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IMPORTANT: Select a location.To obtain application forms, location-specific information and contacts, select a town or zip code.

For an area outside of Lower Saxony and foreign languages, some menu items and functions are not available. Please go to the service page of the respective country.

Please specify an area.

Which place to enter?

The location is used to determine the responsible office for the selected administrative service. In most cases you can enter your place of residence to find the competent authority. However, there are also cases in which a different location must be specified. Here are some examples:

Birth certificateYou want to get married and need a birth certificate. You live in Hanover, but you were born in Celle. You must therefore state your place of birth, i.e. Celle.

Business registrationYou would like to register a business in Braunschweig. Your place of residence is Hanover. You must therefore state the location of your future business, i.e. Braunschweig.

Apply for a building permitYou would like to build a house in Wunstorf and therefore apply for a building permit. Her place of residence is currently Hanover. You must indicate the place where the house is to be built. In this case it is Wunstorf.

Business re-registration


The relocation of a standing business within the area of the competent authority as well as a change or expansion of the goods or services offered that are not customary for the registered business require a re-registration of the business.

Who should I contact?

Responsibility lies with the municipality, the joint municipality and the city.

This procedure can also be handled by a "single point of contact". The "Single Point of Contact" is a special service offered by the municipalities and the state for service providers.

Applications / forms

The notification forms prescribed in Section 14 of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO) must be used in the trade notification procedure.

Which documents are required?

  • Identity card or passport
  • Extract from the commercial register
  • Proof of registration with the Chamber of Crafts, if applicable
  • Certificate of authorization, if applicable
  • Trade card, if applicable
  • in case of representation:
    • Power of representation

What are the fees?

The amount of the fees is determined in accordance with Annex 1 to Section 1 (1) of the General Fee Regulations of the State of Lower Saxony No. 40.1.2.1- depending on the time spent. However, the maximum fee is EUR 43.00.

Process flow

The tax office, chamber of trade, chamber of industry and commerce, local court, employers' liability insurance associations and the trade supervisory office, among others, are informed about the change of business registration.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

The change of business registration must be made at the same time as the relocation of the business or the change or expansion of the goods or services offered.

Processing duration

Processing Time: 3 Days
§ Section 15 (1) of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO)

What else should I know?

Service providers who fulfill the requirements of Article 4 No. 5 of Directive (EC) No. 2006/123 on services in the internal market within the scope of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO) and therefore do not fall under Section 4 para. 1 sentence 2 GewO are also subject to notification, even if they maintain a branch in another EU Member State. Exceptionally, permanent activities outside a branch or without such a branch may also be subject to notification if they are initiated by the client.

Source: Serviceportal Niedersachsen (Portalverbund des Bundes und der Länder)