Why post from abroad to Germany is slow
A letter from elsewhere in Europe to Germany typically takes four to seven working days; from overseas, often two to three weeks. Delays arise from sorting in the country of origin, transport, and handover to German delivery services. For time-sensitive letters, this is a real risk: in Germany, what counts is the date of receipt, not the date of posting.
The detour via an online letter service
Instead of physically sending the letter across borders, you transmit the text digitally to a service in Germany. There, it is printed, put into an envelope, franked and entered into the German mail network. What was an international dispatch becomes a domestic letter — with domestic delivery times and domestic postage.
| Sending from abroad | Online dispatch in Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery time | 4 days to 3 weeks | generally 1–2 working days after posting |
| Postage | international rate of the country of posting | German domestic rate |
| Printer required | yes | no |
| Sender's address | foreign address | freely selectable, including a German address |
Typical occasions
- Cancelling mobile phone, electricity, insurance or tenancy contracts
- Objecting to decisions from authorities, health insurance funds or the pension insurance authority
- Applications that require a signature and paper form
- Change of address after moving abroad or returning to Germany
- Reminders and payment demands sent to customers in Germany
What to bear in mind about the sender's address
Your sender's address must be correct, but it does not have to be the place where the letter is posted. If you live abroad, state your foreign address so that replies reach you. If you use a German c/o address, make sure that post is actually accepted there on your behalf.
Deadlines and proof of receipt
For meeting a deadline, what counts is receipt by the recipient. Allow for a buffer of at least three working days. For particularly important letters, it is also advisable to send an advance notice by email stating that the original will follow by post — this does not replace proof of receipt, but it does document that you acted in good time.
Language and form
Write to German authorities and companies in German. Use the layout set out in DIN 5008, with an address field, date, subject line, salutation, body text, closing phrase and signature. State the contract, customer or file reference in the subject line — this significantly speeds up processing.
How it works in practice
- Write the text in your browser and enter the recipient's address.
- Check the preview in the German letter format.
- Place and pay for the order.
- Printing, enveloping and posting take place in Germany.
For €2.99 per letter, you no longer need to hunt for a printer, envelope, stamp and post box — regardless of which country you happen to be in.