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Germany-specific · Built by an expat

That German letter in your hand?
We'll tell you exactly what it means.

Upload any official German letter. Get a plain English explanation and exactly what to do next — in under a minute. No German required.

🔒 €2.99 per letter · No subscription · Data never stored⭐⭐⭐ Trusted by expats across Germany, Austria, the UK & Switzerland
Finanzamt Berlin-MitteSteuernummer: 14/234/56789
An: Max Mustermann
Wichtig
Berlin, den 08. März 2026 · Bearbeitungsnummer: 2026-FIN-4421
Sehr geehrter Herr Mustermann,

hiermit teilen wir Ihnen mit, dass Ihre Steuererklärung für das Jahr 2024 einer Überprüfung bedarf. Bitte reichen Sie die fehlenden Unterlagen bis zum 31. März 2026 ein.

Bei Nichteinhalten der Frist behalten wir uns vor, eine Schätzung vorzunehmen...
✓ Plain English

Your 2024 tax return needs some missing documents. Send them by 31 March or they'll estimate your taxes themselves.

→ Action: Submit documents by 31 March

Works with letters from: Finanzamt · Krankenkasse · Ausländerbehörde · Jobcenter · Bundesagentur für Arbeit · Rentenversicherung · Inkasso · and more

Free Letter Check

Not sure what kind of letter you have?

Type the sender and subject line — we will tell you what it is in seconds. Free.

The process

From "oh no" to "oh, is that all?"
in three steps.

Step 01

Upload your letter

Take a photo or upload the PDF. Any official German letter works — typed, handwritten, or the kind that looks alarmingly formal.

Step 02

We read it

Our AI reads the German, understands the context, and figures out what this letter is actually asking of you.

Step 03

You get the plain English version

We tell you what the letter means, whether it's urgent, and exactly what to do next. No dictionary required.

expat.fyi

Your letter — explained

Processed in 8 seconds
🔴 URGENT — Action required before a deadline
What this letter says

You've received an official notice requiring a response. A deadline is mentioned — act before it passes or the sender will proceed automatically without you. This is not a fine. It is a request.

🔴 Deadline — respond or submit by the date shownMissing this means they act without you — usually not in your favour.
🟡 Documents may be needed — check what they're asking forUsually straightforward — a form, a signature, or proof of something.
🟢 No fine yet — this is a request, not a penaltyYou're not in trouble. This is routine German admin. Breathe.
Your next step: Gather the requested documents and respond before the deadline shown in the letter. If you're unsure what to send, we can help you figure that out too.
Why expat.fyi

Built by an expat.
For every expat who's stared at a German letter.

We know the feeling. The official envelope arrives. The German is dense. The deadline is somewhere in there. And Google Translate gives you words but not answers.

🇩🇪

Germany-specific

Not a generic translation tool. We understand German bureaucracy — the departments, the deadlines, the actual meaning behind the formal language.

Action-first

We don't just translate. We tell you what to do: reply, ignore, call, or file — and by when.

💳

No subscription

Pay €2.99 per letter. That's it. No monthly fee for a tool you might use three times a year.

🔒

Your data is private

We process your letter and we're done. We don't store, sell, or train on your documents.

Why not just Google Translate?

Translation gives you words.
We give you answers.

There's a difference between knowing what the words say and knowing what the letter means. Here's what that looks like in practice.

🔤 Google Translate & DeepLTranslation tools
🤖 ChatGPT, Gemini & GrokGeneral AI assistants
expat.fyiBuilt for this
Google Translate / DeepL
ChatGPT / Gemini / Grok
expat.fyi
Translates the German words
Explains what the letter actually means
~ Sometimes
Knows German bureaucracy specifically
~ Hit or miss
Tells you if it's urgent
~ Maybe
Tells you exactly what to do next
~ Vague guidance
Flags deadlines clearly
~ If you ask
Built and tested for German expats
Your document used to train AI models
⚠ Possibly
⚠ Possibly
Never
💡

A general AI will try its best — but it doesn't know that Überprüfung bedarf from the Finanzamt has a specific 4-week response window, or that ignoring an Inkasso letter triggers court escalation in Germany. We do. That's the only reason expat.fyi exists.

🗑️

Deleted after explanation

Your letter is processed and immediately discarded. We don't keep it, log it, or store it anywhere.

🚫

Never used to train AI

Your documents are never fed into AI training datasets. Not ours, not anyone else's.

👤

No account, no trace

No login means no profile, no history, nothing linked to you. Upload, pay, read, done.

Pricing

Simple pricing. Like it should be.

€2.99 per letter. One upload, one explanation, one payment. However many pages.

Simple & transparent
2.99
per letter · however many pages
  • One letter, one charge — however many pages
  • Plain English explanation + action steps
  • Works for any official German letter
  • No subscription, no account required
  • Preview before you pay
  • If we can't help, you don't pay
Free resource

What does that word actually mean?

50+ German bureaucracy words explained in plain English — Steuerbescheid, Rundfunkbeitrag, Fiktionsbescheinigung and more. Grouped by topic. Free to use and share.

Browse the glossary →No sign-up · Free · Shareable
Letter Library

Every German letter, explained.

Free plain-English guides to the most common German official letters. Understand what arrived — before you decide what to do next.

SteuerbescheidYour tax assessment from the Finanzamt. What it means, what to check, when to act.
RundfunkbeitragThe German broadcasting fee. Who owes it, how much, and how to register or cancel.
FiktionsbescheinigungVisa bridging document while your permit is being processed. What it means for your legal status.
AufenthaltstitelResidence permit notices — renewals, rejections, conditions. Deadlines matter here.
Krankenkasse BeitragsbescheidHealth insurance contribution notice. How to read it and when you need to act.
NebenkostenabrechnungAnnual utility cost settlement from your landlord. How to check if the numbers are right.
Steuer-IDYour permanent German tax identification number. What it is and where to find it.
FiktionswirkungThe legal effect of the Fiktionsbescheinigung on your right to work and travel.
German Bureaucracy Glossary50+ bureaucracy words explained in plain English — free, grouped by topic.
Berlin GuideHow to navigate the Ausländerbehörde, LEA, and Finanzamt in Berlin specifically.
FAQ

Questions. Answered.

Do I need to create an account?

No. Upload your letter, pay, read your explanation. That's the whole process.

Is my letter data stored?

No. We process your document to generate the explanation and then it's gone. We don't store, log, or use your letters for anything else.

What if you can't explain my letter?

If our explanation doesn't cover what you need, we'll tell you — and you won't be charged. We'd rather be honest than take your money for a half-answer.

How accurate is the explanation?

Very good for standard official letters. For complex legal disputes or court documents, we'll flag that you should also speak to a professional.

What payment methods do you accept?

Card payments via Lemon Squeezy — secure checkout. No account required.

Do you handle handwritten letters?

If the handwriting is clear, yes. If it's the kind even native Germans struggle with, we'll let you know.

That letter is not going to
explain itself.

Upload it now. Plain English answer in under a minute.

Free guide

The 5 German letters every expat dreads

What they actually mean — and exactly what to do. Plain English. Free.

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