Employment reference request — Arbeitszeugnis (Germany)
Published byDocMuse
This document is in German
The PDF you download is in German — that is the language it has to be filed in, so it is not translated. Everything on this page is here to tell you what it says.
A letter asking a German employer for a full employment reference (qualifiziertes Arbeitszeugnis) on leaving, or an interim reference (Zwischenzeugnis) while still employed — expressly covering performance and conduct, because without that request the employer owes only a basic reference stating the type and length of the work (§ 109 of the German Trade Regulation Act, GewO). It gives the job, the period of employment, the reason and a date by which the reference should be posted. No form is prescribed for the request. In German.
What you fill in
The details the document asks for.
- Employee
- Employee's address
- Employer
- Employer's postal address (department if any, street, postcode and town)
- City
- Date
- Kind of reference: final reference on leaving, or interim reference
- Position
- Period of employment
- Reason
- Requested deadline
Preview
This document is produced for you. Your answers are typed into it and the finished PDF is yours to keep.
Common questions
- What is the difference between a basic and a full employment reference in Germany?
- A basic reference (einfaches Zeugnis) states only the type and length of the work. A full reference (qualifiziertes Zeugnis) also assesses your performance and conduct, which is what future employers expect. The employer owes it only if you ask for it (§ 109(1) of the Trade Regulation Act, GewO), so this letter asks for it expressly. The reference must be clear and understandable and may contain no hidden messages (§ 109(2) GewO).
- When am I entitled to an interim reference in Germany?
- The law governs the reference due when employment ends (§ 109(1) GewO). An interim reference (Zwischenzeugnis) while still employed can be asked for when you have a good reason — a new manager, a transfer or new duties, a longer break such as parental leave, or a transfer of the business. Give the reason in the letter; some collective agreements grant the right expressly.
- Must my employer in Germany post the reference, and may it send a PDF?
- In principle the reference is collected from the employer; where that is unreasonable for you, after a move for example, the employer must send it. This letter therefore asks for it to be posted by a set date. The reference is issued in writing, on paper with an original signature. Since 1 January 2025 it may be issued electronically only with your consent (§ 109(3) GewO); the electronic form requires a qualified electronic signature, and a scan or a PDF without one is not a reference.
- Until when can I still ask for an employment reference in Germany?
- Ask as soon as possible. The claim can be forfeited if you do nothing for a long time and the employer no longer has to expect it, and exclusion periods in the contract or a collective agreement can extinguish it after only a few months. A reference written late is also less precise, because nobody remembers your work well. If you are resigning, ask for the reference together with your notice.
How you can sign this document
- Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
- Sign it yourself with a qualified electronic signature. If you already hold a QES — Evrotrust, B-Trust, StampIT, ZealiD or any qualified provider on the EU Trusted List, on a card, a USB token, in a mobile app or in the cloud — our signing guide explains step by step how to sign this exact file without invalidating it. Step-by-step help, and a way to check it worked
DocMuse sells documents, not legal advice. Acceptance always depends on the recipient's rules and your local law.
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