Upon arrival in Germany, refugees from Ukraine must apply for temporary protection. This process is regulated by § 24 of the German Foreigners' Legal Status Act. It is on the basis of this section that refugees receive a temporary residence permit "Aufenthaltstitel". Find out how to obtain a temporary residence permit in Germany

In September 2025, the EU granted Ukrainians the largest number of temporary protections since 2023, over 79,000, which is almost 50% more than in August of the same year. The main reason for this surge is the decision of the Ukrainian Government, which in August 2025 allowed men aged 18 to 22 years old to travel abroad. That is why, for the first time since the beginning of the war, there were more men than women among the recipients of temporary protection, their share was 47%, women - 31%, and minors - 22%. Traditionally, the largest number of Ukrainians arrived in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic.

As of the end of September 2025, 4,300,000 people were under temporary protection in the EU, the largest number living in Germany - about 1,200,000 or 28% of the total. Among all those who use temporary protection, women dominate - 44%, minors - 31%, and adult men 25%.

That is, despite rumors and debates at the end of 2025, Germany continues to accept Ukrainians and grant them temporary protection status.

How can a Ukrainian obtain temporary protection in Germany in 2025? The procedure for registration and changes to paragraph 24 is below.

Will Ukrainians be accepted in Germany after December 4, 2025?

This issue is being actively discussed on social networks at the end of November 2025. However, information about the complete cessation of the issuance of paragraph 24 after December 4, 2025 is fake. The current legislation indeed establishes that Ukrainians can enter and apply for temporary protection until December 4, 2025, but this period is expected to be extended - on November 21, 2025, a bill should be adopted that will add another 1 year, until December 4, 2026. So Ukrainians will be able to continue to enter Germany and receive temporary protection.

Is it possible to obtain temporary protection in Germany after another EU country in 2025?

However, there are significant changes in the procedure for obtaining temporary protection in Germany, in particular, the new document states for the first time that moving from one EU country to another in order to obtain temporary protection is PROHIBITED.

That is, if a Ukrainian has already received temporary protection in Poland or the Czech Republic, he will no longer be able to re-apply for paragraph 24 in Germany. In particular, since August 13, 2025, everyone who tried to re-apply in Germany after staying in another EU country has been massively rejected.

Entry rules for Ukrainians in Germany in 2024

Ukrainians can enter Germany without a visa with a biometric passport as tourists, or with any Ukrainian identity document as refugees, if they are traveling from Ukraine by land.

German border guards may require a biometric passport if Ukrainians are entering Germany from a country other than Ukraine (for example, a direct flight from Turkey, Israel, the USA, etc.).

Ukrainians can only stay in Germany without a residence permit for up to 90 days.

However, it is not possible to obtain the status of temporary protection in all regions of the country. Before the trip, it is necessary to find out which countries in Germany accept Ukrainians. This is an important condition, because refugees need to choose a region where they can find housing and work, as well as receive all social benefits.

Which German states will accept refugees from Ukraine in November 2025?

Baden-Württemberg

Baden-Württemberg is one of the most popular reception points. As of September 2025, it is accepting Ukrainian migrants, but they are sometimes distributed to other regions.

Karlsruhe

Address: Durlacher Allee 100, 76137 Karlsruhe. Open, sometimes distributes to other regions. Since January 2024, it has been accepting anyone who travels by car. Among the features are the following:

– cars must be parked outside the reception point;

– animals larger than a cat are not allowed.

Ellwangen

Address: Georg-Elser-Str. 2, 73479 Ellwangen. Accepts refugees from Ukraine, but sometimes sends them to other states.

It is not recommended to arrive with pets.

Freiburg

Address: Müllheimer Str. 7, 79115 Freiburg. Open, but may distribute to other federal states.

Accepts small pets, which must remain with their owners at all times (dogs must be kept on a leash).

Bavaria

München

Address: Dachauer Str. 122a, 80637 München

Distributed throughout southern Bavaria. The reception centre is not recommended for pet owners. Currently, the shelter does not accept migrants with domestic animals, and shelters in the region are overcrowded. Migrants are distributed within the region.

Augsburg

Адреса: Aindlingerstr. 16, 86167 Augsburg. З грудня 2024 року не приймають з домашніми тваринами.

Regensburg

Адреса: Zeißstraße 1, 93053 Regensburg. Розподіл відбувається східною частиною Баварії, у сільській місцевості.

Bamberg

Address: Erlenweg 4, 96050 Bamberg. Acceptance is round the clock, but registration with pets is prohibited. Distribution is carried out in the northern part of Bavaria (Franconia).

Geldersheim

Address: Conn-Str. 1, 97505 Geldersheim. Distribution takes place in the northern part of Bavaria.

Berlin

Tegel (Old Airport)

For car owners: leave your car in the car park and take the bus P3 in front of building 109.

For those arriving by public transport: bus from Berlin-Jungfernheide station > stop on Max-Dorn-Straße > buses M21 and X21.

For those arriving from Eastern Europe: arrival at Berlin Hauptbahnhof or Berlin Gesundbrunnen station > transfer to Berlin-Jungfernheide station by city train > stop at Max-Dorn-Straße > buses M21 and X21.

All information about the Tegel reception centre can be found on the service portal or by contacting the centre's support group on Telegram.

Hamburg

Amt für Migration

Address: Hammer Straße 32-34, 22041 Hamburg.

The shelter registers everyone who has accommodation. If you do not have accommodation, you must register within 90 days of settling in. You can make an appointment online.

Telephone: +49 40 42828-0

Working hours: Mon-Fri from 08:00 to 17:00

Haart 148, 24539 Neumünster, Schleswig-Holstein

Address: Segebergerstr. 100, 23795, Bad Segeberg.

Possible transfer to another dormitory. Pets are not allowed.

Niedersachsen 3

Address: Hildesheimer Str. 305 A, 30880 Laatzen

Pets are welcome.

Hesse

Gießen (Rödgener Straße 59-61, 35394 Gießen Ankunftshalle) – reception point open.

The best time to arrive is on weekdays before 8 p.m.

Information for those travelling by public transport: there is the possibility of overnight accommodation in Frankfurt (Bahnhofsmission):

Step 1: Take the train from Frankfurt to Gießen Bf;

Step 2: Take bus 1 or 17 from Gießen Bf to Sophie-Scholl-Schule.

A map of the area can be found here.

North Rhine-Westphalia

There is a single reception centre here – Bochum (Gersteinring 50, 44791 Bochum). As of September 2025, the reception centre distributes Ukrainians to other federal states.

Rhineland-Palatinate

There are two reception points operating here – Trier (Dasbachstr. 19, 54292 Trier) та Speyer (Spaldinger Str. 100, 67346 Speyer).

Saarland

There is a single reception centre here in Lebach (Schlesierallee 17, 66822 Lebach). It only accepts you if you already have accommodation in Saarland. If not, you will be redirected to Rheinland-Pfalz/Trier.

Saxony

There is a single reception point – Dresden (Hammerweg 26, 01127 Dresden)

Schleswig-Holstein

Neumünster

Address: (Haart 148, 2359 Neumünster) – open for reception, but distributes to other centres.

Boostedt

Address: (Von-dem-Borne-Straße, 24598 Boostedt) – open for reception, but there are not enough places available.

The camp accepts pets, including large dogs. However, as of July, there was information about the urgent relocation of refugees to dormitories, where pets are not allowed.

Please note! The city administration cannot accommodate refugees with pets. If you register at this reception centre, you may have to take your pets to a shelter at your own expense.

Seeth

Address: (Hauptstraße 100, 23845 Seeth) – the situation is similar to the previous camp: reception is available, pets are allowed, but there have been cases of redistribution to dormitories with restrictions on pets.

Please note! The city administration cannot accommodate refugees with pets. If you register at this reception centre, you may have to take your pets to a shelter at your own expense.

Thuringia

There are two camps that can distribute people to other areas if there are no places available:

– Suhl (Weidbergstr. 10, 98527 Suhl);

– Eisenberg (Jenaer Str. 49, 07607 Eisenberg).

Lower Saxony

There is only one reception centre here – Bramsche (Im Rehhagen 8, 49565 Bramsche)

What is Paragraph 24 in Germany?

Paragraph 24 of the Law on the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in Germany regulates the stay of foreigners in the country, as well as the further procedure of their integration.

On the basis of this paragraph, Ukrainian refugees receive an "Aufenthaltstitel" temporary residence permit in Germany, which allows them to legally live and work in Germany.

For the first time, temporary protection is issued for one year, but it can be extended for a period of up to three years.

Who has the right to apply for temporary protection in Germany on the basis of paragraph 24?

According to German law, immigrants from Ukraine can obtain the status of temporary protection (Vertriebene) according to paragraph 24. Those persons who lived on the territory of Ukraine before the start of a full-scale war, i.e. until February 24, 2022, have the right to apply. In particular, the following categories of people:

- Citizen of Ukraine.

- Family members of citizens of Ukraine.

- Stateless persons.

- Citizens of other states who, for various reasons, lived on the territory of Ukraine at the time of the outbreak of a full-scale war, who are unable to safely return to their home state.

How to apply for temporary protection status in Germany?

In order to issue a temporary residence permit on the territory of Germany "Aufenthaltstitel", it is necessary to submit an application for a simplified procedure for obtaining a corresponding permit for temporary protection, residence and employment to the nearest department of the Ausländerbehörde migration service.

1. Collect all necessary documents (passport or birth certificate for children, residence permit or address of your temporary residence in Germany)

2. Visit the office of the migration service and go through the biometric registration procedure on a first-come, first-served basis.

3. After completing the procedure, you will be issued a residence permit in Germany.

Obtaining the status of temporary protection in Germany now has certain peculiarities, because as we mentioned earlier, not all German states accept refugees from Ukraine. Consult a highly qualified lawyer to immediately choose the right region and get protection.

Social support for Ukrainians in Germany based on paragraph 24

Ukrainian who receives temporary protection status in Germany in accordance with paragraph 24 will have the following advantages:

- residence permit for the period of protection (it can be from a year or longer or until the end of the war in Ukraine);

- the right to work;

- the right to education and the opportunity to attend language courses for free;

- the right to housing (it can be refugee camps);

- social benefits from the Jobcenter;

- access to medical care;

- the possibility of obtaining refugee status in the future;

- the possibility to return to the native country at any time.

In addition to cash payments, Ukrainians can receive vouchers, in particular for the purchase of food, clothing, hygiene products and housing rent.

 

Amount of financial aid for Ukrainians in Germany in 2025

Ukrainians with temporary protection status are entitled to financial assistance from the state. As of October 2025, payments are divided depending on the date of arrival and individual situation.

Approximate amounts (for those entitled to Bürgergeld):

- €563 — single person

- €506 — for spouses or cohabitants

- €471 — adolescents 14–17 years old

- €390 — children 6–13 years old

- €357 — children under 5 years old

For new arrivals who are not entitled to Bürgergeld, payments are lower and may depend on the living conditions.

In some cases, a means test is assigned to determine the amount of financial support.

Housing for Ukrainians in Germany

A Ukrainian has the right to receive free housing based on the status of temporary protection, but refugees must be ready to live for a long time in hangars, dormitories, containers or gyms, not necessarily near a big city. First of all, due to the fact that there is currently an acute housing shortage in Germany.

Upon arrival in Germany, Ukrainians are sent to temporary reception centers, which are actually asylums. At the second stage, refugees are resettled in different federal states.

 

Employment rules for refugees from Ukraine in Germany in 2025

On the basis of temporary protection, Ukrainians receive the right to work.

In 2024, refugees from Ukraine will be employed in Germany as part of the JobTurbo initiative. This program includes a number of principles aimed at the effective and rapid introduction of Ukrainians into the working environment.

- Changing the approach to language learning - earlier employment centers gave Ukrainians the opportunity to take language courses at the B2 level. From now on, priority will be given to language learning in the working environment, placing this task on the shoulders of employers.

- Qualifications and job preferences are now considered less of a priority.

The new program also provides for more frequent meetings with the employment center, which are planned to be held every 6 weeks, to provide more effective support and counseling for Ukrainian refugees.

Importantly! Germany's Ministry of Labor is considering a possible partial cancellation of benefits for those who refuse a job offer without a valid reason. After a person refuses a job offer, they can have their benefits reduced by 10% to 100%.

How to extend temporary protection in Germany?

Ukrainians who received a residence permit in Germany will have their temporary protection automatically extended until March 5, 2025. Refugees do not need to apply for an extension of status. Also, the procedure does not involve a personal meeting with the immigration authorities.

Team of international lawyers can help with obtaining paragraph 24.

How much time and money does it take to apply for Paragraph 24?

Igor Usyk, Head of Legal at VisitWorld:

"After completing the biometric registration, you will be issued a Fiktionsbescheinigung (internal temporary document), which confirms that you have applied for and are waiting for an Aufenthaltstitel. 

The Aufenthaltstitel is printed at the Federal Printing Office in Berlin and this process can take several weeks.

From the moment you receive the Fiktionsbescheinigung, your stay in Germany becomes legal.

It is free to apply for temporary protection status in Germany. My team of international lawyers will be able to help you with obtaining the Paragraph 24."

Ukrainians who plan to stay in Germany after the war will need to obtain a German residence permit. It is also called an Aufenthaltstitel, but it is issued on the basis of a different purpose of staying in the country. Valid reasons include study or work. 

However, those who will be studying need to have financial support for the entire period of study, about €930 per month. Ukrainians wishing to apply for residence on the basis of a work contract should take into account that the job must be relevant to your education. There are also alternative options. To find out more, please consult a lawyer.

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Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents in Germany;

Legal advice on business issues in Germany;

Travel insurance for foreigners in Germany;

Medical insurance around the world.

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More articles on the topic: 

Paragraph 25: How to obtain a residence permit for refugees and asylum seekers in Germany.

How to get a residence permit in Germany - step-by-step instructions.

Read here how to find a job for English-speaking foreigners in Germany.

Temporary protection status in Germany: benefits and legal advice - more details here.

Jobs in Germany: the most popular vacancies for expats - find here.

The Jobcenter for refugees in Germany: what help Ukrainians can get - read here.

Treatment abroad: do Ukrainians need health insurance in Europe?


Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Fabian Sommer