Quick answerabout 2 seconds
- Who wrote to you
- What they want
- How urgent it is: act now, soon or just information
- The one next step
Understand any German official letter in your language
Photograph the letter. Amtskram tells you who wrote, what they want and by when, then helps you reply in German. Your name and address never leave your device.
- Read on your device
- No account
- Free
- English and German
Amtskram
Ausländerbehörde NürnbergResidence permit
Your residence permit runs until 15 Nov. You are invited to an appointment on 20 Oct at 09:30 to extend it. Bring your passport, a photo and proof of income.
Move appointmentAdd to calendar
From letter to next step in three moves
No forms, no translation tool, no copying text by hand.
Snap
Take a photo or upload a PDF. Amtskram reads the text on your phone, tablet or computer, in a current browser, and blacks out names, addresses and numbers before anything is sent. Very old or low-memory devices may not read photos; PDFs with text still work.
Understand
In seconds you see who wrote, what they want and how urgent it is. Then the full explanation follows: every deadline, what to bring, and the German terms explained.
Act
Pick a suggested reaction, such as asking for more time or moving the appointment. You get a German letter you can send, plus a translation, and a calendar entry for the deadline.
Amtsdeutsch in plain language
Official German is built from long sentences and fixed phrases. Here is what three typical sentences really say.
In the letterAusländerbehörde Nürnberg
Sollten Sie den Termin nicht wahrnehmen können, sagen Sie ihn bitte spätestens bis zum 13.10.2026 ab und vereinbaren Sie einen neuen Termin. Bei verspäteter Antragstellung kann die Fortgeltungswirkung nach § 81 Abs. 4 AufenthG entfallen.MUSTER · Fictional sample wording
In plain English
If you cannot come to the appointment, cancel it by 13 October 2026 at the latest and book a new one. Apply for the extension before your permit ends. If you apply too late, you may lose the right to keep your status in the meantime (Fortgeltungswirkung).
In the letterJobcenter
Bitte reichen Sie die folgenden Unterlagen bis zum 21.10.2026 ein. Kommen Sie Ihrer Mitwirkungspflicht nicht nach, kann die Leistung ganz oder teilweise versagt werden (§ 66 SGB I).MUSTER · Fictional sample wording
In plain English
Send the listed documents by 21 October 2026. This is your duty to cooperate (Mitwirkungspflicht). If you do not, the Jobcenter can refuse the benefit completely or in part (versagt) until you send them.
In the letterBeitragsservice
Leider konnten wir keinen Zahlungseingang feststellen. Offener Betrag 55,08 Euro, zahlbar bis 15.10.2026. Zahlen Sie nicht fristgerecht, erhalten Sie einen Festsetzungsbescheid; hierbei wird ein Säumniszuschlag erhoben.MUSTER · Fictional sample wording
In plain English
You owe 55.08 euros for July to September. Pay by 15 October 2026. If you do not, you get a formal payment notice (Festsetzungsbescheid) and a late fee (Säumniszuschlag). If you receive benefits such as Bürgergeld or BAföG, you can apply to be exempt.
Your letter stays with you
Letters are full of personal data. That is why Amtskram works the other way round: the sensitive part happens on your device.
On your device
- Photo or PDF
- Text is read (OCR)
- Names, addresses, numbers blacked out
You see exactly what will be sent, and can hide or show words.
Sent: Anonymised text only
Termin: 20.10.2026 um 09:30 Uhr. Frau [NAME], [ADRESSE] …
An AI model (Anthropic Claude) writes the explanation from this text.
Never stored on our server
No letter text, no photos, no accounts. Your history lives in your browser only.
Your letter is read on your device, with no cloud fallback. The photo is never uploaded. This works in a current browser on a phone, tablet or computer; very old or low-memory devices may not read photos.
Read the privacy detailsNot just an explanation: the right reply, ready to send
Amtskram suggests the reactions that fit your letter and writes the German text. Your real name, address and reference number are filled in on your device.
Ask for more time
Documents are missing or you were away.
Bitte gewähren Sie mir eine Fristverlängerung bis zum Datum.
Die erforderlichen Unterlagen kann ich bis dahin beschaffen.
Move the appointment
You cannot make the date.
Leider kann ich den Termin am Datum nicht wahrnehmen.
Bitte teilen Sie mir einen neuen Termin mit.
Object (Widerspruch)
You disagree with a decision and want to keep your right to object.
Hiermit lege ich Widerspruch gegen den Bescheid vom Datum ein.
Eine Begründung reiche ich nach.
Ask for an instalment plan
You cannot pay the full amount at once.
Ich bitte um Ratenzahlung des offenen Betrags.
Ich kann monatlich Betrag Euro zahlen, beginnend im Monat.
Send documents later
You need a few more days to collect papers.
Die angeforderten Unterlagen reiche ich bis zum Datum nach.
Bitte bestätigen Sie mir kurz den Eingang.
Two speeds: first the short answer, then the details
Detailed explanationstreams in right after
- Every deadline with traffic light, days left and calendar entry
- Step by step: what to do
- Documents to bring
- German terms explained, and what happens if you miss the deadline
- What the tool is not sure about
Made for anyone who stares at a letter and thinks: what do they want from me?
New in Germany
Residence permit, tax office, health insurance. Understand it in English first, then decide what to do.
Families
Kita place, Kindergeld, school letters. Know which reply is due and by when.
Native speakers, too
Amtsdeutsch is hard for everyone. Get the same letter in plain German, with every term explained.
Counsellors and volunteers
Get through a stack of letters faster: use Amtskram together with your client and with their consent. The data stays on the device.
Questions people ask
Is this legal advice?
No. Amtskram explains what a letter says in plain language and suggests common reactions. It can make mistakes and it does not replace a lawyer, a counselling centre or the authority itself. If a lot is at stake, for example your residence status or your benefits, check with a counselling service.
Which letters does it work with?
Letters in German from the Ausländerbehörde, Jobcenter, Finanzamt, Familienkasse, Beitragsservice (Rundfunkbeitrag), Kita and school, health insurers and more. Printed letters work best. Handwriting is often not read well.
Which devices does it work on?
Amtskram reads the letter on your device, so you need a reasonably current browser (the latest Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari) on a phone, tablet or computer. Very old or low-memory devices may not be able to read photos. On those, PDFs that contain text and the demo with sample letters still work. There is no cloud fallback in this version, so the photo never leaves your device.
Is my data safe?
The photo stays on your device, and the text is read there. Names, addresses, IBANs and numbers are blacked out on your device, and you can check the result. Only the anonymised text is sent to create the explanation, and our server stores nothing. Your history is kept in your browser only. There is no cloud text recognition in this version, so the photo is never uploaded.
Which languages does it support?
The interface and explanations are available in English and German today. The letter itself should be in German. More languages are planned.
Does it cost anything?
No. Amtskram is a free MVP. There is no account and no payment.
What about deadlines?
Deadlines are calculated by the app from the dates in your letter, not guessed by the AI. You see the date, the days left, a traffic light with a word (act now, soon, info) and a calendar entry. Weekends and Bavarian public holidays are taken into account where the rule depends on delivery. Always check the deadline against your letter.
What if the text is read wrongly?
Before anything is sent, you see the text with personal data blacked out. You can correct what is wrong and hide or show single words. The explanation also lists what the tool is unsure about.
Can I use it for my clients?
Yes, together with your client and with their consent. Counsellors and volunteers can use it to get through letters faster. Each letter is anonymised on the device you use, and the data stays there. You stay responsible for the advice. Treat Amtskram as a reading aid, not as a decision.
Got a letter on the table?
See how it works with a sample letter first, or open your own. It takes about a minute.