When is my deadline? Official letter deadline calculator

Many letters don’t give a date — they say “within one month after delivery” or “within 10 working days”. Briefly finds these phrases and estimates the last day for you.

How it works

• Germany: In Germany, a posted official letter usually counts as delivered on the 4th day after it was sent.
• Austria: In Austria, an official letter sent by normal post usually counts as delivered on the 3rd working day after it was posted. A registered letter (RSa or RSb) counts as delivered on the day you get it — or, if you were not home, usually on the first day you can pick it up at the post office.
• Switzerland: In Switzerland, a legal deadline starts the day after you receive the letter. A registered letter you don’t collect usually counts as delivered on the 7th day after the collection notice (Abholungseinladung).
• France: In France, a deadline usually starts on the day you receive the letter — for a registered letter, often the day the post first tried to deliver it. The 3 days are only an estimate, so check the envelope or the delivery notice.
• Spain: In Spain, deadlines usually count from the day after the letter is delivered (notificación). A paper letter is delivered on the day you receive it; an electronic one when you open it, or 10 calendar days after it was made available. We estimate 3 days for post — use the real date if you know it.
• Portugal: In Portugal, a letter sent by registered post is usually treated as received on the third day after it was posted. Check if the deadline is in working days (dias úteis) or in calendar days.
• Italy: In Italy, deadlines usually run from the day the letter counts as delivered (notifica). For registered mail, that is the day you sign for it — or, if you don’t collect it, a set time after the post office leaves a notice. Our estimate adds 3 days to the date on the letter, so check the real date.
• Netherlands: In the Netherlands, the time to object usually starts the day after the date on the letter (dagtekening), not the day it arrives. So count from the date on the letter.
• Belgium: In Belgium, a letter sent by post is usually treated as received on the third working day after the date it was sent. Many deadlines, for example 6 months to object to a tax bill, start from that day.
• Poland: In Poland, most deadlines start on the day you receive the letter (doręczenie). If you weren’t home, the post leaves a notice (awizo), and a letter you don’t collect usually counts as delivered 14 days after the first notice. The 3 days are only an estimate, so check the date you signed for it.
• Sweden: In Sweden, deadlines to appeal usually start on the day you received the decision (fick del av beslutet). If the office used simplified delivery (förenklad delgivning), the letter counts as received two weeks after it was sent. Briefly adds about 2 days for post — check when your letter really arrived.
• Denmark: In Denmark, a letter in Digital Post usually counts as received when it arrives in your mailbox. Paper letters take a few days. Briefly adds about 2 days — check the date in Digital Post or on the envelope.
• United Kingdom: In the UK, a letter sent by first class post is usually treated as delivered on the second working day after it was posted. But many deadlines, for example for appeals, count from the date printed on the letter.
• Ireland: In Ireland, many deadlines count from the date printed on the letter. When a deadline counts from when you received it, Briefly adds about 2 days for post — check the envelope or postmark if you are close to the deadline.
• United States: In the US, many deadlines count from the date printed on the notice, not from the day it arrives. Some offices add a few days for mail (Social Security assumes 5 days), and court deadlines usually start on the day you were served.
• Canada: In Canada, many deadlines count from the date printed on the letter, not from the day it arrives — for example, the 90 days to object to a tax notice. Mail can take several days, so check the date on the letter and act early.