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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.

Your selected location: Meppen (497...)

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.

Checking the reliability of traders in the case of industries requiring monitoring

Read aloud

In the case of the following branches of trade, the trade authority must check the reliability of the trader immediately after the business registration or re-registration has been submitted:

  • Purchase and sale (second-hand trade) of
    • high-quality consumer goods, in particular consumer electronics, computers, cameras, video cameras, carpets, fur and leather clothing
    • Motor vehicles and bicycles
    • Precious metals and alloys containing precious metals or the like
    • Gemstones, pearls and jewelry
    • Scrap metals
  • Credit agencies, detective agencies
  • Mediation of marriages, partnerships and acquaintances
  • Operation of travel agencies and arrangement of accommodation
  • Locksmiths, distribution and installation of building security systems
  • Manufacture and distribution of special theft-related opening tools

For this purpose, you must apply for a certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority and an extract from the central trade register for submission to an authority immediately after the business registration.

Legal basis

Which documents are required?

  • Certificate of good conduct according to § 30 paragraph 5 of the Federal Central Register Act (BZRG) for submission to an authority (Leika key: 99049001001002):
  • If the trader is a natural person, a certificate of good conduct must be applied for submission to an authority.
  • In the case of partnerships, a certificate of good conduct must be applied for for each managing partner to be submitted to an authority.
  • In the case of legal entities, a certificate of good conduct must be applied for by each legal representative for submission to an authority.
  • Excerpt from the Central Trade Register in accordance with Section 150 (5) of the Industrial Code (GewO) for submission to an authority (Leika key: 99052002109000):
  • If the trader is a natural person, an extract from the central trade register must be applied for submission to an authority.
  • In the case of partnerships, an extract from the central trade register must be applied for for submission to an authority for each managing partner.
  • In the case of legal entities, a certificate of good conduct must be applied for by each legal representative for submission to an authority.

Requirements

Successful business registration or re-registration for the above-mentioned branches of trade

What are the fees?

If applicable, state law fee required for background check

Process flow

After you have registered or re-registered a business requiring monitoring, the trade authority will check your reliability.

Processing duration

not applicable

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

Immediately after the registration or re-registration of a business requiring monitoring

Applications / forms

  • Forms: none
  • Written form required: no
  • Personal appearance when applying on site: no
  • Online procedure possible: There is no separate online procedure for the background check of traders. However, the certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority and the extract from the Central Trade Register for submission to an authority can be applied for online.

Who should I contact?

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

Further Links

Read aloud

Single points of contact of the state of Lower Saxony, Single points of contact of the countries of Europe, advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families.
Access information on the single point of contact for the state of Lower Saxonyvisit Website Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEsVisit advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families