Our exclusive document service
There are clear legal requirements governing your work as a subcontractor in Germany. We make sure you meet them with ease—so you can focus fully on your work.
With just a few details , you'll receive a precise overview of all the necessary documents tailored to your specific needs.
Upon request, we can handle the entire process: from application and coordination to ongoing monitoring—all under one roof.
This exclusive service is reserved for registered partners.
Transparent. Secure. Reliable.
As Germany’s only full-service provider, we support subcontractors from Eastern Europe with absolutely all their needs for working on German construction sites. We naturally treat your data and documents with the strictest confidentiality and in accordance with the GDPR. We guarantee it.
To be carried on the construction site:
Everyone on a construction site in Germany must carry a valid ID card or residence permit. In addition, they must be able to present their A1 certificate.
The contract for services requires you to inform your technicians accordingly.
Required for all:
As a subcontractor—whether self-employed or with employees—you must be able to provide, in addition to the A1 certificate, your business registration or an extract from the commercial register, as well as the exemption certificate pursuant to Section 48b of the German Income Tax Act (EStG). For the latter, you’ll need your VAT identification number (VAT ID).
With the right business liability insurance, you can effectively protect yourself from the financial consequences of unexpected events.
Withclearance certificates from your health insurance provider and the tax office, you can prevent your client from withholding any money.
Additional requirement for subcontractors with employees:
If your employees work in Germany, you must submit a written notification to Customs in accordance with Section 18 of the AEntG. Customs will forward this notification to the relevant social security fund (SOKA) for data verification (Section 20 of the AEntG and Section 6 of the SchwarzArbG).
If necessary, you must register your business and your employees with SOKA-Bau and have the relevant certificates on hand.
You must also be able to demonstrate compliance with the Minimum Wage Act (MiLoG).
Note: A basic distinction is made between “sole proprietors” and “businesses with employees.” Protecting employees working on a construction site requires numerous certifications, whereas a solo self-employed person, who is responsible for themselves, must provide fewer documents.
When working with additional subcontractors, there are other options available.
Identity documents
Anyone working on a construction site in Germany who is from a European country must carry either an ID card or a passport. This is for identification and verification purposes . The identification document allows German authorities to verify your identity and check your residency status and work permit.
Non-EU citizens (such as Ukrainians) require visas, long-term residence permits, or certificates of residence.
Business Registration / Commercial Register
The free movement of workers gives nationals of all EU member states the right to freely choose their place of employment within the EU. You therefore do not need an extra work permit.
Anyone operating in Germany under their own business registration must provide clear proof of this to clients. The business license confirms that a self-employed activity has been properly registered and may be legally carried out. Learn more here about how we can help you with business registration.
For corporations, a current extract from the commercial register also serves as the basis for many clients to verify a company’s legitimacy and existence. It confirms that a company is properly registered and provides key information about the company. Find out here how we can help you compile all the necessary registry information.
business liability insurance
On German construction sites, adequate coverage for property damage and personal injury is essential for your projects. It protects you—and, by extension, your client—from the financial consequences of defects, downtime, or loss, and is therefore a prerequisite for collaboration with many clients.
Find out here how we can help you review or select the right business liability insurance policy.
SOKA-BAU certificate
SOKA-BAU is the social insurance fund for the construction industry in Germany, which, among other things, ensures vacation entitlements and occupational pension plans for all employees. Registration with SOKA-BAU is always required when a subcontractor employs workers on a German construction site.
Important: As a solo self-employed person, you do not have to register with SOKA-BAU.
There are various social security funds for specific construction trades in Germany:
- The SOKA-BAU for the main and ancillary building trades
- The SOKA-DACH for the roofing trade
- The SOKA-GERÜSTBAU for the scaffolding trade
- The Malerkasse for the painting and varnishing trade
- The Einzugsstelle Garten- und Landschaftsbau EWGaLA for gardening, landscaping and sports ground construction.
Social security regulations are complex, confusing, and prone to errors. They are strictly enforced in Germany, and compliance is regularly audited. Late filings or incorrect classifications can quickly lead to back payments. That’s why we support you in handling the process correctly, from the initial status check through to the end of the project. Learn more about our services here.
Certificate of exemption according to § 48b
Without a valid exemption certificate (Section 48b of the German Income Tax Act), your German client will withhold 15% of your compensation —this amount is paid directly to the tax office as withholding tax.
On the other hand, if you have an exemption certificate, you are authorized to issue invoices without adding tax. In order for the client to accept the tax-exempt invoice, they must also obtain a confirmation from the tax office in accordance with Section 13b of the German Value-Added Tax Act (UStG), stating that they are permitted to receive tax-exempt invoices from you.
We take care of the entire application process and also handle renewals.
Clearance certificate from the health insurance company
Contractors in Germany must ensure that all skilled workers employed on their construction sites are covered by health, long-term care, pension, and unemployment insurance. This applies in particular to subcontractors from Eastern Europe.
For this reason, many clients work exclusively with companies that properly fulfill their legal obligations and correctly pay their social security contributions in their home country. The certificate of good standing issued by the relevant health insurance provider serves as the primary proof of this. This certificate is valid only for the insured individual in question.
Certificate of No Objection from the Tax Office
Many clients in Germany only work with companies that properly fulfill their tax obligations. The tax clearance certificate issued by the tax office serves as proof that your company is registered for tax purposes and meets its tax obligations.
Especially when dealing with foreign subcontractors, this is an essential part of the project approval process in practice. If this proof is missing, it often leads to follow-up inquiries, delays, or, in some cases, payment withholdings by the client.
Find out here how we can help you set clear expectations and build trust with your clients.
A1 certificate
The A1 certificate is a mandatory document! The A1 certificate is issued by the social security authorities in your home country and applies to all employees and self-employed individuals working across borders in Germany. It proves that you are subject to the social security laws of your home country and meet all requirements. This means you do not have to pay social security contributions twice.
It is important to carry the A1 certificate with you from the first day of the assignment until the end of the assignment and to present it to the responsible authorities on request. In the short term, the application for an A1 certificate is sufficient for presentation.
Certificate of compliance with the Minimum Wage Act
This law establishes a statutory minimum wage that also applies to skilled workers from Eastern Europe who work in Germany (MiLoG). In addition to the general statutory minimum wage, there are sector-specific minimum wages. These can be significantly higher than the general minimum wage, particularly in the construction industry, and are mandatory.
For projects on German construction sites, many clients require written proof that your employees are being paid in accordance with applicable regulations.
Here you can find out how we can help you be fully prepared for inspections.
Notification of posting to customs
For assignments on German construction sites, a posting notification must generally be submitted to customs in advance in accordance with Section 18 of the German Posting of Workers Act (AEntG) . This notification reports the deployment of foreign companies and skilled workers and ensures that all legal requirements are met.
If the posting notification is missing or incomplete, this can result in work stoppages, fines, and, in practice, clients often withholding payment.
Here you can find out how we can help you file an accurate customs declaration.