Lawyer
Is Your Application Stuck? Untätigkeitsklage Check
An Untätigkeitsklage is an action for failure to act: a court action against an authority that has not decided your application within a reasonable time. As a rule, the court will hear it three months after a complete application was filed (§ 75 VwGO). The court then sets the authority a deadline, and in practice most authorities decide before the hearing.
This check is free and takes about two minutes. Click the answer that fits; the next question appears underneath. Nothing you click is stored, and the result is general information, not legal advice on your case.
Start the check
Step 1
Which application is waiting?
Naturalization / citizenship certificate ›
Step 2
Have you submitted a complete application (with all documents requested)?
No, not yet ›
Result: file a complete application first.
The three-month period in § 75 VwGO only starts once the authority has a complete application in front of it. Until then there is no delay the court can act on.
If you want a lawyer to go through your prepared file before you submit it, book the Application Check. If you are still unsure about the path, the Citizenship Strategy Session or, for permanent residence, the Permanent Residence Strategy Session maps it in writing; for a question about a residence permit or visa, book a consultation.
Yes ›
Step 3
How long ago did you submit it?
Less than 3 months ›
Result: as a rule too early for a court action.
An Untätigkeitsklage normally requires three months without a decision, counted from the complete application. Filing earlier risks the action being inadmissible and you bearing the costs.
What helps now: send a written status inquiry (Sachstandsanfrage) yourself that asks for a decision date and puts the delay on record, keep proof of the submission date, and re-run this check at three months. If you would like me to write to the authority on your behalf, mention it when you book a consultation.
3 months or more ›
Step 4
What has the authority done since?
Nothing at all ›
Result: an Untätigkeitsklage is likely available.
At least three months have passed since your complete application and the authority has not decided. Unless it has a sufficient reason for the delay, you may bring an action for failure to act at the administrative court.
What happens next: you sign the fee agreement and power of attorney, provide a few documents, and I file the action with the court. In most cases the authority decides before a hearing takes place, and if the delay was unjustified it normally bears the costs.
Untätigkeitsklage — flat fee €1,500
Or book a consultation first (€226.10) and we will go through your case before you decide.
Only an acknowledgment of receipt ›
Result: an Untätigkeitsklage is likely available.
At least three months have passed since your complete application and the authority has not decided. Unless it has a sufficient reason for the delay, you may bring an action for failure to act at the administrative court.
What happens next: you sign the fee agreement and power of attorney, provide a few documents, and I file the action with the court. In most cases the authority decides before a hearing takes place, and if the delay was unjustified it normally bears the costs.
Untätigkeitsklage — flat fee €1,500
Or book a consultation first (€226.10) and we will go through your case before you decide.
It requested documents and I have submitted them ›
Result: an Untätigkeitsklage is likely available.
At least three months have passed since your complete application and the authority has not decided. Unless it has a sufficient reason for the delay, you may bring an action for failure to act at the administrative court. The court will look at when the file was complete, so keep proof of when you sent the documents.
What happens next: you sign the fee agreement and power of attorney, provide a few documents, and I file the action with the court. In most cases the authority decides before a hearing takes place, and if the delay was unjustified it normally bears the costs.
Untätigkeitsklage — flat fee €1,500
Or book a consultation first (€226.10) and we will go through your case before you decide.
It requested documents and I have NOT submitted them yet ›
Result: submit the requested documents first.
An authority that is waiting for something from you has a sufficient reason for not deciding. Send the documents, keep proof of the date, and run this check again three months later if nothing has happened.
If you want the file checked before it goes out, book the Application Check.
I received a hearing letter (Anhörung) or a rejection ›
Result: this is no longer a delay case.
A hearing letter or a rejection means the authority has acted. Your options now have deadlines that run from the day you received the letter, often one month, so do not wait. Book a consultation and send me the letter in advance.
Residence permit or permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) ›
Step 2
Have you submitted a complete application (with all documents requested)?
No, not yet ›
Result: file a complete application first.
The three-month period in § 75 VwGO only starts once the authority has a complete application in front of it. Until then there is no delay the court can act on.
If you want a lawyer to go through your prepared file before you submit it, book the Application Check. If you are still unsure about the path, the Citizenship Strategy Session or, for permanent residence, the Permanent Residence Strategy Session maps it in writing; for a question about a residence permit or visa, book a consultation.
Yes ›
Step 3
How long ago did you submit it?
Less than 3 months ›
Result: as a rule too early for a court action.
An Untätigkeitsklage normally requires three months without a decision, counted from the complete application. Filing earlier risks the action being inadmissible and you bearing the costs.
What helps now: send a written status inquiry (Sachstandsanfrage) yourself that asks for a decision date and puts the delay on record, keep proof of the submission date, and re-run this check at three months. If you would like me to write to the authority on your behalf, mention it when you book a consultation.
3 months or more ›
Step 4
What has the authority done since?
Nothing at all ›
Result: an Untätigkeitsklage is likely available.
At least three months have passed since your complete application and the authority has not decided. Unless it has a sufficient reason for the delay, you may bring an action for failure to act at the administrative court.
What happens next: you sign the fee agreement and power of attorney, provide a few documents, and I file the action with the court. In most cases the authority decides before a hearing takes place, and if the delay was unjustified it normally bears the costs.
Untätigkeitsklage — flat fee €1,500
Or book a consultation first (€226.10) and we will go through your case before you decide.
Only an acknowledgment of receipt ›
Result: an Untätigkeitsklage is likely available.
At least three months have passed since your complete application and the authority has not decided. Unless it has a sufficient reason for the delay, you may bring an action for failure to act at the administrative court.
What happens next: you sign the fee agreement and power of attorney, provide a few documents, and I file the action with the court. In most cases the authority decides before a hearing takes place, and if the delay was unjustified it normally bears the costs.
Untätigkeitsklage — flat fee €1,500
Or book a consultation first (€226.10) and we will go through your case before you decide.
It requested documents and I have submitted them ›
Result: an Untätigkeitsklage is likely available.
At least three months have passed since your complete application and the authority has not decided. Unless it has a sufficient reason for the delay, you may bring an action for failure to act at the administrative court. The court will look at when the file was complete, so keep proof of when you sent the documents.
What happens next: you sign the fee agreement and power of attorney, provide a few documents, and I file the action with the court. In most cases the authority decides before a hearing takes place, and if the delay was unjustified it normally bears the costs.
Untätigkeitsklage — flat fee €1,500
Or book a consultation first (€226.10) and we will go through your case before you decide.
It requested documents and I have NOT submitted them yet ›
Result: submit the requested documents first.
An authority that is waiting for something from you has a sufficient reason for not deciding. Send the documents, keep proof of the date, and run this check again three months later if nothing has happened.
If you want the file checked before it goes out, book the Application Check.
I received a hearing letter (Anhörung) or a rejection ›
Result: this is no longer a delay case.
A hearing letter or a rejection means the authority has acted. Your options now have deadlines that run from the day you received the letter, often one month, so do not wait. Book a consultation and send me the letter in advance.
Visa at a German embassy or consulate ›
Step 2
Have you submitted a complete application (with all documents requested)?
No, not yet ›
Result: file a complete application first.
The three-month period in § 75 VwGO only starts once the authority has a complete application in front of it. Until then there is no delay the court can act on.
If you want a lawyer to go through your prepared file before you submit it, book the Application Check. If you are still unsure about the path, the Citizenship Strategy Session or, for permanent residence, the Permanent Residence Strategy Session maps it in writing; for a question about a residence permit or visa, book a consultation.
Yes ›
Step 3
How long ago did you submit it?
Less than 3 months ›
Result: as a rule too early for a court action.
An Untätigkeitsklage normally requires three months without a decision, counted from the complete application. Filing earlier risks the action being inadmissible and you bearing the costs.
What helps now: send a written status inquiry (Sachstandsanfrage) yourself that asks for a decision date and puts the delay on record, keep proof of the submission date, and re-run this check at three months. If you would like me to write to the authority on your behalf, mention it when you book a consultation.
3 months or more ›
Step 4
What has the authority done since?
Nothing at all ›
Result: an Untätigkeitsklage is likely available.
At least three months have passed since your complete application and the authority has not decided. Unless it has a sufficient reason for the delay, you may bring an action for failure to act at the administrative court.
What happens next: you sign the fee agreement and power of attorney, provide a few documents, and I file the action with the court. In most cases the authority decides before a hearing takes place, and if the delay was unjustified it normally bears the costs.
Untätigkeitsklage — flat fee €1,500
Or book a consultation first (€226.10) and we will go through your case before you decide.
Only an acknowledgment of receipt ›
Result: an Untätigkeitsklage is likely available.
At least three months have passed since your complete application and the authority has not decided. Unless it has a sufficient reason for the delay, you may bring an action for failure to act at the administrative court.
What happens next: you sign the fee agreement and power of attorney, provide a few documents, and I file the action with the court. In most cases the authority decides before a hearing takes place, and if the delay was unjustified it normally bears the costs.
Untätigkeitsklage — flat fee €1,500
Or book a consultation first (€226.10) and we will go through your case before you decide.
It requested documents and I have submitted them ›
Result: an Untätigkeitsklage is likely available.
At least three months have passed since your complete application and the authority has not decided. Unless it has a sufficient reason for the delay, you may bring an action for failure to act at the administrative court. The court will look at when the file was complete, so keep proof of when you sent the documents.
What happens next: you sign the fee agreement and power of attorney, provide a few documents, and I file the action with the court. In most cases the authority decides before a hearing takes place, and if the delay was unjustified it normally bears the costs.
Untätigkeitsklage — flat fee €1,500
Or book a consultation first (€226.10) and we will go through your case before you decide.
It requested documents and I have NOT submitted them yet ›
Result: submit the requested documents first.
An authority that is waiting for something from you has a sufficient reason for not deciding. Send the documents, keep proof of the date, and run this check again three months later if nothing has happened.
If you want the file checked before it goes out, book the Application Check.
I received a hearing letter (Anhörung) or a rejection ›
Result: this is no longer a delay case.
A hearing letter or a rejection means the authority has acted. Your options now have deadlines that run from the day you received the letter, often one month, so do not wait. Book a consultation and send me the letter in advance.
What "sufficient reason" means
The authority can defend a delay if it has a sufficient reason: an unusually complex file, a security check that is still pending, or documents it is waiting for from you. A general backlog, staff shortages or "we process applications in order of receipt" are not accepted as sufficient reasons by most courts. If you are unsure which side of the line your case falls on, a consultation settles it before you commit to an action.
Questions people ask
Will the authority punish me for suing? No. An Untätigkeitsklage is a routine remedy that the law provides precisely for this situation. Caseworkers see them regularly, and the file is decided on its merits.
How long does it take? It varies. Many authorities decide within weeks of being served with the action, because they would rather issue a decision than explain the delay to a judge. If the case goes to a hearing, it can take several months longer.
Who pays? You advance the court fee when the action is filed. If the delay was unjustified, the authority is usually ordered to bear the costs and the advance is reimbursed.
If the check points to a court action, you can request the Untätigkeitsklage at a flat fee directly or book a consultation first. I read every request personally and reply as soon as I can. If a deadline cannot wait, book a consultation.
Last reviewed: August 2026 — RAin Fiona Macdonald