Understanding official letters

How to read a letter from the authorities

1. Sender and file number (Aktenzeichen): who is writing to you and under which number is your case? Quote the file number in every reply.
2. Date of the letter: deadlines are calculated from this date (see below).
3. Subject: what is it about? Words like Bescheid (decision), Anhörung (hearing), Mahnung (reminder) or Aufforderung (request) show how important the letter is.
4. Decision (Tenor): what exactly was decided, for example granted, refused or a payment demanded?
5. Reasons (Begründung): why was this decided? This is where you find mistakes, if there are any.
6. Information on legal remedies (Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung) at the end: it says whether you can object or sue, where, and by when. Always read this part.

Working out deadlines correctly

1. You usually have one month to object, counted from the day the decision is deemed to have been notified.
2. Since 2025, a decision sent by post is deemed delivered on the fourth day after it was sent, even if it reached your letterbox earlier. If it arrived later, the actual day counts.
3. If a deadline ends on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, it ends on the next working day instead.
4. If the information on legal remedies is missing or wrong, the deadline is usually extended to one year. Still, don’t rely on it.
5. Warning: some deadlines are much shorter, for example for asylum decisions by the BAMF (often one or two weeks to go to court). In that case, get help immediately.
6. Write the date you received it on the letter and keep the envelope.

Filing an objection

1. The objection must reach the authority that sent the decision in writing, with your signature. You can also make it in person, and they will record it.
2. A simple email is usually not enough. Some authorities do offer their own online forms; the information on legal remedies will say so.
3. You can send the reasons later. What matters is that the objection arrives in time.
4. Keep proof: registered post with return receipt, a fax with transmission report, or a receipt if you hand it in yourself.
5. With payment demands you often still have to pay first if the objection does not suspend the decision. Ask if in doubt.
6. Always send copies of your documents, never the originals.

Where can I get help?

1. Migration advice for adult immigrants (MBE) and youth migration services: free, often with advice in Persian or with an interpreter.
2. Legal aid for advice (Beratungshilfe): people on a low income get a voucher at the local court and can see a lawyer for a small fee.
3. Welfare associations, tenants’ associations and consumer advice centres help with benefits, rent, contracts and debt collection.
4. For asylum and residence: the refugee councils of the federal states and specialised advice centres.
5. The authority itself must give you information. Call or go there and ask what the letter means; bring someone who can translate.

Template: objection

Template for an objection that keeps the deadline. Replace everything in square brackets, print the letter and sign it. The letter must be in German.

[Vorname Nachname]
[Straße Hausnummer]
[PLZ Ort]

[Name der Behörde]
[Straße Hausnummer]
[PLZ Ort]

[Ort], den [Datum]

Aktenzeichen: [Aktenzeichen aus dem Bescheid]
Widerspruch gegen Ihren Bescheid vom [Datum des Bescheids]

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

hiermit lege ich gegen Ihren Bescheid vom [Datum des Bescheids], Aktenzeichen [Aktenzeichen], Widerspruch ein.

Die Begründung reiche ich nach.

Bitte bestätigen Sie mir den Eingang dieses Schreibens.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen


[Unterschrift]
[Vorname Nachname]