Verwaltungsgerichte

Verwaltungsgerichte are a category of courts in German-speaking countries that specialize in disputes arising from public administration. They decide conflicts between private individuals or entities and public authorities, and they review the legality of administrative acts and decisions. Their work covers a wide range of public-law issues, including permits and licenses, planning and building permissions, subsidies, public procurement, and other actions taken by federal, state, or municipal authorities. In many cases they also handle asylum and migration matters.

In Germany, Verwaltungsgerichte generally constitute the first instance for most public-law disputes. A typical case begins with an Anfechtungsklage (challenge to an administrative act); in numerous areas a prior Widerspruch (objection) to the administrative decision must be filed before bringing a lawsuit. The courts apply the Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung (VwGO) and relevant public-law statutes to determine whether an act complies with the law and the constitution. If a party is dissatisfied with the judgment, they may appeal to the higher administrative court of the state (Verwaltungsgerichtshof, Oberverwaltungsgericht, or equivalent), and in some matters a further revision to the Federal Administrative Court (Bundesverwaltungsgericht) is possible.

Across German-speaking countries, Verwaltungsgerichte serve a similar function as first-instance administrative courts within their respective systems. In Austria, for example, Verwaltungsgerichte handle public-law disputes at the first level, with the Verwaltungsgerichtshof as the higher administrative court above them. The exact structure and terminology vary by country, but the core role remains the same: to enforce the rule of law in administrative action and protect individual rights in public proceedings.