Mountain Guide beings: Mountain guide - Licence

Mountain guides are authorised to operate as guides and companions on mountain tours (including ski tours). The activities of a mountain guide require official authorisation, in the form of a permit.
The permit entitles the holder to use the title ‘state-authorised mountain guide’. A person who does not have a permit is forbidden from referring to themselves as a mountain guide.

Mountain guides who are also authorised to carry out this activity outside Vorarlberg may use the title permitted there that corresponds to the authorisation granted to them.

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

Before completing the training to become a mountain guide, it is possible to be recognised as a mountain guide candidate by the Mountain Guides’ Association. Mountain guide candidates are recognised for up to 3 years. Mountain guides may call upon mountain guide candidates to act under the direction and supervision of the mountain guides as assistants for certain routes, a certain region or mountain tours of a certain type and difficulty, depending on the candidates’ level of training.

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

EUR 76.30 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, 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 a report by a non-official expert is necessary, this will be communicated separately in advance.

Section 3 of the Mountain Guides Act (Bergführergesetz); Provincial Government Regulation on the recognition of evidence of formal qualifications, the adaptation period and the aptitude test in accordance with European Union law in relation to the Mountain Guides Act (Verordnung der Landesregierung über die Anerkennung von Ausbildungsnachweisen, den Anpassungslehrgang und die Eignungsprüfung nach dem Recht der Europäischen Union im Rahmen des Bergführergesetzes); Provincial Government Regulation on training courses and examinations and on the recognition of examinations and training courses under the Mountain Guides Act (Verordnung der Landesregierung über Ausbildungskurse und die Prüfungen sowie Anerkennungen von Prüfungen und Ausbildungen nach dem Bergführergesetz)

General Administrative Procedure Act (Allgemeines Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz) 1991

Vorarlberg Provincial Administrative Fees Regulation (Verwaltungsabgabenverordnung des Landes Vorarlberg)

Federal Law on Dues 1957

Upon application, a permit is granted by the Provincial Government to persons who:

a) can provide evidence of a professional qualification,
b) hold Austrian citizenship or equivalent status under the law of the European Union or on the basis of an international treaty,
c) are at least 18 years of age, and
d) are of good repute, physically and mentally suitable for the job, and professionally competent.

In Vorarlberg, temporary activity (known as ‘excursion traffic’) is also allowed without a permit.

Before completing the training to become a mountain guide, it is possible to berecognised as a mountain guide candidate by the Mountain Guides’ Association.
Mountain guide candidates are recognised for up to 3 years.

Bergführerwesen: Bergführer - Antrag auf Erteilung einer Konzession [Mountain Guide beings: Mountain guide - licence]

Additional requirements:

Professional competence must be evidenced by passing the canyoning guide examination pursuant to Section 5 of the Mountain Guides Act or by means of recognition pursuant to Sections 10 and 11 of the Mountain Guides Act.
In individual cases, the Provincial Government may recognise other training courses as a substitute for the official training and examination if equivalence to the mountain guide training and examination can be proven according to the Vorarlberg regulations. Training certificates from other Member States or third countries for which there are state treaties with the European Union stating their equivalence will be recognised by the Vorarlberg Provincial Government, provided that there are no significant differences. If significant differences cannot be compensated for by means of professional experience or lifelong learning, the applicant will be required to take an aptitude test.

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 necessary physical and mental aptitude must be evidenced by means of a medical certificate. For European Union citizens, the physical and mental fitness required in their Member State of origin will be recognised as evidence. If no such evidence is required in the Member State concerned, a certificate of physical and mental aptitude issued by a competent authority in that State will be accepted.

Evidence and certificates regarding good repute and physical and mental aptitude must be dated no more than 3 months prior to the date of submission.

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 on the form.

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

for details regarding mountain guide cancidates of the Vorarlberg Mountain Guides`Association: Contact: +43(0)6642234935; vorarlberg@bergfuehrer.at; www.bergfuehrer.at/vorarlberg

No electronic or handwritten signature is 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 set out the grounds on which the allegation of illegality 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