town hall
Procedure descriptions

Apply for authorisation for care facilities

Would you like to set up a care service or a care home? To do so, you must comply with the provisions of the Nursing Care Insurance Act (PflegeVG) and apply for a licence for your care facility.

The Social Security Code XI regulates, among other things

  • which companies are authorised to provide care services and
  • who finances these services.

A distinction is made between outpatient and inpatient care facilities. Outpatient and inpatient facilities are economically independent organisations:

  • Outpatient care services are under the professional responsibility of a trained carer. The care services provide people in need of care with home care assistance at home.
  • In care homes, people in need of care are provided with full or part-time inpatient care under the permanent responsibility of a trained carer.

According to the so-called guarantee mandate, the long-term care insurance funds must ensure that the insured persons are provided with needs-based and consistent care. For this reason, the state associations of the long-term care insurance funds conclude a care contract and a remuneration agreement with you as a care facility.

The amount of remuneration depends, among other things, on whether you offer outpatient or inpatient services.

Responsible department

For authorisation as a care facility in accordance with the German Social Security Code XI: the state associations of the care insurance funds at the location of your business premises

Details

Prerequisite

The requirements for the authorisation of an outpatient care service are:

  • They must be able to guarantee sufficient and consistent nursing care for those in need of care on a permanent basis.
  • Their nursing and domestic care must meet the required quality. This is stipulated in the PflegeVG and in the framework agreements.
  • Your care service must work economically.
  • Your care service must be under the permanent responsibility of a trained care professional who fulfils the following requirements:
    • Successful completion of training as a nursing specialist, healthcare and nursing assistant, healthcare and nursing assistant, healthcare and paediatric nurse, geriatric nurse, state-recognised curative education nurse or state-recognised curative education nurse, insofar as the services of the nursing service are provided for disabled people in need of care.
    • at least two years of full-time practice of one of the above-mentioned professions within the last eight years.
    • Successful completion of a further training programme for managerial functions with a minimum of 460 hours. Proof of the further training programme must always be provided for new admissions.
  • You must ensure that the nurse in charge is replaced by an appropriate nurse in the event of absence (e.g. illness or holiday). In addition to carers, your care servicemay employ other suitable staff. These include, for example
    • Nursing assistants for the elderly
    • Nursing assistants and nursing assistants
    • Housekeepers and home economists
    • state-recognised family carers
    • Home and family care assistants and home and family care assistants
  • The care insurance companies' mandate to ensure the provision of care determines further requirements for the organisation and tasks of your care service. These include
    • Organisation:
      • Your care service must guarantee the care of a changing circle of people in need of Care recipients in your area of operation.
      • Depending on the individual care requirements, you must be able to provide care services day and night - including on Sundays and public holidays.
      • Your care service must have its own business premises and be available at all times. As a rule, private homes are not suitable for setting up a care service.
      • You must employ a care team of at least four employees.
      • You must also provide proof of adequate public liability insurance.
    • Range of services:
      You must submit your range of services in writing to the contract departments of the care insurance funds for agreement and approval. You should provide the care insurance fund with the following information:
      • The range of services you offer
      • the type and manner of service provision
      • Your care concept
      • the staffing of your care service
      • the availability or accessibility of your care service
      • The type and form of cooperation with other services
      • Your fulfilment of advisory functions
      • Your participation in quality assurance measures

Procedure

To obtain authorisation for your care service, please contact the state associations of the care insurance funds. The long-term care insurance funds may only provide care in accordance with the German Social Security Code XI through care facilities with which a care contract exists. If your care service fulfils the requirements, the state associations of the long-term care insurance funds will conclude a care contract with you.

The long-term care insurance fund will have the Medical Service check whether these requirements are met. The care insurance fund may only conclude a care contract with you if the result is positive. This examination is also possible against your will. If the examination shows that your care service is working uneconomically, this can lead to a change or even cancellation of the care contract cancellation of the care contract.

Irrespective of the application for authorisation from the state associations of nursing care insurance funds, you must register your business with the municipality of your future place of business.

Deadlines

None

Required documents

Enquire at the responsible office which documents you need to submit.

Costs

None

Miscellaneous

The requirements for authorisation as a nursing home are

The authorisation requirements and procedures for care homes are essentially the same as those for outpatient care services. The competent authority for authorisation as a nursing home and for the conclusion of a care contract in accordance with the Social Security Code XI are the state associations of the nursing care insurance funds.

Additional regulations result from the Baden-Württemberg Housing, Participation and Care Act (WTPG). These relate, for example, to the structural requirements and care home contract design, staffing requirements and resident participation.

You must notify the care home supervisory authority of the respective city or district at least three months before the planned opening date.

You must also register your business.

Legal basis

Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB) - Elftes Buch (XI )- Soziale Pflegeversicherung

Gesetz für unterstützendende Wohnformen, Teilhabe und Pflege (Wohn-, Teilhabe- und Pflegegesetz -WTPG)

Release note

machine generated, based on the German release by: Sozialministerium Baden-Württemberg, 23.12.2025