Frequently Asked Questions about the Point of Single Contact
1. What is a Point of Single Contact?- 2. Why is there a Point of Single Contact?
- 3. Who does the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony help?
- 4. What does the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony support me with?
- 5. Which processes can I complete via the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony?
- 6. What tasks are not the responsibilities of the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony?
- 7. What does it cost to use the services of the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony?
- 8. How do I receive relevant information and competent advice from the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony?
- 9. How do I engage the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony?
- 10. Am I also able to communicate with the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony electronically?
- 11. What languages are available via the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony?
1. What is a Point of Single Contact?
A Point of Single Contact is a public office available to you to complete the processes and formalities required for beginning and operating as a service provider.
The Point of Single Contact provides information regarding the requirements involved with beginning or operating as a service provider. The Point of Single Contact also supports you with the completion of the necessary administrative processes and formalities to provide relief from time-consuming official procedures. By engaging the Point of Single Contact to support you with your processes, you will no longer be required to contact the responsible offices. The Point of Single Contact will notify you once all documents have been submitted completely, will contact you in case of any questions, and will forward any statements and/or notifications to you which are received from relevant public offices. This significantly reduces the time you spend.
Your benefits:
You receive all of the information you require quickly and competently from a single source. Instead of a number of official contacts, you only need to contact a single office.
This enables you to complete all official procedures centrally to save time.
- The Point of Single Contact is your direct contact partner during the entire process, which assumes all correspondence with the relevant administrative offices.
- The electronic service is a convenient way to complete processes comfortably from your desk, independent of time and location.
- Approval processes become easier, more transparent, and faster.
The Point of Single Contact is your ace for official procedures!
back to top2. Why is there a Point of Single Contact?
The establishment of the Point of Single Contact is based on the official EU Services Directive, which was approved on 12th December 2006 and then to be implemented by member states until 28th December 2009. The goal of the policy is to facilitate the founding of company branches across Europe and simplify the provision of services beyond state borders. This also includes the obligation of member states to establish Points of Single Contact.
The basis for establishing the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony is formed by:
- Article 6 of the EU Services Directive,
- § 71a ff. of the 'Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz' (VwVfG) and
- Legislation concerning the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony (SächsEAG).
The Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony has been established centrally at the State Office of the State of Saxony in Leipzig.
3. Who does the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony help?
All people or companies that intend to found a branch or offer their services in the Free State of Saxony may engage the Point of Single Contact, provided the planned or currently provided activity is subject to the scope of application of the EU Services Directive (see question 6 – What tasks are not the responsibilities of the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony?).
The service of the Point of Single Contact may be utilised by service providers from Germany and other EU member states. It therefore acts as a contact point for domestic and international service providers who intend to provide or offer their services in Saxony.
4. What does the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony support me with?
The Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony supports you with the completion of all processes and formalities that are required for beginning and operating as a service provider.
This translates into a significantly simpler process, since the Point of Single Contact is the only contact you require. The PSC takes care of further communication with all relevant offices for you.
The Point of Single Contact
- provides you with all if the information involving relevant administrative and approval processes, relevant public offices, required forms, important deadlines, resulting costs, and so on;
- submits all documents required for approval processes, e.g. all required forms – also in a digital format;
- provides you with the ability to complete official procedures electronically, e.g. via email or via the Internet;
- offers an easy and uncomplicated way to contact the relevant public offices;
- completely assumes all correspondence involved with procedures;
- provides speedy and professional completion of procedures vis-à-vis relevant public offices and provides you with information regarding the current state of processing at all times.
5. Which processes can I complete via the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony?
Independent of your specific plans, the Point of Single Contact supports you with essentially all processes that are required for beginning and operating your business or as a self-employed professional.
For example, this might involve the following procedures:
- processes involving business permit registration, relocation of a business, deregistration of a business;
- approval procedures for a business requiring approval;
- processes for professionals;
- procedures for entry into the professional registry, e.g. entry of tradesmen requiring approval;
- personally relevant processes, e.g. entry into the register;
- processes for collecting information, e.g. application for a commercial registry extract.
6. What tasks are not the responsibilities of the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony?
Services that are not subject to the scope of application of the EU Services Directive are not able to be processed by the Point of Single Contact.
Those include:
- non-commercial general interest services, e.g. companies that serve the well-being of the public by providing cultural, social, and charity services;
- electronic communication services and networks;
- financial services such as loan brokering, capital investment brokering, investment consulting, pawn brokering, services connected with insurance, insurance brokering and consulting;
- transportation services, excluding the operation of driving schools, car rental agencies, moving or funeral services;
- temporary employment agency services;
- health services such as private health services, pharmacies, physicians, excluding services involving veterinary medicine and spa services such as sports studios and saunas;
- audio-visual services and broadcasting services, i.e. activities involving television, radio, cinema, press, however excluding connected services such as those of advertising agencies or television and radio advertising specifically;
- gambling, e.g. lotteries, betting, gaming machines in commercial casinos or in state casinos;
- activities involved with the application of public enforcement;
- social services that are provided by the state, its providers, or by charitable organizations;
- private security services;
- activities provided by notaries public or bailiffs.
So-called 'everyman processes', i.e. those processes that do not specifically involve any particular service, but which must be observed by service providers over the course of the operation of their activities just the same as private persons, are also unable to be processed by the Point of Single Contact. This includes, for example, road traffic regulations, construction standards, provisions involving civic development or land use.
If your activities as a business or self-employed professional are not subject to the scope of application of the EU Services Directive or in case a so-called 'everyman process' is involved, contacting or engaging the Point of Single Contact may be advantageous nevertheless. In this case, the Point of Single Contact will indicate that its services are not available, but it will indicate the relevant public office to you.
In any other case or situation, please, contact
7. What does it cost to use the services of the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony?
Simple information and advice is free of charge to you.
Beyond this, utilisation of the Single Point of Contact may be subject to fees.
The Point of Single Contact is pleased to indicate which fees can be expected by you in case its services are utilised.
8. How do I receive relevant information and competent advice from the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony?
You can contact us by telephone or fax or approach us locally for personal advice (all contact information is provided in the column on the right).
Upon request, the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony can provide special information involving:
- the structure of the approval system in Germany,
- the area of application involved with the EU Services Directive,
- the range of services provided by the Point of Single Contact, its tasks and competencies, advantages and possible costs that may result from utilisation of the Point of Single Contact,
- the specific requirements of procedures involving your services,
- the relevant public offices for your services,
- the forms and documents required for procedures,
- the conditions for access to required public registers and databases,
- generally and specially available legal guidance,
- professional associations and organizations.
9. How do I engage the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony?
To ensure that the Point of Single Contact is able to support you with the procedure, you will be required to submit an inquiry.
The corresponding form for activating the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony is located on this portal via:
10. Am I also able to communicate with the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony electronically?
You can fill out the inquiry form and all further forms online, or you may print them out and fill them in by hand. Completed forms must be signed and then sent by post or by fax to the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony. You may also communicate with the Point of Single Contact electronically.
For electronic communication, you may use the contact form or (for unsigned and signed documents) you may use conventional email (please see the column on the right). Information that is particularly sensitive may also be sent to us in a signed and encrypted manner via the following.
- SecureMail gateway (SMGW) or
- Electronic Court and Administrative Email (EGVP)
The SMGW is a web application that you must log into. Registration is available via the webpage for secure email or public administration for the State of Saxony.
Login area of the SecureMail Messenger- Registration for SecureMail Messenger (in case an account is still required)
The EGVP enables you to transmit written correspondence and other documents in electronic form legally, quickly, and securely to all courts and public offices that are involved.
Download the 'Electronic Court and Administrative Email' softwareFor these two options, the Point of Single Contact provides access for electronically signed and encrypted documents via the address ea@ldl.sachsen.de and via the official name »Einheitlicher Ansprechpartner des Freistaates Sachsen«.
How can I sign messages?
Applications or documents that you would like to submit to us may require a signature. In order to fulfil the signature requirement for electronic communication, these applications must feature a qualified electronic signature provided by a signature card.
To do this, you will require:
- signature software
- a signature card provided by a trust centre
- a signature card reading device (minimum security class 2)
In principle, you may use any signature software. However, we recommend using software that is supported according to the following brochure, since in addition to the PSC, the majority of public offices in the Free State of Saxony use Governikus Signer (see below).
The following brochure on Governikus Signer indicates which signature cards and certificates are able to be checked by Governikus Signer and which signature card readers are currently supported.
The Free State of Saxony offers all applicants the signature software 'Governikus Signer' free of charge. The webpage of the Governikus Signer electronic signature basic component and encryption - subcomponent enables you to register to use Governikus Signer. The program is a desktop application. Upon installation of Governikus Signer, a Java run-time environment will be installed (currently JRE version 1.6/6.0).
11. What languages are available via the Point of Single Contact for the Free State of Saxony?
In addition to English, you may also select the complete German version via the language selection menu. We have also prepared the most important information in Czech and Polish for you.
The procedure itself may currently only be completed in German.
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