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
- 01The investigation proceeds on the existing file, without your version of events.
- 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.
- 03The case ends in dismissal (Einstellung), a Strafbefehl, or an indictment — a Strafbefehl then brings its own strict 2-week deadline (StPO §410).
How to respond
Response types
- Confirm receiptTerminbestätigung (Bestätigung des Vernehmungstermins)
- Ask for more timeBitte um Terminverlegung (Antrag auf Verlegung des Vernehmungstermins)
- Ask for clarificationSchriftliche Mitteilung: keine Angaben zur Sache / Bestellung eines Verteidigers · § 136 StPO
Where and how
- Telefon — die Nummer auf der Vorladung
- Brief an die Dienststelle auf der Vorladung
- Persönliches Erscheinen zum genannten Termin
What makes it count
Nothing is filed and no period runs. §163a(3) StPO puts the duty to appear on a summons of the Staatsanwaltschaft; a summons from the police is an invitation, and the date printed on it is an appointment, not a deadline. What the office needs is only to know whether you are coming — by telephone or in a letter, neither of which has a statutory date.
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.