With the public authority number 115, citizens as well as businesses and administrations have a direct line to the authorities in Germany - regardless of which level is involved. The 115 is THE customer service for public administration
So if you are from Aachen and need information from authorities outside Aachen, dial 115.
The single public authority number 115 can be reached from landlines as well as from several mobile networks at local rates and thus free of charge via flat rates.
Further information and tariffs can be found on the 115 website.
About the 115
115 - for a modern and citizen-oriented administration
What began in 2009 with a handful of municipalities has now become the service standard in many public authorities in Germany. The 115 is one of the most important drivers for a citizen-oriented, modernized and efficient administration. Behind the 115 is a comprehensive knowledge management system. The local, state and federal authorities participating in 115 post information on the most frequently requested services here. Twelve federal states, 88 federal authorities and numerous state authorities are already participating. The information provided via 115 is subject to high quality standards that apply to all participants at municipal, state and federal level. For example, a uniform service promise has been agreed.
The aim is to introduce the service throughout Germany. Further information, for example on the regions currently connected, can be found here.
Information for the deaf via sign language and videophone
Deaf and hearing-impaired citizens also have the opportunity to use sign language and videophone to obtain reliable information and assistance online when dealing with authorities at local, state and federal level.
The 115 sign language telephone overcomes communication barriers via a visual channel using so-called signs. This gives deaf people the opportunity to have a normal dialog in their familiar sign language without the help of a third party. This gives an important social group, which was previously unable to use the service of the single public authority telephone number or only under difficult conditions, easy access to public administration. The 115 sign language telephone was set up in cooperation between the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
How access to this service works
The sign language telephone is of interest to citizens who speak German Sign Language (DGS). You can reach the sign language telephone via the Internet.
The address is: 115@gebaerdentelefon.d115.de.
This is not an e-mail address or website, but the destination address that you must enter into your device.
To use the 115 sign language telephone, you need a computer with a camera and an Internet connection. The Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, with the support of the German Federation of the Deaf, has developed a software program that is specially tailored to the needs of the deaf and hearing-impaired. The program can be downloaded here.
There you will also find further information about the sign language telephone.