German Impressum Requirements: What You Must Include

An Impressum is Germany's mandatory legal notice, a standard set of identifying information every commercial website or social media presence must publish about who operates it. Think of it as the German equivalent of a legal "About/Contact" disclosure, except the exact contents are set by law, not left up to you.

If you run a business website, a commercial social media profile, or an online shop in Germany, you are legally required to publish an Impressum. But what exactly does it need to contain? Where does the obligation apply? And how do you protect yourself from costly legal warnings (Abmahnungen)?

This comprehensive guide answers all your questions about German Impressum requirements, explained in plain language and legally up to date for 2026.

Table of Contents

1. 1. Who needs an Impressum?
2. 2. What must be in a German Impressum?
3. 3. Impressum vs. Privacy Policy
4. 4. Impressum on social media
5. 5. Common mistakes and how to avoid them
6. 6. Impressum and business address
7. 7. Example of a Compliant Impressum
8. Free Impressum Template
9. 8. Conclusion
10. 9. FAQ

1. Who needs an Impressum?

The obligation to publish an Impressum comes from § 5 of the German Digital Services Act (Digitale-Dienste-Gesetz, DDG), which replaced the Telemedia Act (TMG) on 14 May 2024. The underlying requirement is unchanged. It applies whenever a website or online presence is operated for commercial purposes. This includes:

• Business websites and company pages
• Freelancer and professional portfolio sites
• Online shops and booking platforms
• Consulting sites and information portals that carry advertising
• Social media accounts used for commercial purposes

Private individuals are generally not affected

Only those who operate a truly private online presence with no commercial intent whatsoever are exempt. However, even a single affiliate link or advertising banner can trigger the Impressumspflicht. When in doubt, it is always safer to publish one.

2. What must be in a German Impressum?

The exact content depends on your legal form. Here is an overview of the key mandatory fields:

• Name and address: full first and last name, or company name, along with a legally serviceable business address (ladungsfähige Geschäftsadresse)
• Authorised representatives: for example the managing directors of a GmbH or UG
• Contact details: at minimum an email address and telephone number
• Register entry: for registered companies (for example HRB number and court of registration)
• VAT ID: if applicable
• Supervisory authority: if required, for example for financial or insurance service providers

Important:

All information must be clearly recognisable, immediately accessible, and permanently available, for example via a clearly labelled "Impressum" link in your main navigation or footer.

3. Impressum vs. Privacy Policy: What's the Difference?

These two get confused constantly, but they serve entirely different purposes, and neither replaces the other.

Aspect	Impressum	Privacy Policy (Datenschutzerklärung)
Legal basis	§ 5 DDG	GDPR, Art. 13 to 14
Purpose	Identifies who operates the site, for legal accountability	Explains how personal data is collected and processed
Required content	Name, address, contact, register info, VAT ID	What data is collected, why, how long it's kept, third-party sharing
Who needs it	Any commercial website or profile	Any site processing personal data, cookies, forms, analytics, which is nearly all sites

They can't be combined into one page either. Both need to be separate, clearly labelled pages, folding them together is itself a common source of Abmahnungen.

4. Impressum on social media, what applies where?

German Impressum requirements do not only apply to your website. They also extend to commercially used profiles on social media. Key platforms to be aware of:

• Instagram and TikTok: add an Impressum link in your bio (for example via Linktree)
• Facebook: add the Impressum directly to your profile or via "Page info"
• LinkedIn: no strict legal obligation at present, but linking to your Impressum in your profile is strongly recommended

Example: what a Facebook Impressum looks like

Facebook has a dedicated field for it: open your Page, go to "About", then "Page transparency" or "Contact and basic info", and fill in the "Impressum" field. The text shown there should look like this:

Impressum
Musterfirma GmbH, Kollwitzstraße 76, 10435 Berlin, Germany
Managing Director: Max Mustermann
Amtsgericht Charlottenburg, HRB 123456 B
VAT ID: DE123456789
Email: info@musterfirma.de, Phone: +49 30 12345678
Full Impressum: https://www.musterfirma.de/impressum

If the field is too short for all details, enter the name, address and contact data and add the link to the full Impressum on your website. The same text also works as a pinned post or in the "Additional information" area of an Instagram business profile.

Practical tip:

The easiest approach is to link to your website's Impressum page from all social media profiles. Make sure the link is clearly labelled and not hidden. This satisfies the requirements on most platforms in a single step.

5. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• PO box instead of a physical address: a PO box address does not satisfy the legal requirement for a ladungsfähige address.
• Incomplete or incorrect information: for example failing to name the managing director or listing the wrong register entry.
• A hidden Impressum: it must be reachable within one or two clicks from any page on your site. Otherwise you risk a formal legal warning.

What it actually costs:

Beyond the Abmahnung itself, operating without a compliant Impressum is an administrative offence under § 33 DDG, carrying a fine of up to €50,000. Abmahnung costs on top of that typically run from several hundred to a few thousand euros in legal fees, depending on the case.

How to avoid Abmahnungen:

Legal warnings related to missing or incorrect Impressum information are common, especially for social media profiles. Use a legally reviewed Impressum template and audit your details at least once a year or whenever your business information changes.

6. Impressum and business address, what you need to know

The business address in your Impressum is a particularly sensitive issue: it is publicly visible, yet it must meet strict legal requirements at the same time.

• Don't want to publish your home address? Anyone who wants to keep their private address out of their Impressum needs a legitimate alternative. Read more about how to protect your private business address in Germany.
• Must be legally serviceable: the address must be a proper ladungsfähige Geschäftsadresse, meaning official correspondence and legal documents can be physically delivered there.
• Virtual business address: providers like Teeberg offer a legally compliant, serviceable address in Berlin, including a contract for submission to the notary and authorities. See renting an Impressum address in Berlin for how it works.
• Ideal for freelancers: a virtual office for freelancers keeps your home address off public registers while maintaining a professional appearance.

When does a virtual address make sense?

A separate business address is especially worthwhile for the self-employed, freelancers, and digital nomads who want to maintain their privacy while still appearing professional. A virtual office in Berlin gives you a credible registered address without the cost of renting physical space.

7. Example of a Compliant Impressum

Here's what a properly structured Impressum looks like for a GmbH:

Impressum

Musterfirma GmbH
Musterstraße 12
10435 Berlin
Germany

Represented by: Managing Director Max Mustermann
Commercial Register: Amtsgericht Charlottenburg, HRB 123456 B
VAT ID: DE123456789

Contact:
Email: info@musterfirma.de
Phone: +49 30 12345678

Sole traders and freelancers use the same structure but list their own full name instead of a managing director, and omit the register entry and VAT ID if they don't apply.

Free Impressum Template: copy, fill in, publish

Three ready-to-use templates. Replace the placeholders in square brackets with your own details, delete the lines that do not apply to you, and publish the text on a page called "Impressum" that is linked from every page of your site.

Template 1: GmbH or UG (haftungsbeschränkt)

Impressum

[Company name] GmbH
[Street and number]
[Postcode] [City]
Germany

Represented by the managing director(s): [Full name(s)]

Contact
Phone: [+49 ...]
Email: [info@yourcompany.de]

Register entry
Registered in the commercial register.
Register court: [Amtsgericht ...]
Register number: [HRB ...]

VAT ID
VAT identification number according to § 27a UStG: [DE...]

Responsible for editorial content according to § 18 (2) MStV:
[Full name, address]

Template 2: Sole trader or freelancer

Impressum

[First name Last name]
[Trading name, if you use one]
[Street and number]
[Postcode] [City]
Germany

Contact
Phone: [+49 ...]
Email: [you@yourdomain.de]

VAT ID (only if you have one)
VAT identification number according to § 27a UStG: [DE...]

Professional details (only for regulated professions)
Professional title: [e.g. Steuerberater]
Chamber: [name and address of the responsible chamber]
Professional regulations: [e.g. StBerG, available at ...]

Responsible for editorial content according to § 18 (2) MStV:
[First name Last name, address as above]

Template 3: Social media bio format

Bios on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are too short for the full text. Use one clearly labelled line that leads to the complete Impressum on your website:

Impressum: [yourdomain.de/impressum]

Or, where the platform gives you enough space, for example in the YouTube channel description or a Facebook "About" field:

Impressum: [Name or company], [Street and number], [Postcode] [City], Germany
Email: [you@yourdomain.de] | Full Impressum: [yourdomain.de/impressum]

Two rules apply on every platform: the word "Impressum" must be visible, and the link must work without a login. Whatever you do, the address has to be a serviceable one. A PO box or a "c/o" at a friend's flat does not satisfy § 5 DDG, so if you do not want your home address in the template, use a rented Impressum address instead.

These templates are general information, not legal advice. If your business is regulated or you sell to consumers, have a lawyer check the final version.

8. Conclusion: use your Impressum to build trust

A legally compliant Impressum is not just a formality. It builds trust with your customers and protects you from expensive legal warnings. Make sure all mandatory information is complete, clearly presented, and permanently accessible, and keep your private and business address cleanly separated.

If you do not want your personal address publicly listed, Teeberg has the right solution: a virtual business address that meets all legal requirements, fast, fully digital, and accepted by the Gewerbeamt.

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Want to protect your private address while still looking professional? Find out now about the benefits of a virtual business address at Teeberg, registered in Berlin, bookable entirely online, and recognised by German authorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the German Impressum requirements?

In Germany, any commercially operated website or social media profile must publish an Impressum under § 5 DDG (the Digital Services Act, which replaced the Telemedia Act in 2024). The Impressum must include the operator's full name and a serviceable address, contact details (email and phone), and depending on the legal form, additional information such as the commercial register number, VAT ID, or the name of an authorised representative.

What does a German Impressum legally need to contain?

At minimum: full name (or company name), a ladungsfähige Geschäftsadresse (physically serviceable address), an email address, and a telephone number. Registered companies must also include their register court, HRB number, managing directors, and VAT ID if applicable. The Impressum must be reachable within one or two clicks from every page.

Who needs an Impressum under German law?

Anyone who operates a website, blog, online shop, or social media profile for commercial purposes in Germany needs an Impressum. This includes freelancers, sole traders, GmbHs, and UGs, and anyone earning money through their online presence, even indirectly through affiliate links or advertising. Only genuinely private, non-commercial websites are exempt.

What's required for a GmbH's Impressum specifically?

A GmbH's Impressum needs the full company name exactly as registered, the serviceable business address, the managing director(s) as authorised representatives, the register court and HRB number, and the VAT ID if applicable. All of this must match what's on file with the commercial register.

Do US companies with German customers need a German Impressum?

If you're operating from outside Germany but your site or service specifically targets German customers commercially, German Impressum rules can apply to you too. This is a genuinely complex cross-border question, see our guide on virtual offices for non-EU and non-resident founders for how foreign businesses typically establish compliant German presence, and consult a lawyer for your specific situation.

Do I need an Impressum for a personal blog?

If your blog is genuinely private with no commercial intent, no. But the bar is lower than most people think: a single affiliate link, a "buy me a coffee" button, or even display ads can trigger the requirement. If there's any doubt, publishing an Impressum costs you nothing and removes the risk entirely.