Display of persons; application for a permit by non-EU citizens

According to § 33a of the Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act (GewO), you require a permit if you wish to commercially organize shows of persons on your business premises or make your business premises available for such events. This does not apply to performances of a predominantly artistic, sporting, acrobatic or similar nature.

The licensing requirement of § 33a GewO also applies in particular to striptease and table dance events. As a rule, the permit is subject to extensive conditions to ensure public safety and order and to maintain morality.

The permit is independent of any other restaurant license that may be required.

In order to obtain the permit, you must be reliable, the shows must not be contrary to public morals and the business operation must not be contrary to the public interest with regard to its local location or the use of the rooms, in particular no harmful environmental effects within the meaning of the Federal Immission Control Act or other significant disadvantages, dangers or nuisances for the general public.

Permit requirements are reliability, no violation of public morals, no conflict with the public interest with regard to the local location or the use of the business premises and an application (with a description of the exhibition).

Duration of the procedure approx. 3 to 4 weeks

• Identity card; passport
• Non-EU foreigners: residence permit that allows the exercise of self-employed activity
• Proof of reliability
  

  Official certificate of good conduct or good character or extract from the criminal record of the home country or an equivalent document and/or a certificate of good conduct for authorities (Section 30 (5) of the Federal Central Criminal Register Act) and information from the Central Trade Register (Section 150 (5) GewO).

  If it can be assumed on the basis of previous residence that the aforementioned certificates and evidence do not contain facts of significance under trade law, the foreign or German certificates may be waived.

• If applicable, lease / rental agreement or proof of ownership of premises
• Floor plans and site plans, if applicable, building permit
• Documents for the display of persons at registered companies or civil-law partnerships
  

  for registered companies, extract from the commercial register or comparable registration documents from abroad (with German translation) for civil law companies, articles of association

• in the case of power of attorney: a written power of attorney and identification of the principal and the authorized representative

• Permit: 100 to 3,000 EURO in accordance with the Schedule of Costs under the Costs Act (Tariff No. 5.III.5/6.1)