity.

• § Section 34h of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO)

You can appeal against the decision on your application for a permit.
Which legal remedies can be lodged (objection or appeal to the administrative court) varies depending on the federal state. Detailed information on admissible legal remedies can be found in the information on legal remedies in the decision on your permit application.

If you employ staff who are directly involved in providing investment advice, you must ensure their reliability and expertise and also have them entered in the register of intermediaries.

03.04.2025