RaayaGerman paperwork, step by step
- Last reviewed: 2026-10
Plain-English guides to the tasks every newcomer and family in Germany meets: registering your address, Kindergeld, residence permits, tax returns and the letters that come with them. Each one lists the steps, the documents and the deadline (Frist), and links the official source.
Get started freeCommon tasks
- Anmeldung: registering your address in GermanyHow to do your Anmeldung in Germany: the two-week deadline, the landlord confirmation, what to bring to the Bürgeramt and what happens next.
- Ummeldung: moving within GermanyMoving within Germany? Register your new address within two weeks (Ummeldung), then update your car, bank, insurer and Rundfunkbeitrag. Checklist.
- Kindergeld: applying for child benefitApply for Kindergeld at the Familienkasse: who can get it, the tax IDs you need, the six-month back-payment limit and what to do with their letters.
- Elterngeld: parental allowance in GermanyElterngeld in Germany: when to apply (back pay is only three months), which documents you need, how to plan the months and where to apply.
- EU Blue Card renewal in GermanyRenewing or changing your EU Blue Card in Germany: apply before it expires, documents the Ausländerbehörde asks for, and what a Fiktionsbescheinigung is.
- Extending your residence permit in GermanyExtending your residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) in Germany: when to apply, documents to prepare, the Fiktionsbescheinigung and Ausländerbehörde letters.
- Widerspruch: how to object to a decision (Bescheid)Got a Bescheid you disagree with? How a Widerspruch or Einspruch works in Germany, the usual one-month deadline and what to put in the letter.
- Your German tax return (Steuererklärung)Filing a German tax return: who must file, the 31 July deadline, voluntary returns up to four years back, ELSTER, and what to do with the Steuerbescheid.
- Rundfunkbeitrag: the broadcasting feeWhat the Rundfunkbeitrag is, who pays per household, how to register or deregister after a move, exemptions, and what to do with Beitragsservice letters.
- Kfz-Ummeldung: your car after a moveMoved within Germany? Update the address on your vehicle registration at the Zulassungsstelle or online with i-Kfz, keep your plates, and what to bring.
- Bürgergeld and Grundsicherungsgeld: understanding the Jobcenter's decisionUnderstanding a Bürgergeld or Grundsicherungsgeld decision from the Jobcenter: what to check, the one-month Widerspruch deadline and appointment letters.
- Mahnung, Inkasso, Mahnbescheid: what to doGot a Mahnung, a debt collection letter or a Mahnbescheid from a court? How to check it, pay or dispute it, and the two-week deadline for a court order.
Got a letter? What it usually means
Official letters in Germany often carry a deadline. Here is what letters from the main senders usually are about, and what to check first.
- FinanzamtGot a letter from the Finanzamt? Tax assessment, request to file, questions or payment demand: what to check and the one-month Einspruch deadline.
- FamilienkasseGot a letter from the Familienkasse? Kindergeld decisions, requests for proof, repayment demands, what to check first and the deadlines that apply.
- JobcenterGot a letter from the Jobcenter? Bürgergeld decisions, appointment invitations, requests for documents and hearings: what each means and the deadlines.
- AusländerbehördeGot a letter from the Ausländerbehörde? Appointment invitations, requests for documents, hearings and decisions on your residence permit, and what to do.
- BeitragsserviceGot a letter from the ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice? Registration requests, payment reminders and fee decisions explained, with what to do.
- KrankenkasseGot a letter from your health insurer (Krankenkasse)? Contribution notices, income questionnaires, membership letters and benefit decisions, and what to do.
How Raaya helps
Snap the letter
Take a photo of a letter or upload a PDF. Raaya explains it in plain language, in your language.
Never miss the Frist
Raaya finds the deadline in the letter and reminds you before it runs out.
Follow the steps
Start a journey with the steps and documents for the task, and keep every paper in your encrypted vault.
Questions and answers
Is this legal advice?
No. These pages give general information and help you get organised. For your individual case, ask the authority, a lawyer, a tax advisor or a counselling service (Beratungsstelle).
What does Raaya cost?
Raaya is free to start: journeys, an on-device document vault and 20 AI credits a month. Pro costs €7.99 a month or €69.99 a year (the store shows your local price) and adds 200 credits, a 5 GB cloud vault, sync, sharing with up to 5 people and World watch.
Is my data private?
Page images are encrypted on your device on iPhone and Mac. Recognised text and key details are stored in your private account so search and AI can work. Web uploads are encrypted in transit and at rest. No ads, and we never sell your data.
General information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the official source or get advice for your case before you act.