Application: templates and forms

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.

An application to the district authority, the city's Magistrat or the Land police directorate to pay a fine from an Austrian penalty order or penalty decision later or in instalments (§ 54b Abs 3 of the Austrian Administrative Penal Act, VStG): with the file number, the amount, your payment proposal, your financial circumstances and why the difficulty is temporary. If paying at once is unreasonable for economic reasons, the authority must grant a suitable deferral or instalments. In German, ready to print, sign and send with proof of income and outgoings.

A letter asking the employer in Austria for a written reference (Dienstzeugnis) under § 1163 ABGB and § 39 AngG — a final reference when the employment ends, or an interim one during it, which is issued at the employee's cost. Austrian law owes only the simple reference stating the length and kind of the work, and it may contain nothing that makes finding a new job harder; the letter also asks politely for a favourable description of duties and achievements. In German, to print and sign.

The notice by which an employee in Germany claims parental leave (Elternzeit) under § 16 of the Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act (BEEG): the child, the date of birth or due date, the start and end of the leave and any further periods, with the binding choice for the first two years and a request for confirmation. It must reach the employer at least seven weeks before the leave starts, or 13 weeks before leave after the third birthday. For children born or placed for adoption from 1 May 2025, text form such as e-mail is enough; for older children a hand-signed original is required. In German.

Your access request to a company, association or body in Austria: whether and which data about you are processed, for what purposes, where they came from, to whom they go and how long they are kept, with a free copy (Art 15 GDPR). The answer is due within one month, extendable by two months with reasons (Art 12(3) GDPR). If none comes, you can complain to Austria's data protection authority, the Datenschutzbehörde (§ 24 DSG), which provides its own form free of charge. No copy of an identity document as a condition. In German.

Your request to the German tax office (Finanzamt) to bring the quarterly income tax advance payments into line with lower income under § 37(3) of the German Income Tax Act (EStG) — after fewer orders, higher business costs, parental leave, illness or the end of an activity. The letter gives the year, the current and the requested payment and the expected income, explains the change, covers the solidarity surcharge and church tax, and asks for overpaid amounts to be refunded. For the self-employed, freelancers and landlords. In German.

The written request to an Austrian school for a copy or a duplicate of a school report — the annual report, a leaving certificate or the Matura certificate (Reifeprüfungszeugnis) — when the original is lost, damaged or destroyed or another copy is needed. It gives the report, the school year, the years at the school, the date of birth and the name used at school, so the school can find its records. The school will tell you whether there is a charge; the letter asks, and asks who holds the records if the school no longer does. In German.

The written request for an apostille on an Austrian public document — or for its legalisation for a country outside the Hague Convention. Who apostilles depends on who issued it: the Land (birth and marriage certificates, registration and criminal record certificates, for instance), the president of the regional court (court and notarial documents) or the Foreign Ministry. With the document, the country it is for and how it comes back. Where a Land has its own form, as Salzburg does, use that. In German, ready to print and sign.

The request to Austria's tax office, the Finanzamt Österreich, to extend the deadline for an income tax, VAT or other tax return under § 134 Abs 2 of the Austrian Federal Fiscal Code (BAO): with the return, the year, the current and the requested deadline, and the reasons. It must be filed before the deadline runs out; if it is refused, the office sets a further period of at least one week. Missing the deadline without excuse risks a late-filing surcharge of up to 10% (§ 135 BAO). By post, fax or FinanzOnline: an e-mail is no submission at all (§§ 85, 86a BAO). In German.

A request to an Austrian employer to agree the dates of your annual leave under § 4(1) of the Austrian Leave Act (UrlG): the period, the number of days — counted as Werktage (Monday to Saturday) or as working days, as your workplace counts them — the leave year and who covers for you. In Austria leave is agreed, not granted: below the letter, both sides sign the leave agreement or record different dates. No form is prescribed; the signed sheet proves the agreement. In German, ready to print and sign.

A request to an Austrian employer for unpaid leave (Karenzierung), with the agreement both sides sign below it: the period, the reason, the return to work, the collective agreement and what applies to annual leave and special payments. There is no right to unpaid leave in Austria — it is agreed. The letter records that compulsory social insurance continues only for unpaid leave of up to one month (§ 11(3)(a) of the Austrian General Social Insurance Act, ASVG). No form is prescribed. In German, ready to print and sign.

The letter asking your former school in Germany for a replacement (Zweitschrift) of a lost or damaged certificate, such as the Abitur certificate or a school-leaving certificate. It names the certificate, the year it was issued, the years at the school and your name at the time, asks for your present name after a change of name, and asks about any fee beforehand. If the school has closed, it goes to the school that keeps its records or to the school administration of its operator. Each Land sets its own fees and procedure; in Brandenburg the school offices take applications on their own form. In German, ready to print, sign and send.

An employee's request in Germany to cut working hours, permanently under § 8 of the Part-Time and Fixed-Term Employment Act (TzBfG) or for one to five years as bridging part-time under § 9a TzBfG, with current and desired weekly hours, the start date, the end date for bridging part-time and the preferred spread over the week. It reaches the employer in text form at least three months before the start; unless the employer refuses in text form a month before, the hours are reduced as asked. Requires over six months' service and over 15 employees (over 45 for bridging part-time). In German.

A request to a German employer for unpaid special leave (unbezahlter Sonderurlaub) over set dates, giving the reason and the terms both sides agree: release from work without pay, the employment continuing, and a return on the same terms. There is no general statutory right to it, so the leave exists only once the employer agrees, and the document has room below for that consent. It points out that social insurance cover continues for one month at most (§ 7(3) of the German Social Code, Book IV, SGB IV), after which health insurance must be arranged. In German.

A request to a German employer for annual leave (Erholungsurlaub) over set dates, with the number of working days and who covers the work, citing § 7(1) of the Federal Leave Act (BUrlG): the employee's wishes must be followed unless urgent operational needs, or colleagues with a socially stronger claim, stand in the way. It says the leave starts only once approved, and leaves room below for the employer's decision. No form is prescribed: e-mail it or hand it in. In German.

An employee's request in Germany for paid educational leave (Bildungsurlaub, called Bildungszeit or Bildungsfreistellung in some Länder) for a recognised course, with its title, organiser, place, dates, number of working days and proof of recognition. One document for all 14 Länder that have an educational leave law: choose the Land where you work, whose law sets the entitlement, the waiting period, the notice period and course recognition. Bavaria has no educational leave, and Saxony only from 1 January 2027. In German.

The application to the PVA, SVS or BVAEB to determine your insurance periods bindingly, by formal decision (Bescheid), under § 247 of Austria's General Social Insurance Act (ASVG), or § 117a GSVG for those insured with the SVS — the way to settle missing periods such as child-raising, military or civilian service or employment before claiming a pension, rather than relying on the non-binding account statement. With insurance number, date of birth, former surnames and the periods at issue; proof is enclosed. The decision can be challenged at the Labour and Social Court. In German.