Reiseauftrag

Reiseauftrag is a formal document in which an employer authorizes an employee to travel for business purposes. It serves as the authorization, planning instrument, and basis for budgeting and reimbursement. In many German-speaking organizations it is part of travel management and helps ensure that trips comply with company policy and accounting requirements.

A Reiseauftrag typically documents the trip’s purpose, destinations, dates, and financial arrangements. Typical contents include the employee’s name and department, the duty or assignment, travel dates, itinerary, means of transport, accommodation, estimated costs, funding source, and the required approvals. The document may also specify permissible per diems, submission deadlines, and reporting obligations.

The preparation and approval process usually involve the employee or supervisor initiating the Reiseauftrag, followed by review and endorsement by the travel, human resources, or finance departments. The process varies by organization and may be supported by a digitized travel-management system. The Reiseauftrag is used to align the trip with internal policies and to provide a clear record for auditing and reconciliation.

After the trip, the Reiseauftrag often serves as a basis for the expense settlement, known as the Reisekostenabrechnung, in which receipts are matched to the estimated costs and reimbursements are processed. The concept is common in both corporate and public-sector contexts, though terminology can differ; Dienstreise refers more broadly to the trip itself, while a Reiseauftrag focuses on authorization and planning.

See also: Dienstreise, Reisekostenabrechnung, Spesen.