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Ukraine - stay in Germany

Here you can find answers to questions about staying in Germany in connection with the Ukraine war.

  • Basic information

    The residence permits granted to refugees from Ukraine who fled the Russian war of aggression and received protection in Germany will be automatically extended again. The residence permits issued in accordance with Section 24 (1) of the Residence Act, which are valid on February 1, 2025, will remain valid until March 4, 2026. You do not need to apply for an extension of your residence permit or visit the Migration Office.
    Further information on this can be found in the First Ordinance amending the Ukraine Residence Permit Continued Validity Ordinance. This is available as a pdf document under "Further information".
    The Ukraine Residence Permit Continued Validity Ordinance and the information letters from the Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home Affairs are still available under "Further information".

    Ukrainian nationals who entered Germany before the start of the war were allowed to stay in Germany without a visa until 31.05.2022.
    Ukrainian nationals who entered the country after 25.02.2022 and have a biometric passport may stay in Germany for 90 days without a visa. An extension is possible.
    All other Ukrainian nationals who have entered without a biometric passport are not covered by the visa exemption and should apply for a stay by e-mail: ref20@migrationsamt.bremen.de .

    Application for a residence permit in accordance with § 24 of the Residence Act:
    To apply for a residence permit, an application must be completed for each person and returned to the Migration Office. The application form can be found under "Forms". Please enclose copies of passports or other identity documents with the application.
    You can also submit the application for a residence permit online on the help portal of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home Affairs.

    New national passport:
    If you have a new national passport, you only need a so-called transfer if you no longer have the old national passport in which the residence permit was affixed. If you have lost your national passport and have a new national passport, you will need to transfer the residence permit to your new national passport. We will send you an appointment for this. Please send us your national passport in advance as a PDF document by e-mail to ref20@migrationsamt.bremen.de

    Residence requirement:
    If you have a residence permit for Bremen and wish to move to another federal state, we will need the documents listed below from you:

    • Completed application form "Ukraine Streichung der Wohnsitzauflage", which you can find under "Forms"
    • Employment contract and last three payslips (if available)
    • Current certificate of enrollment (if available)
    • Proof of family ties at the desired place of residence (national passports, registration confirmations, marriage certificates, birth certificates)
    • Tenancy agreement and landlord's confirmation of residence (if available)

    Please send us the documents by e-mail to ref20@migrationsamt.bremen.de. Once we have received the documents, we will contact the foreigners authority at the desired place of residence, as they must be involved in the decision. We will inform you as soon as the decision has been made.
    If you have a residence permit for another federal state and wish to move to Bremen, please contact the foreigners authority that issued your residence permit with a residence requirement.

  • Procedure

    More information

    • For more information on staying in Germany in connection with the Ukraine war, see "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQs).
    • Information on the topics of care, housing and financial support can be found at the service "Ukraine - Social Benefits and Housing for Refugees from Ukraine". You can find the link under "More information".
    • Comprehensive information on the topic of assistance for Ukraine can be found on the website "Bremen helps Ukraine" or on the "Ukraine assistance portal" of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland. You can find the links under "Further information".
    • Information on participation in an integration course can be found at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. You can find the link under "Further information".

  • Competent Department

  • Forms

  • More Information

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Frequently asked Questions

  • Can I take in war refugees from Ukraine?

    People from Ukraine can initially decide for themselves where they would like to stay. This can also be with friends and relatives or with strangers who offer a room or an apartment. Ukrainians are allowed to stay in Germany without a visa for up to 90 days if they have a biometric passport. Even those who entered the country in December 2021, January or February 2022 do not need to worry about extending their stay until May 31, 2022. The Bremen Migration Office published a general ruling to this effect on March 2, 2022.

    Anyone who does not have a biometric passport would have had to enter the country with a visa. Anyone who has entered the country without a visa can apply to the Immigration Office (Migrationsamt, +49 421 361-88630; e-mail: ref20@migrationsamt.bremen.de ) with an application for tolerated stay.

  • Do I have to report to the Foreigners' Registration Office?

    Persons seeking protection from Ukraine whose stay is to extend beyond May 23, 2022 should register with the Immigration Office (Migrationsamt).

    Anyone applying for financial support from the Office for Social Services is obliged to subsequently obtain a residence permit from the Immigration Office in Bremen (Migrationsamt, +49 421 361-88630; e-mail: ref20@migrationsamt.bremen.de ).

  • How do I apply for a residence permit?

    If you have fled to Germany because of the war in your home country, you are generally entitled to social benefits, accommodation, health care, a place in kindergarten and school for your children and the right to pursue a profession (initially for up to 3 years). In order to take advantage of this opportunity, you need a residence permit in accordance with § 24 of the Residence Act.

    To apply for a residence permit, please fill out the form on the right under "Further information" and send it by email to the Migration Office ( ref20@migrationsamt.bremen.de ). You must scan and send copies of the passport (or other identity documents) for each person.

    You can also submit the application for a residence permit online on the help portal of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home Affairs. You will find the link under "Further information".

  • Do I have to apply for asylum in order to stay in Germany?

    No. People from Ukraine are admitted on the basis of Section 24 of the Residence Act (the so-called "mass influx directive"). Ukrainian nationals are therefore recommended by the responsible Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs (BMI) not to apply for asylum. According to the Residence Act, they are initially allowed to stay in Germany for one year, with the possibility of an extension for another two years.

  • How long can I stay in Bremen?

    If you arrive in Bremen, you can stay in Bremen for the time being. At the end of your visa-free stay, you will need to make an appointment at the Immigration Office to extend your stay.

    Anyone who has not entered the country with a biometric passport must contact the Immigration Office now (Migrationsamt, +49 421 361-88630; e-mail: ref20@migrationsamt.bremen.de ).

    However, those who wish to stay in Germany for longer and therefore apply for a residence permit in accordance with Section 24 of the Residence Act may still be allocated to another federal state when the necessary registration is completed.

  • What does a residence according to §24 Residence Act mean?

    Section 24 of the Residence Act grants temporary protection, initially for one year and then for up to two more years. This guarantees the right to accommodation and social benefits, health insurance cover and medical care as well as the right to education and school attendance. Paragraph 24 also ensures access to the labor market. Paragraph 24 is applied to

    a) Ukrainian citizens who resided in Ukraine before February 24, 2022,

    b) stateless persons and nationals of third countries other than Ukraine who enjoyed international protection or an

    c) enjoyed equivalent national protection (note: these persons regularly have a corresponding passport indicating their status)

    d) family members of the groups of persons mentioned under (a) and (b).

    e) Stateless persons and nationals of other third countries who can prove that they have legally resided in Ukraine before February 24, 2022 on the basis of a valid Ukrainian permanent residence permit and who are unable to return safely and permanently to their country or region of origin.
    (Note: The examination is carried out by the competent foreigners authority).

    Further information can be obtained from the Immigration Office in Bremen (Migrationsamt, +49 421 - 361-88630; e-mail: ref20@migrationsamt.bremen.de ).

  • Where can I find reliable information on the right of residence in Germany?

    The Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland (BMI) has compiled the most important information, also in English and Ukrainian:
    BMI - Homepage - Fragen und Antworten zur Einreise aus der Ukraine (bund.de)
    (https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/DE/themen/ministerium/ukraine-krieg/faq-ukraine-artikel.html)

This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.

The official information in German is complete and correct. 05.11.2025

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