Berufsgenossenschaft Registration: The Deadline for Every Company with Staff

Anyone who employs staff in Germany automatically becomes a member of the statutory accident insurance scheme and must actively register the company with the competent Berufsgenossenschaft. The Berufsgenossenschaft is the statutory accident insurance carrier for your industry and, in an emergency, covers benefits for workplace accidents and occupational diseases.

In brief: every company with employees must register with the Berufsgenossenschaft responsible for its industry within one week of starting activities. All employers are affected, regardless of company size. Anyone who fails to register risks a fine, in addition to the obligation to pay contributions, which arises from the first employee in any case.

Who is required to register with the Berufsgenossenschaft?

Every company that employs at least one person must register, regardless of legal form, industry or scope of employment. This applies to full-time staff as well as to mini-jobbers, part-time staff or temporary helpers. Even for marginally employed persons or short-term temporary helpers, the reporting obligation does not change in principle; the only decisive factor is that there is employment in the legal sense. Statutory accident insurance arises automatically with the employment of the first employee; registration with the Berufsgenossenschaft is the active duty that follows from this for you as an employer. Self-employed persons without employees of their own may also be subject to compulsory insurance or eligible for voluntary insurance, depending on the industry; this can be clarified directly with the competent Berufsgenossenschaft. Which of these obligations apply to your company specifically is shown by a tool such as Company Audit.

How and by when do you have to register?

Registration must take place within one week of starting activities and is addressed to the Berufsgenossenschaft responsible for your industry. The legal basis is § 192 SGB VII, which prescribes exactly this one-week deadline. There is no single Berufsgenossenschaft valid for all industries; the competent body is the one designated for the trade or activity concerned. In case of doubt, the umbrella organisation of statutory accident insurance can help with the assignment.

1. Determine the competent Berufsgenossenschaft based on the industry.
2. Register the company with the Berufsgenossenschaft within one week of starting activities.
3. Note the membership number and hazard tariff position and store them for payroll accounting.
4. Submit the annual digital accident insurance payroll report (UV-Lohnnachweis) by 16 February.
5. Report changes in headcount or activity to the Berufsgenossenschaft promptly.

In practice, it is advisable to register at the same time as other mandatory notifications, such as registration with social insurance, so that all deadlines stay in view.

What do you need to keep in mind on an ongoing basis after registration?

After registration, you receive a membership number and a hazard tariff position, which you need for payroll accounting and should keep permanently. Every year by 16 February, the digital accident insurance payroll report (UV-Lohnnachweis) covering the persons employed in the previous year must then be submitted; at most companies, this runs automatically through the payroll software. If the number of employees or the nature of the activity changes significantly, this must be reported to the Berufsgenossenschaft promptly, as the contribution is also derived from it. Anyone who wants to keep the annual reporting deadline in view should enter the date permanently in the company's own deadline calendar, since the Berufsgenossenschaft generally does not send separate reminders.

What are the consequences of violating the registration obligation?

If registration is missed, fines under § 209 SGB VII are possible. The registration obligation also does not release you from the obligation to pay statutory accident insurance contributions: these arise regardless of whether registration was made properly and on time. In practice, a late or omitted registration often only comes to light during a company audit or when an accident occurs; contributions must then be paid retroactively, in addition to a possible fine. Companies are therefore advised not to postpone registration but to complete it directly when starting business activities.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to register even without employees of my own?

That depends on the industry: in some industries, entrepreneurs without employees of their own are also subject to compulsory insurance, while in others, insurance is possible on a voluntary basis. The safest approach is to ask the competent Berufsgenossenschaft directly.

Which Berufsgenossenschaft do I register my company with?

The competent body is the Berufsgenossenschaft designated for your industry or trade. Which one that is specifically depends on the activity carried out and, if in doubt, can be asked directly.

What is the UV-Lohnnachweis and when do I have to submit it?

The UV-Lohnnachweis is the annual digital report of the wages paid in the previous year to the Berufsgenossenschaft. It must be submitted every year by 16 February and forms the basis for calculating contributions.

What happens if I forget to register?

In addition to a possible fine under § 209 SGB VII, the obligation to pay accident insurance contributions remains. If the mistake is noticed later, the contributions are levied retroactively.

Do I have to report changes in the business to the Berufsgenossenschaft?

Yes. Changes in headcount or activity must be reported to the Berufsgenossenschaft promptly, as the membership number, hazard tariff position and contribution amount are based on them.

Source: § 192 SGB VII. This article is general information and does not replace legal advice in individual cases. As of: July 2026.