Temporary protection: Germany
🛰️ Varta monitors 10 official sources for this country — checked daily.
Legal basis: Section 24 of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz) + EU Council Decision of 04.03.2022 • status valid until 04/03/2027 • already extended until 04/03/2028
Steps
- 1
Arrival and initial distribution
Visa-free entry up to 90 days. If you have no accommodation or funds, contact the police or Ausländerbehörde: you will be directed to a reception centre (Erstaufnahme).
📍 Police / Ausländerbehörde / reception centre💳 Free - 2
Temporary protection application (§24 AufenthG)
Apply at the Ausländerbehörde where you stay. First you receive a Fiktionsbescheinigung (provisional certificate), then the Aufenthaltserlaubnis (residence permit). Status is valid until 04.03.2027.
📍 Local Ausländerbehörde (foreigners’ office)⏰ Before your 90 visa-free days end💳 Free - 3
Register for benefits
If you need support and have §24 status or the corresponding Fiktionsbescheinigung: people able to work contact the Jobcenter; pension-age people or those with limited capacity to work contact the Sozialamt. Income, assets and household circumstances affect eligibility and amounts. Do not determine entitlement solely by arrival before or after 1 April 2025 without a law in force and an authority’s decision.
📍 Jobcenter or Sozialamt⏰ Right after status registration💳 Free - 4
Bank account and health insurance
Open a basic account (Basiskonto) at any bank. Bürgergeld recipients are automatically insured via public funds (AOK, TK, etc.).
📍 Bank / Jobcenter💳 Depends on the bank
Documents
Biometric foreign passport
requiredIf unavailable — any identity document (birth certificate for children, ID card, driving licence).
Proof of residence in Ukraine before 24.02.2022
if availablePassport stamp, certificate, other evidence.
Biometric photo
requiredFor the residence permit application.
Address registration (Anmeldung)
if availableDone at the Bürgeramt; speeds up the permit process.
Ukrainian Embassies and Consulates
Map
Document samples and how to fill them
Surname and first name in LATIN letters as in the passport.
Date of birth DD.MM.YYYY.
Nationality: ukrainisch.
Foreign passport number.
Address in Germany (if any): street, number, postcode, city.
❌ Name not as in the passport ❌ Skipped mandatory fields ❌ Missing signature on the last page
Your data + all household members’ data (Bedarfsgemeinschaft).
All income (work, pension, aid). If none — "kein Einkommen".
Assets/savings. Ukrainian property (real estate) is not counted.
Rent + utilities + heating (per the lease).
German IBAN (DE...) for payments.
❌ Not all household members declared ❌ Hidden income (cancellation + repayment) ❌ Non-German IBAN
Benefits
Bürgergeld (basic security)
People able to work who need support and have §24 status or the corresponding Fiktionsbescheinigung; the Jobcenter checks the other conditions.
How to apply: Application at the Jobcenter after status registration
Social assistance through the Sozialamt
In particular, pension-age people or people with limited capacity to work who need support. The Sozialamt determines the applicable benefit.
How to apply: Application at the Sozialamt
Kindergeld (child benefit)
§24 status; children living in Germany.
How to apply: Application at the Familienkasse
Wise — transfers without hidden fees
A multi-currency account and transfers between Ukraine and Europe at the real exchange rate. Handy for receiving salary and sending money to family.
Open a Wise accountThe price for you does not change; the commission supports our free guides.
Where to apply
Ausländerbehörde (foreigners’ office)
Contacts
What happens after protection ends
After protection ends: change of residence ground — work visa (§18a/§18b AufenthG), study, family reunification; after 5 years of legal stay — settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) subject to language and income. If the EU extends the directive beyond 04.03.2027, status extends automatically.
What happens when protection ends
These are options for the future — you will need to choose ONE, and not now.
These routes are available outside temporary protection — work, study, family, business, etc.
The description below is a general scheme, similar across countries. Check exact requirements, fees and timelines via the official link in each card — they differ by country and change over time.
💼 Residence permit / EU Blue Card
Those with a valid employment contract in this country.
Passport; employment contract; proof of residence. Authority: Ausländerbehörde (foreigners’ office).
- Foreign passport
- Employment contract
- Proof of residence
- Health insurance (optional)
Ausländerbehörde (foreigners’ office)
The employer or the applicant files; the immigration authority decides.
Before the current status or permit expires.
- Collect the card/decision
- Register address and social number
Renewable together with the contract.
Usually switchable from temporary protection without leaving.
🎓 Study — Germany
Enrolment at an accredited institution.
Acceptance letter; proof of funds; housing; insurance.
- Foreign passport
- Acceptance letter
- Proof of funds
- Health insurance (optional)
Ausländerbehörde (foreigners’ office)
Apply via the institution or the immigration authority.
Before the semester starts.
- Register at the institution and locally
Yearly with continued studies.
Usually switchable from temporary protection without leaving.
👨👩👧👦 Family reunification — Germany
Spouse, children or relatives of a resident or citizen.
Marriage/birth certificates; housing; sponsor income.
- Foreign passport
- Marriage/birth certificate
- Sponsor income proof
- Proof of residence
Ausländerbehörde (foreigners’ office)
The sponsor or family files; documents need apostille and translation.
Before the current status expires.
- Collect the family member card
Renewable; a path to permanent residence.
Usually switchable from temporary protection without leaving.
🏢 Self-employment/business — Germany
Company or self-employment registration; business plan or contracts.
Registration documents; tax number; funds; housing.
- Foreign passport
- Company/self-employment registration
- Business plan or contracts (optional)
- Proof of residence
Ausländerbehörde (foreigners’ office)
Register the business, then apply for residence as an entrepreneur.
Before the current status expires.
- Tax registration and bank account
Tied to the company activity.
Usually switchable from temporary protection without leaving.
🏠 Permanent residence — Germany
Usually after 5 years of continuous legal residence.
Stable income; housing; integration/language per national rules.
- Foreign passport
- Income proof
- Proof of residence
- Language/integration certificate (optional)
Ausländerbehörde (foreigners’ office)
Apply once the required residence period is met.
After the required residence period is met.
- Obtain permanent resident status
Permanent status; card replaced periodically.
Temporary protection time often counts towards the period (per national rules).
Opportunities: housing, jobs, grants
8 verified programmes: housing support, job portals, business grants, free courses — with direct official links and verification dates. Available with Varta.
Forms & samples (PDF)
FAQ
Do I need to do anything to keep my protection after the current period?
Nothing to do: in Germany the § 24 AufenthG residence permit is extended automatically by a federal ordinance (UkraineAufenthFGV) — no application, no appointment at the Ausländerbehörde, no new card, even if the date printed on the card has passed. However, as of 3 September 2026 the ordinance covering the period after 4 March 2027 has not yet been adopted (the current version only runs to 04.03.2027), so expect the new one in autumn 2026 and re-check germany4ukraine.de in January–February 2027. Where: You do not need to visit any authority — the extension takes effect by virtue of the federal BMI ordinance «Ukraine-Aufenthaltserlaubnis-Fortgeltungsverordnung» (UkraineAufenthFGV), automatically and without individual review; the data is passed to the Ausländerzentralregister, and Schengen border services and social-benefit authorities are informed. Important: The key point: the German ordinance for 2027–2028 has not yet been adopted. The current UkraineAufenthFGV (as last amended on 22.10.2025, BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 252, in force since 28.10.2025) extends only permits that were valid on 1 February 2026, and only until 4 March 2027. There is no "window" date for the next year yet. The mechanism has repeated three times (ordinance of 28.11.2023 → to 04.03.2025; 1st amendment in autumn 2024 → to 04.03.2026; 2nd amendment on 22.10.2025 → to 04.03.2027), so a 3rd amendment can reasonably be expected in autumn 2026 with a new reference date (probably 1 February 2027). Source: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/ukraineaufenthfgv/__2.html (checked 03.09.2026).
Which benefits am I entitled to?
If you need support and have §24 status or the corresponding Fiktionsbescheinigung: people able to work contact the Jobcenter; pension-age people or those with limited capacity to work contact the Sozialamt. Income, assets and household circumstances affect eligibility and amounts. Do not determine entitlement solely by arrival before or after 1 April 2025 without a law in force and an authority’s decision. Kindergeld: €259 per month per eligible child, through the Familienkasse. Sources: https://www.bmas.de/DE/Europa-und-die-Welt/Europa/Ukraine/FAQ-DE/faq-art-de.html ; https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/familie-und-kinder/infos-rund-um-kindergeld/kindergeld-anspruch-hoehe-dauer
What changed in December 2025?
Germany generally does NOT grant temporary protection to people who already have it in another EU country. If you hold protection elsewhere — renounce it first or consult a lawyer.
Where do I apply for §24?
At your local Ausländerbehörde (foreigners’ office). If you have no housing/funds — contact the police: you will be directed to a reception centre. First a Fiktionsbescheinigung, then the residence permit.
Can I work?
Yes, §24 status gives free labour market access without additional permits. Bürgergeld recipients are automatically insured via public funds (AOK, TK, etc.).
Can I travel to Ukraine without losing my protection?
Yes, but there is a hard limit. The §24 permit lapses if you do not re-enter within 6 months (§51(1) no. 7 AufenthG). A longer period is possible, but you must obtain it from the Ausländerbehörde IN ADVANCE, before leaving — it is not granted retroactively. Benefits are counted separately: the Jobcenter normally approves absence without an important reason for at most three weeks per calendar year (§7b(3) SGB II), and payments stop beyond six weeks. So a month-long trip does not threaten your status, but you may lose the money for that time.
This information is for reference only and is not legal advice.