Ski Schools beings: permits (full permit and permits for specific types of skiing)

In Vorarlberg, there are two options when it comes to establishing a ski school:

A ski school authorisation or a permit.

A licensed ski instructor carries out their activities independently.

The activities of a licensed ski instructor require official authorisation, in the form of a permit. With the exception of the restricted permit for providing cross-country skiing instruction, the permit also enables
the holder to lead ski tours.

The activity may only be carried out after legally binding authorisation (a permit) has been issued.

EUR 73.90 provincial administrative charge
EUR 47.30 application fee in accordance with the Federal Law on Dues (Gebührengesetz)
EUR 83.60 fee for the official certified copy of the recognition certificate, in accordance with the Federal Law on Dues
Further costs depend on the number of appendices submitted (EUR 3.90 per sheet (= four DIN A4 pages), maximum EUR 21.80 per appendix).

If an expert opinion from a non-official expert is required, this will be communicated separately in advance.

Sections 3a to 3f of the Ski School Act (Schischulgesetz)

General Administrative Procedure Act (Allgemeines Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz) 1991

Vorarlberg Provincial Regulation on Administrative Fees
(Verwaltungsabgabenverordnung des Landes Vorarlberg)

Federal Law on Dues 1957

The Provincial Government will grant a permit upon application to individuals who:
a) hold Austrian citizenship or are treated as equivalent under the law of the European
Union or on the basis of an international treaty,
b) are professionally suitable,
c) have successfully passed the entrepreneur examination as a prerequisite for acquiring the permit (Section 25) or demonstrate the required knowledge by means of recognition
pursuant to Sections 28 or 29,
d) are of good repute, and
e) have taught skiing for at least 25 weeks as a qualified snow sports instructor.

Professional suitability is presumed upon provision of the following evidence:

For a full permit:
1. ski guides or mountain guides, qualified ski instructors, snowboarding instructor candidates or cross-country ski instructor candidates, or
2. snowboarding guides or mountain guides, qualified snowboarding instructors, ski instructor candidates or cross-country ski instructor candidates.

For a permit for specific types of skiing:
1. qualified ski instructors and either ski guides or mountain guides (alpine skiing),
2. qualified snowboarding instructors and either snowboarding guides or mountain guides (snowboarding),
3. qualified cross-country ski instructors (cross-country skiing).

In Vorarlberg, only temporary activity is allowed without a permit (so-called ‘excursion traffic’ – see ‘Ski schools: excursions).

Schischulwesen: Konzession - Antrag auf Erteilung einer Konzession (vollumfänglich und für einzelne Schilaufarten) [Ski schools: permits (full permit and permits for specific types of skiing]

Additional requirement:

The necessary good repute must be proven by submitting a criminal record certificate. Evidence of good repute will be recognised if issued to citizens of the European Union by a competent authority in their Member State of origin. Where such evidence is not issued in the Member State of origin, proof of good repute may be provided by means of a sworn statement; where such a declaration is not provided for in the Member State concerned, proof may be provided by means of a solemn declaration made before a competent authority of that Member State.
The evidence must not be more than 3 months old at the time of submission.

Once the permit has become legally valid, the permit holder will receive a physical permit, which they must carry with them at all times when practising their profession. The permit holder must take out public liability insurance (minimum sum insured: EUR 7 million).

Personal data is processed in order to handle your case and/or conduct proceedings. Information on data processing and your rights as a data subject can be found in the form.

Amt der Vorarlberger Landesregierung, Amtsstelle Sportreferat [Office of the Vorarlberg Provincial Government, Sports Department]

An electronic or handwritten signature is not required for applications.

Appeals against decisions of the Provincial Government may be lodged with the Regional Administrative Court (Landesverwaltungsgericht). The appeal must specify the
contested decision and the authority that issued it. It must contain a request and state the grounds on which the allegation of unlawfulness is based.

The appeal must be filed in writing to the relevant competent provincial government within 4 weeks of the date of notification of the decision and must contain information that makes it possible to assess its timeliness. The appeal may be filed electronically: Appeals in administrative proceedings.

EAP Vorarlberg 

Amt der Vorarlberger Landesregierung
Römerstraße 15
6900 Bregenz

16.10.2019