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Quick answer: Behördendeutsch uses long compound nouns, passive voice, formal connectors like hiermit and gemäß, and legal terms that have no direct English equivalent. Understanding it is essential for reading letters from the Ausländerbehörde, Jobcenter, Finanzamt, and other German authorities.
What Behördendeutsch Is
Behördendeutsch (literally "office German" or "authority German") is the written register used in formal communication between German public institutions and individuals. It appears in letters from the Ausländerbehörde, Jobcenter, Finanzamt, Krankenversicherung, Rentenversicherung, and other public bodies.
The main features that make it difficult to read are:
- Very long compound nouns: Aufenthaltserlaubnisantrag, Einkommenssteuererklärungsfrist
- Passive voice constructions: Es wird darauf hingewiesen, dass... (It is noted that...)
- Subjunctive mood for indirect requests: Es wäre zu prüfen, ob... (It would be necessary to check whether...)
- Formal connectors and legal markers: hiermit, gemäß, sofern, unbeschadet
- References to specific laws and paragraphs: gemäß § 4 AufenthG
Most Common Behördendeutsch Words
hiermit
hereby (used at start of formal declarations)
gemäß
in accordance with / pursuant to
unverzüglich
without delay / immediately
sofern
provided that / as long as
beantragen
to apply for / to request formally
vorlegen
to submit / to present (a document)
nachweisen
to prove / to provide evidence of
in Kraft treten
to come into effect (for a law or regulation)
fristgerecht
within the deadline / on time
beifügen
to enclose / to attach (a document)
ersuchen
to request formally (more formal than bitten)
mitteilen
to inform / to notify
Phrase Patterns That Appear Constantly
German official letters follow predictable patterns. These are the structures that appear in almost every letter from a German authority:
Hiermit beantrage ich...
I hereby apply for...
Ich beziehe mich auf Ihr Schreiben vom...
I am writing with reference to your letter of...
Es wird darauf hingewiesen, dass...
Please note that... / It is noted that...
Bitte legen Sie folgende Unterlagen vor:
Please submit the following documents:
Gemäß § [Zahl] [Gesetz]...
In accordance with section [number] of [law]...
Ihr Antrag wird geprüft.
Your application is being reviewed.
Sollten Sie Fragen haben, wenden Sie sich bitte an...
If you have questions, please contact...
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Yours sincerely (standard formal closing)
Key German Authorities and What They Handle
das Ausländeramt / die Ausländerbehörde
immigration authority (residence permits, visas)
das Finanzamt
tax office (income tax, Steuernummer)
das Jobcenter
unemployment and benefit authority (Bürgergeld)
das Einwohnermeldeamt / Bürgeramt
registration office (Anmeldung, Ummeldung)
die Rentenversicherung
pension insurance authority
die Krankenkasse
health insurance fund (public)
das Standesamt
registry office (births, marriages, deaths)
die Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde
citizenship authority (naturalization applications)
Common Document Types
der Bescheid
official decision / administrative notice
der Antrag
application / formal request
die Bescheinigung
certificate / written confirmation
die Vollmacht
power of attorney
die Frist
deadline / time limit
der Widerspruch
objection / appeal against a decision