Residence permit; application for temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine

Foreigners who are granted temporary protection on the basis of a decision of the Council of the European Union in accordance with Directive 2001/55/EC and who have declared their willingness to be admitted to the federal territory shall be issued with a residence permit for the duration of the temporary protection in accordance with Articles 4 and 6 of the Directive.

A residence permit for temporary protection is granted to war refugees from Ukraine in accordance with Section 24 of the Residence Act (AufenthG). Until an electronic residence permit is issued, a provisional residence certificate may be issued; otherwise, a certificate of suspension of deportation may be issued.

Residence in accordance with § 24 AufenthG entitles persons entitled to protection to pursue gainful employment without restriction.

An application for a residence permit must be filed with the competent immigration office. An extension of an existing residence permit under Section 24 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) is currently not generally necessary due to the Ukraine Residence Permit Continuation Ordinance (UkraineAufenthFGV) issued by the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

To contact us, please use the button above, which will take you to the relevant office.

Please note and use the following templates under Forms:

• Authorization to collect an eAT.
• Application for the issue or extension of a residence permit.

The requirements for granting a residence permit under Section 24 of the Residence Act (AufenthG), based on the Decision of the Council of the European Union of March 4, 2022, determining the existence of a mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine, as well as subsequent decisions, are as follows:

Proof of membership of the group of persons entitled to benefits:

• Ukrainian nationals who had their habitual residence in Ukraine before February 24, 2022 (Art. 2 para. 1 a) of the decision)
• Stateless persons and nationals of third countries other than Ukraine who enjoyed international protection or equivalent national protection in Ukraine before February 24, 2022 (Art. 2 para. 1 b) of the decision)
• Family members of the above-mentioned groups of persons
  According to the decision, the following persons fall under the family concept, whereby the family partnership must have already existed in Ukraine on February 24, 2022:
  • the spouse of a person pursuant to Art. 2 para. 1 a) and b) or their unmarried partner who lives with this person in a long-term relationship,
  • unmarried minor children of persons pursuant to Art. 2 para. 1 a) and b) or their spouse or unmarried partner living in a long-term relationship with this person (irrespective of whether the children were born in or out of wedlock or adopted),
  • other close relatives who, at the time of the circumstances giving rise to the mass influx of displaced persons, were living within the family circle and were wholly or largely dependent on a person referred to in Art. 2 para. 1 a) and b) for their maintenance or care.
• Stateless persons and nationals of third countries other than Ukraine who can prove that they resided legally in Ukraine before February 24, 2022 on the basis of a valid permanent residence permit issued under Ukrainian law and who are unable to return safely and permanently to their country or region of origin. A valid permanent residence permit issued under Ukrainian law is a residence permit that is comparable to a German settlement permit or an EU permanent residence permit (Sections 9, 9a AufenthG). Persons applying for protection on the basis of a Ukrainian residence title must be able to prove to the immigration authority that they meet the admission criteria by submitting the relevant documents.
• Ukrainian nationals who are already residing in Germany with a residence permit may, under certain circumstances, be granted a residence permit in accordance with Section 24 AufenthG. If the relevant requirements are met, this may also apply to persons who are already residing in Germany with a tolerated stay permit if the previous reason for toleration no longer applies.

Within the European Union, temporary protection under the so-called Mass Influx Directive can be granted in only one country. Therefore, if you have already been granted protection in another EU member state, you are no longer eligible for protection in Germany.

The same applies, in essence, even if you have since spent a prolonged period of time in a third country and have a right of residence there.

Furthermore, as of August 5, 2026, protection will be granted only to individuals who have fulfilled their military obligations in Ukraine, upon presentation of appropriate proof. This provision does not apply to individuals who were granted temporary protection in Germany on or before August 4, 2026, and who have continuously maintained that status since that date.

Persons displaced as a result of the war in Ukraine following the invasion by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022 can currently enter Germany without a visa on the basis of the Ukraine Residence Transitional Regulation (UkraineAufenthÜV) and stay here for a maximum period of 90 days from the date of first entry into the federal territory without a residence permit as an exception.

If war refugees want to work, need state support (for example in the form of housing, cash payments or medical care) or at the latest before the aforementioned transition period expires, they must apply for a residence permit.

• Proof of date of entry (e.g. entry stamp in passport or other documents),
• Proof that military obligations in Ukraine have been fulfilled,
• Proof of registration, if already completed (e.g., startup certificate),
• Proof of residence, if already available (e.g. confirmation of registration, tenancy agreement),
• For non-Ukrainian nationals: Proof of previous right of residence in Ukraine.

• Application for the issue or extension of a residence permit

  Please fill out the application form in block letters or on a typewriter or computer in German.

  Please check or complete as appropriate. Please do not fill in blank fields.

   

• Authorization to collect an eAT

Issuance and renewal is free of charge.

• Council Directive 2001/55/EC of July 20, 2001 on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and on measures promoting a balance of efforts between Member States in receiving such persons and bearing the consequences thereof
• Sections 4, 4a, 5, 7, 8, 12, 12a, 24, 60a, and 81 of the Act on the Residence, Employment, and Integration of Foreign Nationals in the Federal Territory (Residence Act—AufenthG)

Administrative court action

• Germany4Ukraine

  The service is also available in English, Ukrainian and Russian.

Many immigration authorities offer an online application procedure. Please check this option for your foreigners authority. If your foreigners authority does not offer an online procedure, please contact the foreigners authority by e-mail or speak to them in person.

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