Bibob investigation
What is it?
If you apply for a permit or subsidy or participate in a tender, the municipality may conduct an investigation. This investigation allows the municipality to check the integrity of your company and the people involved in it. For example, the municipality will investigate whether there is a high risk that the permit, subsidy, or tender will be misused for money laundering or other illegal activities.
The municipality may also conduct the investigation at a later date. This means that even if you already have the permit or subsidy or have already won the tender, the municipality may still investigate your company.
If the municipality still has doubts after conducting its own investigation, it can ask the Bibob Bureau to conduct an investigation.
Does the investigation reveal that black money or criminally obtained money is circulating in your company? If so, the municipality may refuse or revoke the permit, subsidy, or contract.
How does it work?
The municipality may investigate the background of an entrepreneur or a company in a number of cases. For example:
- when applying for a permit or subsidy, or if you already have one
- in tenders by the municipality in the construction, environment, and ICT sectors
- when applying for permits under the Housing Act
- when applying for a liquor and catering license or an operating license
- in real estate transactions involving the municipality as a party
- if you want to organize a local or regional event
- if you want to import fireworks
There must be sufficient grounds for a Bibob investigation. The municipality may only conduct or commission a Bibob investigation if its own resources are insufficient to carry out an investigation.
Objections and appeals
It is not possible to lodge an objection against a follow-up investigation by the Bibob Office. However, you can withdraw your application. In that case, the municipality will not carry out the investigation.
Municipal policy rules
Additional information
Documents available for download:
- Read aloud Appendix to Bibob questionnaire regarding other parties involved and controlling parties.pdf with ReadSpeaker docReader
- Read aloud Bibob questionnaire Permits (except environmental permits for construction) general.pdf with ReadSpeaker docReader
- Read aloud Bibob questionnaire Environmental Permit Construction.pdf with ReadSpeaker docReader