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Court · Germany

Polizeiliche Vorladung — an appointment for questioning, and what your role is

A Vorladung is a letter setting an appointment for questioning in a criminal investigation — either as a suspect (Beschuldigter) or as a witness (Zeuge). As a suspect, staying silent on the accusation is a protected choice.

How serious: needs actionAlso called: Vorladung als Beschuldigter, Vorladung als Zeuge, Ladung zur Beschuldigtenvernehmung

The letter sets an appointment for you to be questioned in a criminal investigation. The first thing it tells you is your role: 'als Beschuldigte(r)' — as a suspect — or 'als Zeuge/Zeugin' — as a witness.

Receiving it as a Beschuldigter means a criminal case is registered against you. That fact alone says nothing about how the case will end.

As a suspect, you never have to incriminate yourself. The law guarantees that it is up to you 'sich zu der Beschuldigung zu äußern oder nicht zur Sache auszusagen' (StPO §136) — and a defense lawyer can be consulted at any time.

Who sends it

A police station (Polizei) — or, with stronger legal effect, the Staatsanwaltschaft, the public prosecutor's office — inviting you to an interrogation appointment in a criminal investigation.

Police or Staatsanwaltschaft letterhead, the word 'Vorladung' or 'Ladung', a Vorgangsnummer or Aktenzeichen, your role ('als Beschuldigte(r)' or 'als Zeuge/Zeugin'), the alleged offense (Straftatbestand), and a proposed date, time, and address of the station.

The deadline

There is no fixed response period for this letter — what it contains is an appointment: the date, time, and place stated in it are what count.

If you do nothing

Two cases. Summons from the Staatsanwaltschaft: a Beschuldigter is obliged to appear 'auf Ladung vor der Staatsanwaltschaft' (StPO §163a Abs. 3). Summons from the police themselves: the statute imposes no such general appearance duty. In both cases the investigation continues without your statement — and staying silent on the merits remains a protected choice (StPO §136).

How it escalates

  1. 01The investigation proceeds on the existing file, without your version of events.
  2. 02A prosecutor's summons that is ignored can be followed by Vorführung — being brought before the authority: StPO §163a Abs. 3 makes appearance before the Staatsanwaltschaft compulsory and presupposes this measure; on the Beschuldigter's application, a court decides on its lawfulness.
  3. 03The case ends in dismissal (Einstellung), a Strafbefehl, or an indictment — a Strafbefehl then brings its own strict 2-week deadline (StPO §410).

Your options, procedurally

  • The appointment can be attended — as Beschuldigter you may still decline to say anything about the accusation (StPO §136).
  • The summoning office can be contacted to confirm, decline, or move the appointment; contact details are on the letter.
  • A written statement can be submitted instead of appearing, or a defense lawyer can contact the authority — consulting chosen defense counsel at any time is a codified right (StPO §136).
  • Only identity information can be provided, with no statement on the merits (StPO §136).

Common questions

Do I have to go?

It depends on who summons. Appearance before the Staatsanwaltschaft is compulsory for a Beschuldigter (StPO §163a Abs. 3). For a summons from the police themselves, the statute imposes no such general appearance duty.

Do I have to make a statement?

No. As a suspect, it is your choice to comment on the accusation or to say nothing about the matter (StPO §136). Identity information is separate from statements on the merits.

What does 'als Beschuldigter' mean for me?

That a criminal case is registered against you and you are invited for questioning as the suspect. A defense lawyer can be consulted at any time (StPO §136).

Sources

Facts verified against the sources below on 28 August 2026.