Money & Banking
How long does a refund take in Germany?
Estimated wait
2 days – 14 days
Typically ~7 days
Based on published sources
Timeline guide
- Faster cases~4 days
- Average cases~7 days
- Slower casesUp to 14 days
The 14 days is the seller's statutory maximum for a Widerruf — what counts is the money arriving, not merely being sent. The actual credit depends on your payment provider (credit cards are often slower). This applies to online cancellations; goodwill returns in a shop may work differently. Not legal advice.
For an online-purchase cancellation (Widerruf), the seller must refund the price within 14 days (§ 357 BGB), counted from when your cancellation reaches them. When the money actually lands depends on the payment method: with PayPal or direct debit often after 1 to 3 days, while a credit-card refund can take until the next billing cycle.
More details
The refund is always made using the same payment method you originally paid with.
Last updated: 17 Jul 2026
Information is for general knowledge only.