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apply for a licence to carry letters

If you want to transport letters commercially, you need a postal licence. You can apply for one from the Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway.

Online services & Forms

Online services

Responsible for you

Bundesnetzagentur für Elektrizität, Gas, Telekommunikation, Post und Eisenbahnen - Referat 317

Street address

Tulpenfeld 4
53113 Bonn

Postal address

Postfach 80 01

53105 Bonn

Phone

+49 228 14-0

Procedure details

If you want to carry letters, i.e. addressed written messages of no more than 1,000 grams, commercially for others, you need a postal licence.

Carriage means

  • collect,
  • forwarding or
  • deliver

of mail.

To obtain the licence, you must submit an application to the Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway.

  • They possess the necessary capability, reliability and expertise.
  • The commencement of an activity subject to licensing does not endanger public safety or order.
  • You comply with the essential working conditions that are customary in the licensed sector.
  • You provide assurance that you have the means of production necessary to set up and operate the licensed activity.
  • You are reliable, meaning that you will comply with the law.
  • You have professional competence, i.e. you guarantee that the persons working in the exercise of the licence rights will have the necessary knowledge, experience and skills.

  • Required Documents
    • Certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority of the management
    • Information from the commercial register of the management
    • Information from the debtors' register of the management
    • Declaration of criminal and investigative proceedings of the management board
    • Balance sheet documents
    • Copy of the business registration
    • Registration certificate of the statutory accident insurance institution
    • Proof of business premises and business premises

    Depending on the applicant and the type and scope of business activity, you may have to submit further documents and evidence.

You can submit the application electronically or in paper form.

Electronic application procedure:

  • Open the electronic application procedure on the website of the Federal Network Agency.
  • Follow all the steps and complete the form.
  • Attach the necessary attachments. You can upload the attachments as a file.
  • Submit the application electronically.
  • The Federal Network Agency will review your application.
  • You will receive a written decision.

Paper procedure:

  • Open the website of the Federal Network Agency and download the "Application for a postal licence pursuant to Section 6 of the Postal Act (PostG)".
  • Fill out the application. This can be completed directly on the computer.
  • Print out the completed application, sign it and send it together with the required documents to the Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway. You can send the application to the Federal Network Agency by e-mail, fax or letter.
  • The Federal Network Agency will examine your application.
  • You will receive a written decision.

The fees for the licensing procedure are between EUR 350.00 and EUR 700.00.

You may not carry mail commercially for others until you have been issued a license.

Processing usually takes up to 3 months. The duration of processing depends largely on how quickly you submit the evidence requested after the application.

  • Appeal.
  • Detailed information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in the decision on your application.
  • Administrative court action (only after unsuccessful opposition proceedings).
Status: 09.03.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie
Source: Federal Portal