Ukraine

People currently fleeing Ukraine do not need a visa to enter Germany until 31.12.2024. You can find out more about this in the “Am I allowed to enter Germany?” section. 

However, your visa-free stay is limited to 90 days (within 180 days) starting from the time you enter Germany for the first time. You must, therefore, have applied for a residence permit within 90 days of entering Germany. 

Please note: If you have not applied for a residence permit after 90 days, your further stay in Germany will be considered illegal.

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 (Ukraine Residence Transition Ordinance). You can find out more in our chapter, National Visa Type D.

You have several options for obtaining a long-term right of residence in Germany:

1. You apply for a long-term visa. Normally, you must apply for a long-term visa at the German embassy in your home country. However, there is currently an exception for all persons who are exempt from the visa requirement. You can find out whether you are one of them in the section "Am I allowed to enter Germany?". If you meet the requirements for a long-term visa (e.g. a student visa, a visa for a skilled worker, family reunification, etc.), you can apply for the visa directly at the immigration office responsible for you. The immigration office responsible for you is the one at your current place of residence. You can find the address on bamf.navi. You can find out more about the various long-term visas in our “National Visa” chapter.

2. You apply for a residence permit in accordance with Section 24 of the Residence Act. You can read more about this in the "What is 'temporary protection' and who can get it?" section.

3. You apply for asylum. This is currently not recommended. You can find out more about this in the “Should I apply for asylum?” section.

4. If you are of Jewish descent, you can also apply for Jewish immigration. You can learn more about this in the "I am of Jewish descent. What are my options?" section.

The possibilities mentioned in the "What are my options for long-term residence in Germany?" section also apply to people without Ukrainian citizenship. You can find out whether you meet the requirements for a residence permit according to Section 24 of the Residence Act in the "What is temporary protection and who can get it?" section.

Important development: If a non-Ukrainian person from a third country has a temporary Ukrainian residence permit and does not have a residence permit in accordance with Section 24 of the Residence Act, they will no longer be granted temporary protection. Even if these persons already have a residence permit in accordance with Section 24 Residence Act, they cannot receive a further extension beyond March 4, 2025. From June 5, 2024, these persons will no longer be granted new residence permits in accordance with Section 24 Residence Act or if they have one, it is not going to get extended. 

Please note: If you are stateless or a national of one of the so-called “third countries”, you are advised not to submit an application in accordance with Section 24 Residence Act, even if you entered Germany before June 5, 2024, as it will most likely be rejected. Instead, you have the following options:

• Check whether you meet the requirements for other residence titles. Please note that the requirements for other types of residence are often quite demanding. You can find out more about this on our page, “National Visa D”. 
• You can apply for asylum. Please note, however, that your asylum application may be rejected if you come from a “safe country of origin”. You can learn more about this in our “Asylum Procedure” chapter. 

For further information on your individual case, please contact us for advice. You are also welcome to direct your questions to our community platform “Together in Germany”.

You can find more information about non-Ukrainian citizens and their options in Germany in the section “Residence for Non-Ukrainian Citizens”.

People of Jewish descent can apply for Jewish immigration in addition to the other general options. You can apply directly to the Jewish community in the city or region where you reside. You can find a Jewish community near you at zentralratderjuden.de. The Jewish community will then forward your application to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF - Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge). A decision on your application will be made there. The prerequisite is that you were living in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 and that you have either Ukrainian citizenship or a Ukrainian residence permit. You must also be able to prove your Jewish ancestry with original documents. You can also first apply for a residence permit according to Section 24 of the Residence Act and only later apply for Jewish immigration. The residence permit you receive through a successful application for Jewish immigration is unlimited.
You can find out more about the general options for a long-term right of residence in Germany in the section "What options do I have for a long-term right of residence?".

With a residence permit according to §24 Residence Act, you are allowed to travel to other EU or Schengen countries for 90 days within 180 days. The prerequisite is that you are able to finance your trips yourself. For your trip, you need a biometric passport or a travel document for foreign citizens ("Reiseausweis für Ausländer"), but you don't need a visa. If you do not have a biometric passport, in principle, you require a visa. Currently, many countries allow Ukrainian citizens entry without a biometric passport or visa. To make sure, you should ask the embassy of the country you want to travel to in advance.

Please note: The “Fiktionsbescheinigung” alone does not entitle you to travel abroad and re-enter Germany. It only allows your stay and travelling within Germany.

Visit ec.europa.eu for more information on traveling within the EU in English.

You can find out more about travel in our chapter “Travelling as a refugee”.

Non-Ukrainian citizens who left Ukraine after February 24, 2022, and do not want to stay in Germany will receive support for their voluntary departure. They will be supported by the REAG/GARP (Reintegration and Emigration Programme for Asylum-Seekers in Germany/Government Assisted Repatriation Programme) and, if applicable, the StarthilfePlus. You can learn more in our chapter “Voluntary Return”.

Since April 19, 2022, the application has been possible via the OAM online application module. The prerequisite is that you have already been registered in Germany.

Please note: Your stay in Germany is permitted until 04.03.2025. However, you may only stay in the Federal Republic of Germany without a visa for 90 days (within 180 days) from the time you enter Germany for the first time. You must apply for a residence permit within 90 days of entering Germany. You can learn more about your long-term residence options in the section “What options do I have for long-term residence in Germany?”.

Important: Voluntary return to Ukraine is currently not supported.

Good to know: The ‘Way Home’ project is a United4Ukraine initiative that can help you return from abroad. It offers free, comprehensive support and counselling in the areas of preparation for return, legal issues and protection of rights, route planning, temporary accommodation in Ukraine, financial support, humanitarian aid, psychological support as well as employment and educational opportunities. You can contact them via the United for Ukraine website, Instagram, Facebook Messenger or Telegram, an enquiry form will be available soon.

For more information on your individual case, you can seek advice. You are also welcome to direct your questions to our community platform ‘Together in Germany“’.

The EU has decided that under certain conditions, people from Ukraine can get a so-called "temporary protection". In Germany, this will be a residence permit according to Section 24 of the Residence Act. This status comes from the European Directive on "Minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons" (Directive 2001/55/EC).

With the so-called “Ukraine Residence Permit Continued Validity Ordinance” (“Ukraine-Aufenthaltserlaubnis-Fortgeltungsverordnung”), residence permits for temporary protection that are still valid from February 1, 2024, will be automatically extended until March 4, 2025. Your residence permit under Section 24 of the Residence Act is automatically extended, and you do not need to make an appointment with the Immigration Office to extend your permit. 

The protection status applies to the following groups:

• People with Ukrainian citizenship who fled Ukraine on or after February 24th, 2022. 
• Non-Ukrainian citizens of other countries and stateless persons who were recognized as refugees in Ukraine or had other international or national protection status and left Ukraine on or after February 24th, 2022. As proof, it is sufficient to present a Ukrainian travel document for refugees or a travel document on complementary protection ("Travel Document for Person Granted Complementary Protection").
• The nuclear family of the groups mentioned above, if they have already lived together in Ukraine. The nuclear family consists of spouses and minor children and adopted or parents of minor children. If another family member has lived with them in Ukraine and is dependent on you (e.g. because he or she is in need of care or or is financially dependent), this family member can also apply for a residence permit according to Section 24. Unmarried partners living in a permanent relationship are also considered nuclear family.
• Non-Ukrainian citizens of other countries and stateless persons who had a permanent residence permit in Ukraine and who are unable to return safely to their country of origin. The length of your stay in Ukraine and whether you have or had family there also plays a role. The Immigration Office decides whether you can return to your country of origin.

Important development: If a non-Ukrainian person from a third country has a temporary Ukrainian residence permit and does not have a residence permit per Section 24 of the Residence Act, they will no longer be granted temporary protection. Even if the person already has a residence permit per Section 24 of the Residence Act, they cannot have it extended.

Please note: If you are stateless or a national of one of the so-called “third countries” and do not have a Ukrainian permanent residence permit or international or comparable Ukrainian national protection, you are advised not to submit an application per Section 24 of Residence Act, even if you entered Germany before June 5, 2024, as it will most likely be rejected. Instead, you have the following options:

• Check whether you meet the requirements for other residence titles. Please note that the requirements for other types of residence are often quite tricky to meet. You can learn more about them in our chapter “National Visa Type D”. 
• You can apply for asylum. Please note, however, that your asylum application may be rejected if you come from a “safe country of origin”. You can find out more in our chapter “Asylum Procedure”. 

For further case-specific support, please seek advice. You are also welcome to directly ask your questions on our community platform “Together in Germany”.

If your asylum application has been rejected, you can find more information in our chapter “Asylum application rejected”. Under certain circumstances, you may also be eligible for one of the following residence options: “Beschäftigungsduldung”, “Residence Permit for Vocational Training (§16g Residence Act)”, “Ausbildungsduldung”, and the so-called “Chancenaufenthaltsrecht”.

The general rule is: You can only get temporary protection in one country. Once an EU country has granted you temporary protection, you usually cannot get this protection in another country. The rights and obligations you get through temporary protection are only valid in the country where you got the protection. So, for example, you may only work in the country where you got a residence permit. However, you are allowed to travel within the EU.

If you have already been granted temporary protection in an EU country, you can move to Germany or another country but only under certain circumstances. 

Moving is only possible if the country you wish to move to is willing to accept you. You must also cancel your temporary protection status in your current country of residence. Before moving, you should definitely contact the local immigration office. If possible, obtain written confirmation of your deregistration.

You can find information on your possibilities regarding the residence law in different EU countries at ecre.org.

Yes, even if you have already received temporary protection in Germany, you can move to another EU country under certain conditions. To do so, you must submit an application for a transfer of residence to the Immigration Office responsible for you. The Immigration Office responsible for you is the Immigration Office at your current place of residence. You can find the address on bamf.navi. If your application for changing your place of residence is successful, you will receive a "Certificate of Change of Residence" or "Bescheinigung über die Wohnsitzverlegung". This certificate states what you have to do in the next step and which authority in the other EU country you have to contact.
 

Please note: If you have received temporary protection in Germany and you later also apply for temporary protection in another EU country, you will lose your residence permit for Germany.

With a residence permit according to Section 24 of the Residence Act, you have the following rights and obligations:

• You do not have to go through an asylum procedure, but will receive the residence permit. You do not have to prove German language skills or your own income.
• If you do not have an income, you will receive financial support from the state on the basis of the Social Security Codes II and XII ("Grundsicherung"). You can find out more about it in the "state aid" and "Jobcenter“ sections.
• Generally, you cannot choose your place of residence yourself, but will be assigned to a certain federal state and then to a certain municipality. If you have long-term accommodation in a certain city, you are allowed to stay there. You can prove this, for example, by presenting a rental contract or a police registration certificate. Under certain circumstances, you can later move to another city. You can learn more in sections “Accommodation” and “Can I move to another city later?” subsection below. Important: If you have family or friends in Germany and want to live near them, you should therefore first travel to the place where you expect to live. Only then register with the authorities.
• You are subsequently allowed to bring your nuclear family to Germany. These are spouses and minor children or parents of minor children. The usual requirements (securing one's livelihood, passport obligation, etc.) do not have to be fulfilled. If your family are Ukrainian nationals or hold a residence permit from Ukraine, they do not have to apply for a visa at the embassy, but can apply for a residence permit directly at the Immigration Office at your new place of residence in Germany. 
• You will presumably have no entitlement to attend an integration course, but you may attend an integration course if there are free places. An integration course is a place where people learn German. At the end there is an examination. You can find out more about integration courses in the "Integration course" chapter.
• You are allowed to work in Germany. You do not need to apply for a work permit. You can read more about this in the "Work" chapters.
• You are entitled to support for vocational training and job hunting. You can find more information in the sections: "How does the Jobcenter help me find a job?" and "What financial support can I receive from the Jobcenter?".
• If you are studying, you are entitled to BAföG – a financial support from the state for students. You can learn more about it in our chapter “BAföG”.
• If you have children, you are entitled to child benefits ("Kindergeld"), parental allowance ("Elterngeld") and maintenance advance ("Unterhaltsvorschuss"). You can find more information in the chapters Parental Allowance and Child Benefits.
• Your children can go to kindergarten, and later, must attend school. You can find out more in our Child Care and School chapter.

At 24.11.2023, the German “Bundestag” has confirmed the continuous validity of the amended transitional residence ordinance for people coming from Ukraine (“Ukraine-Aufenthalts-Übergangsverordnung”). You can read its contents in German at dserver.bundestag.de. This means that you must submit an application for a residence permit in accordance with Section 24 of the Residence Act within 90 days of entering Germany for the first time.

Important: A new ordinance has been adopted to regulate the continued validity of residence permits under Section 24 Residence Act for individuals from Ukraine who are temporarily in need of protection. This regulation automatically extends residence permits that are valid until 1 February 2024. This means that from March 2024, many Ukrainians in Germany will have a residence permit that appears to have expired but is not. You can continue to travel, work and exercise your rights and obligations under Section 24 of the Residence Act.

Please note: Your stay in Germany is allowed until 04.03.2025. You must apply for a residence permit within 90 days of arriving in Germany. 

That is why it is advisable to submit your application for a residence permit earlier. After you have applied, you will receive a so-called fictitious certificate. This gives you all the rights that you will have with the residence permit. You are allowed to work, for example. And you can also switch to the Jobcenter. You can find out more about your rights and obligations with a residence permit according to Section 24 of the Residence Act (Residence Act) in the "What rights and obligations would I have with 'temporary protection'?" section.

Please note: Since June 1st, 2022, identification procedure (ED procedure) is a mandatory requirement for the issuing of a residence permit or a “Fiktionsbescheinigung”. So, without ED procedure, you will not be issued a residence permit or a “Fiktionsbescheinigung”. 

Your personal data will be recorded during the ED procedure. Fingerprints are also taken from people over the age of 14. Children under the age of 6 will not be fingerprinted. 

If you are currently in a hospital or nursing facility, you can go through the ED procedure later.

Important: Since many are currently in need of ED procedures, there may be delays in the issuance of residence permits and “Fiktionsbescheinigung” at this time.

You do not have to pay for the residence permit according to §24 of the Residence Act.

The Immigration Office in your place of residence/registration is the responsible authority. You can find the address on bamf.navi. You can also apply for a residence permit online in some cases. This is the case in Berlin and Brandenburg, for example.

Important: Even if you apply for your residence permit online, you still have to make an appointment for an identification procedure or “ED-Behandlung” (fingerprinting and photographing) and registration in the Central Register of Foreign Nationals (AZR).

It is possible to switch to another residence permit. Changing your residence permit can be advantageous in the following cases:

• Your temporary protection is not extended for certain reasons, and you want to stay in Germany.
• Your residence permit is a sticker in your passport, not a physical card, which is impractical because you cannot use services that require electronic proof of identity. 
• You plan to stay in Germany long-term and acquire German citizenship 

Please note: There is currently no urgent need to change your residence title from the so-called temporary protection to another one. The EU Council has extended temporary protection under §24 Residence Act until March 4, 2026. 

Please note: Refugees from Ukraine who have stayed in a third country with a temporary or permanent residence permit and then moved on to Germany will not be granted temporary protection. The Federal Ministry of the Interior believes that these individuals no longer fall under the rules of the EU Council Decision of March 4 because they are not considered “displaced persons”. However, residence permits already issued per Section 24 of the Residence Act are to remain valid until March 4, 2025. 

Please note that there are exceptional cases in which the Immigration Office decides at its discretion. Seek advice beforehand.

There are several residence titles to which a direct change from §24 Residence Act is possible:

• Visa for Vocational Training according to §16a Residence Act

• Residence permit for a short-term stay to study (up to 360 days) in Germany for students who are already studying in another EU member state according to §16c Residence Act

• Residence permit for language course and school attendance according to §16f

• Visa for skilled workers with vocational training according to §18a 

• Visa for Skilled workers with a university degree according to §18b (it enables you to switch to the EU Blue Card  according to §18g)

• Short-term mobility for researchers according to §18e 

• Residence permit for mobile researchers according to §18f 

Please note: There is a ban (according to § 19f after § 19f para. 1 no. 1, para. 2 no. 2, 3 Residence Act) on switching into residence permits for the purpose of study (§ 16b), study-related internship in EU (§ 16e), student application (§ 17 para. 2), research (§ 18d), European voluntary service (§ 19e) and Blue Card EU (§ 18g). 

You can still study with a residence permit in accordance with § 24 Residence Act. You just cannot change to a student residence permit. You could also obtain the EU Blue Card if you are a skilled worker and obtain a residence permit under Section 18a or b and give up your residence permit under Section 24. Then the path to the EU Blue Card will be open to you.

A direct change from a residence permit issued according to §24 to the following residence titles is not possible; However, if you meet the conditions for one of these titles, you can ask your Immigration Office whether such a switch is possible:

• Residence Permit according to §19c for other employment purposes: for various occupations that do not fall into other categories.

• Residence permit according to §20 for Job hunting for qualified skilled workers

• Residence permit according to §21 for Self-employment/business

• Family reunification according to §28-36 Residence Act offers various options for relocation and residence for family reasons.

• EU Blue Card: A special residence permit for qualified skilled workers who wish to work in Germany. The application can be made online, an appointment is not required.

• Opportunity Card or “Chancenkarte”: This form of residence permit aims to attract qualified foreign workers and opens up additional opportunities for work and residence in Germany.

Whether it generally makes sense to give up your residence permit under Section 24 in order to switch to other residence permits (which would then give you permanent residence) always depends on the possibilities in each individual case.

Important: Always seek specialised advice before changing your residence permit. There is always a risk if your residence is “only” linked to your job or training. 

Good to know: It is sometimes possible to hold two residence permits at the same time. Discuss this with the Immigration Office and, if necessary, seek advice from a lawyer for your individual case.

For further information on your individual case, you can seek advice. You are also welcome to directly ask your questions on our community platform “Together in Germany”.

There is no clear answer to whether it is possible to switch directly from temporary protection under Section 24 of the Residence Act to the EU Blue Card.

Seek legal advice on whether and under what conditions a change to the EU Blue Card is possible. In the chapter "Where can I find legal advice?" you will find organisations that offer legal advice to refugees from Ukraine.

If you have been granted temporary protection under Section 24 of the Residence Act, you can bring your family to Germany. The family reunification procedure is regulated in §29 par. 4 Residence Act.

Your spouse, your underage unmarried children or the underage unmarried children of your spouse can join you in Germany if,

• familial cohabitation in Ukraine was interrupted due to the flight and
• another EU Member State admitted the family member 
• or the family member is outside the European Union and needs protection.

If your spouse, your underage unmarried children or the underage unmarried children of your spouse had to leave Ukraine for the same reasons as you, they would be considered "in need of protection".

Please note: If your family members meet the above requirements and are allowed to join you in Germany, they will also be granted temporary protection under Section 24 of the Residence Act. You can find out about your rights and obligations under Section 24 of the Residence Act in the section "What rights and obligations would I have with 'temporary protection' (Section 24 of the Residence Act)?".

In general, if you are staying at a private residence and do not need urgent financial or medical assistance, you can wait a few weeks before registering. Therefore, it may make sense to wait a little. Important: This does not apply to minors who have come to Germany alone. Minors who are in Germany without their parents must register immediately. There are special clearing offices for this. You can find out more about this in the "Unaccompanied minor refugees" chapter.

If you need accommodation or financial or medical help, you should register immediately. The place where you need to register depends on the city you are located in. Important: If you have family in a particular city and would like to live there, be sure to mention this when you register. The authorities will then try to help you stay close to your family.

Detailed registration information is currently available for the following cities / states:

• Berlin
• Hamburg
• Munich
• Rhineland-Palatinate
• North Rhine-Westphalia
• Lower Saxony

For all other cities or federal states, the following applies: You can contact the Immigration Office or the police everywhere. The staff there will then give you the address you should contact. Contact the police, they will be able to help you. You can also find the police at any major train station.

If you need financial or medical assistance or housing, you can also go directly to the social welfare office. You can find out more about this in the section "State Aid".

Important: If you have family in a particular city and would like to live there, be sure to mention this when you register. The authorities will then try to help you stay close to your family.

It depends on the city where you register. In any case, you will receive a confirmation of your registration on the same day. This can be a proof of arrival (“Ankunftsnachweis”)l, a so-called “Fiktionsbescheinigung” or ”​​Anlaufbescheinigung”. This confirmation is the basis for everything else. So make sure you take good care of it. In some cities, after this registration, you have to go to another government office to get accommodation or financial aid and, if possible, to apply for a residence permit according to Section 24 of the Residence Act. In other cities, everything is done at the same location. Important: If you do not have private accommodation, you might have to travel to another state or city.

Please note: Especially in big cities like Berlin, Hamburg or Munich, a lot of people want to register at the moment. This could lead to long waiting times.

Basically, all people who come to Germany and want to stay longer than three months have to register at the authorities after no longer than two weeks with their residential address. However, if you are living privately with family or friends or free of charge with supporters, you do not have to register with the registration office until after 3 months. If you wish, you can also register now. This can be useful if you need financial assistance from the state. You can read more about this in the "State Aid" section. If you live in an initial reception center or other accommodation assigned by the authorities, you must register immediately at the registration office.

Registration takes place in person at the Residents' Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt) or Citizens' Registration Office (Bürgeramt). As a general rule, you will need an appointment for this. You can find the address of your Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt at melderegister-auskunft.de. For more information on the obligation to register, please check the "Registration" chapter. There you will also find out which documents you need for this.

People fleeing Ukraine are permitted to stay in Germany until 04.03.2025. 

You do not need a visa to enter the country until 31.12.2024. After entering Germany, you can stay here for 90 days (within 180 days) without a visa. That means you do not need a residence permit for this period. If you want to stay longer in Germany, you must apply for a residence permit within these 90 days.

The Ukrainian embassy, one of the Ukrainian consulates in Germany, or the embassy of your country of origin can issue you a certificate of identity or even a new identity card/passport. You can find the addresses at auswaertiges-amt.de.

If you have lost your residence permit or it has been stolen, you must immediately notify the Immigration Office responsible. If your residence permit has been stolen, you must also report it to the police. You can find the nearest police station on polizei.de by selecting the state in which you live.

If you have activated the online ID function of your residence permit, you must also call the so-called "Sperr-Hotline” and have the online ID function blocked, so that no one else can use your residence permit. You can reach the “Sperr-Hotline” anytime on: 0180-1-33 33 33. 

Please note: It can take up to 3 months for a new residence permit to be issued. Until then, you will receive a temporary paper. You also have to pay a fee for the issuing of the new residence permit. The amount of such a fee varies from state to state.

If your passport is about to expire, or you do not have a valid passport/passport replacement, you must immediately contact the Embassy of Ukraine or the Embassy of your country of origin.

Important: If you want to extend your Ukrainian passport, you must first make an appointment at the Ukrainian Embassy in Germany. Without a previously made appointment, your application will not be processed. You can book an appointment at online.mfa.gov.ua/application. When making an appointment, you must choose the country in which you are staying and the embassy you want to visit. You also need to state the matter for which you would like an appointment. Then, the available appointments will be displayed. Please note that currently waiting times are long, and you may have to wait up to three months for an appointment.

Currently, expired Ukrainian passports are renewed by hand at the Ukrainian Embassy. In this process, the children's data and photographs are also added to the parents' passports. These additions are recognized by the German authorities only if they are additionally provided with a consular seal or stamp.

Please note: Since September 2022, the Embassy of Ukraine in Germany no longer issues identity certificates with photos. The issuance of new passports continues; however, you have to wait up to six months for a new passport. During the waiting period, you can apply for and obtain a so-called “Reisepass für Ausländer” from the Immigration Office – the prerequisite is that your identity and your Ukrainian nationality can be proven beyond any doubt.

Important: You usually have to pay for the issuance of a passport. Make sure you ask about the costs in advance.

Important: Since 31.03.2023, Ukrainian citizens in Berlin, Cologne and Munich can sort out their passport-related issues in a department of the passport centre "Dokument". The passport centre is open from Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 18:00. Visitors are served, both by prior appointment and without one, directly on site. You can make an appointment to visit the Berlin Passport Centre on the website berlin.pasport.org.ua. If you have any questions, contact the staff of the passport centre "Dokument" via their e-mail address, info@dpdok.com.ua.

Berlin Passport Centre "Dokument" offers the following services:

• Issuing ID cards or passports
• Exchange of an ID card or passport (e.g., due to expired validity, change of personal data or unusability)
• Exchange of identification document issued in 1994 for an ID card
• Simultaneous issuance of a passport and an ID card
• Exchange of driving licence
• Insurance policy

Important: From July 24, 2024, the departments of passport offices “Document” will resume accepting applications for the issuance of passports for men. In order to receive services, men of military age must verify themselves via the official app of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine “Reserv+” using a QR code. Proof of valid military service documents is mandatory.

Please note: According to the current statement of the Federal Government, the passport requirement is not a prerequisite for temporary protection. The rules for issuing passports for Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 in Germany have no effect on protection under Section 24 of the Residence Act.

Please note: Refugees from Ukraine can also have their passports renewed in Poland. Currently, these services are offered in Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk and Wroclaw.

On berlin.pasport.org.ua, you can find a map with the cities and countries where passport centres "Dokument" are available.

On Thursday, March 3rd, 2022, the EU agreed on the activation of this protection. The protection status applies to the following groups:

• People with Ukrainian citizenship who fled Ukraine on or after February 24th, 2022. You do not necessarily need a passport for this. Another official document proving your identity should be sufficient.
• Non-Ukrainian citizens of other countries and stateless persons who were recognized as refugees in Ukraine or had other international or national protection status and left Ukraine on or after February 24th, 2022.
• The nuclear family of the groups mentioned above, if they have already lived together in Ukraine. The nuclear family is spouses and minor children or parents of minor children. The citizenship of the family does not matter.
• Non-Ukrainian citizens of other countries and stateless persons who had a permanent residence permit in Ukraine and who are unable to return safely to their country of origin. A safe return is not possible, for instance, if there is a war in your country and you would be persecuted upon return. Each case is examined individually. It is best to seek advice from the Immigration Office before applying. You can find free counseling centers in your area, for instance, on the Pro Asyl website.

If you belong to any of these groups, an asylum application does not make sense for you.

According to the current information, the same does not apply to any other groups of persons. Germany could extend the protection to other groups, but whether this will happen is currently unclear. As soon as we have news on this, we will inform you here and on Facebook. Since the situation is currently still unclear, it may make sense to wait before applying for asylum. An asylum procedure usually takes more than a year. As an asylum seeker, you must abide by many rules. 

It is currently difficult to assess whether your asylum application would have a chance of success. If it were decided positively, you would probably be granted either subsidiary protection or a ban of deportation. You can read more about this in the "Residence Permit" chapter.

However, a negative asylum application has many negative consequences. For example, it is more difficult to get a visa or a residence permit later on.

Many experts, therefore, advise waiting before applying for asylum. Make sure to check your other options beforehand. You can find out more about this in the "Staying in Germany“ section above.

If you are considering applying for asylum, please be sure to read the "Asylum Procedure" chapter. Furthermore, you should seek professional counseling in advance. You can get free counseling at Pro Asyl for example, or at state refugee counseling centers. The staff usually speak at least English and German and can also recommend a consulting center or lawyers in your area. The services are free of charge. You can also use our multilingual search engine Local Search to find free counseling centers near you.

Some Immigration Offices seem to be pressuring people without Ukrainian citizenship to leave the country or apply for asylum. Do not be pressured into anything. Even people without Ukrainian citizenship can get a residence permit according to Section 24 of the Residence Act under certain conditions. Therefore, you should definitely apply for a residence permit according to Section 24. Until a decision has been made on your application, you will receive a temporary residence permit. This gives you all the rights that people with a residence permit according to Section 24 have. You can read more about this in the section "What rights and obligations do I have with a residence permit according to Section 24?". If your application is rejected, you can still apply for asylum.

Important: Be sure to get legal advice. You can find counseling centers in the "Further assistance" section.

Unfortunately, if you apply for asylum, you will generally not be able to decide where you want to live. You will be accommodated in an initial reception facility. In which federal state you will be accommodated depends on your citizenship.

Please note: Persons who are in possession of a valid residence permit with a validity period of more than six months do not have to live in an initial reception facility.

You can find out more about this in the "Temporary Stay Permit" chapter.

Please note that an asylum application is currently not recommended. You can find out more about this in the "Should I apply for asylum?" section.

There is currently no Germany-wide ban on deportation for Ukrainians. Some federal states have already officially announced that they are currently not deporting to Ukraine. However, there are currently no deportations being made to Ukraine from the other federal states either.

Be sure to seek advice on your options. A follow-up application for asylum may make sense for you in the long term. You can find free advice from e.g. Pro Asyl or the state refugee councils. The employees usually speak at least English and German and can also recommend a counseling center or lawyers in your area. The consultation is free. You can also use our multilingual Local Search engine to find free counseling centers near you.