Residence for non-Ukrainian citizens

Currently, the following people can enter Germany without a visa:

• Ukrainian nationals and refugees recognised in Ukraine, as well as
• People who have been granted international or national protection in Ukraine, who were temporarily outside Ukraine on February 24, 2022, but had lived there until then.
• So-called "third-country nationals" as well as stateless refugees from Ukraine with permanent residence status in Ukraine who were in Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Important Change:

Unlike before, stateless individuals and people from other countries who did not have a permanent residence permit in Ukraine now require a visa to enter Germany.

Please Note:

If your application for a residence permit has been rejected, your stay in Germany is no longer permitted. In this case, seek legal advice immediately. You can find out where to get legal assistance in the section "Where can I find legal advice and support?"

Important:

People without a Ukrainian passport who were in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and entered Germany by December 31, 2024, do not need a residence permit for 90 days from their first entry to stay in Germany. However, this applies only if they had international protection or an equivalent national protection status in Ukraine or were legally residing in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, with a permanent residence permit under Ukrainian law.

If these conditions are not met, a visa is required for long-term residence in Germany (UkraineAufenthÜV).

First, make sure to check whether you meet the requirements for a residence permit according to Section 24 of the Residence Act – you can learn more about the requirements in the section "What is “temporary protection” and who can get it?".

If not, see whether you meet the requirements to obtain a residence permit, for example, for skilled workers or studying or an apprenticeship in Germany. For such residence permits, however, one has to meet plenty of requirements - you can learn more about them in our National Visa chapter.

If you do not meet the requirements for a Section 24 or any other type of residence permit, you should definitely seek advice as soon as possible.

In some cases, an asylum procedure may also be considered. Be sure to seek advice before submitting your application. 

 You can find out where to seek legal advice in the section “Where can I seek advice and support?”.

Important: People without a Ukrainian passport who were in Ukraine on 24 February 2022 and entered Germany by 31 December 2024 do not need a residence permit to stay in Germany for a period of 90 days from their first entry. However, this only applies if they enjoyed international protection or equivalent national protection in Ukraine or were legally living in Ukraine on 24 February 2022 with a permanent residence permit under Ukrainian law. If these requirements are not met, they require a residence permit or a visa for long-term residence in Germany (UkraineAufenthÜV).

Please read the section “I do not have Ukrainian citizenship, but I lived in Ukraine. What options do I have for a long-term stay in Germany?”.

Important: If you cannot obtain a residence permit according to §24, you can try to get a visa, for instance, for vocational training or a student visa. You can find out more about these visas in our “Vocational Training Visa” and “Student Visa” chapters.

In some cases, people without Ukrainian citizenship can also obtain a residence permit according to §24, if they are in one of the following groups:

• Persons who were recognized as refugees in Ukraine or had another international or national protection status and left Ukraine since February 24th, 2022. As proof, it is sufficient to present a Ukrainian travel document for refugees or a travel document based on complementary protection ("Travel Document for Person Granted Complentary Protection"). No check is carried out for these individuals as to whether they can safely return to their country of origin.
• The nuclear family of Ukrainian citizens or people who were recognized as refugees in Ukraine or had another international or national protection status and left Ukraine since February 24th, 2022. The nuclear family includes spouses and minor children or stepchildren or parents of unmarried minor children. The family members must have lived together in Ukraine, but the citizenship of the family member does not matter. If another family member has lived with you in Ukraine and is dependent on you (e.g. because they are in need of care or financially dependent), they can also apply for a residence permit according to Section 24. Unmarried partners living in a permanent relationship are also included. No check is carried out for these individuals as to whether they can safely return to their country of origin.
• Persons who had a permanent residence permit in Ukraine and are unable to safely return to their country of origin.
• Other people who had a temporary residence permit in Ukraine and are not able to return safely to their country of origin. However, this does not apply to people who were in Ukraine with short-term stay permits. The prerequisite is that your residence permit was valid for more than 90 days. So tourists or business travellers are not included. However, students or people who have worked in Ukraine can obtain a residence permit according to Section 24 of the Residence Act if they cannot return to their home country.
• People with Ukrainian permanent residence permits who were already in Germany before February 24th, 2022, with another residence permit (e.g., as a student, skilled worker, etc.), if their original residence permit cannot be extended. This also applies to Ukrainian citizens who were in Germany as tourists up to 90 days before February 24th, 2022.

Please note: A residence permit according to §24 Residence Act will be granted if you meet certain requirements. The Immigration Office checks every single case to see whether the individual in question meets these requirements. Make sure to submit an application for a residence permit according to §24 Residence Act. The Immigration Office is obliged to examine your application. Until they decide on your application, you are entitled to obtain a so-called “Fiktionsbescheinigung”. It gives you the right to work and attend an integration course. You can seek free legal advice if you need help. You can find out where you can seek help in the section “Where can I find legal advice?”.

Whether you can return to your country of origin is decided by the Immigration Office. A safe return is not going to be possible, for example, if there is a war going on in your country, or you do not have a passport, or you are not able to travel due to health reasons or there is no flight connection to your home country at all. The length of your stay in Ukraine and whether you have or had family there also plays a role.

If you come from Afghanistan, Eritrea or Syria, the Immigration Office automatically assumes that you cannot safely return to your country of origin. All other cases are checked individually by the immigration authorities.

While the Immigration office is examining your possibility of returning to your home country safely, your stay in Germany remains permitted. Furthermore, while you are waiting for the Immigration Office to decide on your residence status, you are entitled to financial support from the state, i.e., you can seek financial support based on the so-called “Asylum Seeker Benefits Act”. You must apply for this type of aid at the Social Welfare Office responsible for you. The office responsible for you is the Social Welfare Office at the place where you are staying. On sozialaemter.com, you will find a list of all Social Welfare offices in the respective federal states. Check out the State Aid section for more information. 

Please note: If you have applied for a residence permit in accordance with §24 Residence Act and have already received a so-called “Fiktionsbescheinigung”, you have the right to work and attend an integration course.

You must apply for the residence permit at the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) responsible for your place of residence or registration. You can find the address on bamf.navi.

Please note:

The Immigration Office must accept and process your application. The staff cannot simply turn you away. You have the right to submit the application, even if you do not have a passport.

Make sure to apply for the residence permit in time—within 90 days (or within 180 days) from the date of your first entry into Germany. Your stay in Germany is only visa-free until March 4, 2025. You can find more details in the section "Residence".

Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a temporary residence certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung). This grants you all the rights of a residence permit, including the right to work and participate in an integration course. More information on your rights and obligations with a §24 residence permit can be found in the "Residence" section.

Important:

You do not have to pay any fees for the §24 residence permit.a

If your application for a residence permit according to §24 Residence Act was rejected, your stay in Germany is no longer allowed.

But you can appeal to the court against the rejection. 

However, filing a lawsuit often does not protect you from imminent deportation, so you may also need to submit an emergency application. It is recommended to seek legal advice or consult a lawyer to learn about your options.

Be sure to seek advice on your legal residence options beforehand. A good point of contact is the Refugee Law Clinics. There are available multiple larger cities in Germany, and can provide you with cost-free help. On rlc-deutschland.de, you will find the contact details of the Refugee Law Clinic in your area. You can also find out where you can seek free legal advice in the “Where can I find legal counselling?” section.

You can also try to obtain another residence permit. For example, you can apply for a residence permit to study or go through vocational training or work as a skilled worker. To do so, however, you must meet a number of requirements. You can find out more in our chapters “Vocational Training Visa” and “Student Visa”.

Please Note: If your application has been rejected, you are not entitled to state support from the Jobcenter. However, if you need financial help, you can receive support from the Social Welfare Office under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act. The Social Welfare Office responsible for you is the office at the place where you are staying. On sozialaemter.com, you will find a list of all Social Welfare Offices in the respective federal states.

Non-Ukrainian citizens can also try to obtain other residence permits in Germany. For example, you can apply for a residence permit for vocational training or university studies. However, you must meet certain (stricter) requirements. For instance, you must have a passport and be able to support yourself financially. You can learn more about these options in our sections: “Vocational training Visa” and “Student Visa”.

Please note: From September 1st, 2022, you can only stay in Germany for 90 days without a visa. After that, your stay in Germany will no longer deemed legal. So, do your best to apply for a residence permit before the 90 days have expired.

You can seek advice on residence law from the Refugee Law Clinics. They are active in several larger cities in Germany, and their service is free. On rlc-deutschland.de, you will find the contact details of the Refugee Law Clinic in your area.

On our "Local Information" page, you will also find an overview of counselling and support services throughout Germany. There you will find a search engine with which you can search for counselling services in larger cities. Furthermore, on asyl.net, there is a search engine where you can look up other local offers. You can filter offers by language in both search engines.

You can also contact our community platform, “Together in Germany”, online. There you will get reliable and verified answers to all your questions from our moderators. They will also help you find local support. The platform is free and available in German, Ukrainian, Arabic, Farsi/Dari, English, Turkish, French and Russian.

Africans from Ukraine can also find help at “Help for Africans from Ukraine in Germany” (HAUG). The staff will help you find accommodation, accompany you to the authorities and put you in touch with counselling centres.

The African Network of Germany (TANG) operates nationwide. The employees support people from the African community, among other things, find work, learn German and find accommodation. If you need help, you can find the contact details of TANG in various federal states on tang-ev.de. All you have to do is click on your state’s name.

The organisation tubman.network in Berlin helps everyone who has fled Ukraine and does not have Ukrainian citizenship. The organisation offers, e.g., legal advice, support with childcare and flat hunting. They can also provide you with free hygiene articles, clothes and baby food. You can reach them on the number: +49 171 2150554.

Each One Teach One (EOTO) e.V. in Berlin offers advice for people who face discrimination. The association also supports you with other challenges, such as job hunting, questions about residence law, debts or family problems. You can reach the staff on + 49 177 1589381. The employees speak German.

CommUnities Support for BIPoC Refugees from Ukraine (CUSBU) in Berlin supports you in finding accommodation, dealing with authorities or sorting out documents and searching for legal advice and psychological counselling. To get help, you can contact the BIPoC Infopoint at the main train station from Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The staff speak English.