Arriving: the most important steps

It is recommended that you take the originals of valid travel documents, Ukrainian residence permits, certificates of marriage and birth, and other important documents, especially if you do not have a Ukrainian passport. If you do not have all necessary documents with you (e.g., passport), however, you can still enter the EU.

Arrival Centre for Jewish refugees from Ukraine: The Jewish Community of Berlin has set up an arrival centre for Jewish refugees from Ukraine in their community centre at Fasanenstraße 79/89, 10623 Berlin.

Here you can obtain information about the further process, get food and drinks, see a doctor and find short-term accommodation. Interpreters are available on site.

Refugees arriving in Berlin receive an allocation decision from the State Office for Refugees (LAF). An allocation decision means that refugees are assigned to the various states across Germany. After being allocated to a state, all refugees have the possibility to request a residence permit and social services, including health insurance, in the state to which they were allocated. Refugees who can show proof of particular ties to Berlin, who have family ties in Berlin or who have a landlord certificate (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) are allocated to Berlin. If you have a trans* or inter* identity, then you will be allocated to Berlin. You can have a letter issued by the following LGBTQIA+ organisations: Quarteera e.V. and Schwulenberatung e. V.

If you have been allocated to another German state, then you will travel to the arrival centre in that state.

If you are allocated to Berlin, then you will be registered at the Arrival Centre Berlin. If you do not have accommodation in Berlin, you will receive temporary accommodation and meals and will receive a spot in Berlin’s state housing.

• Everyone allocated to Berlin can then use their registration number to submit an ‘online application for refugees from Ukraine for temporary protection’ to the State Office for Immigration (LEA)
• You have the right to receive social services, including health insurance, and can apply for these with the respective district Social Welfare Office
• For many of the next steps, it is very important that you register your place of residence
• After registering your place of residence or if you have a typical place of accommodation (e.g., LAF’s housing),you can register your children for school.
• If you are in need of special protection, you can find support here:
  • Offices and services for women
  • Information for refugees with a disability
  • Office for LGBTQIA+ refugees
  • Information for children and young people
  • Offices for people affected by discrimination
• From the first day of your arrival, you can take advantage of free advisory services such as migration advising or legal advising. You can find more information on the pages Your first days in Berlin: accommodation, support and practical tips and (currently only available in German) https://www.berlin.de/willkommenszentrum/ueber-uns/beratungsangebot/
• After sending the online application to the LEA, you will be shown a PDF document as confirmation. You must make sure to save the PDF document. This certifies that you are legally living in Germany and have the right to work. You can find more information on the page Working in Berlin.
• After submitting the online application to the LEA, you will be given an appointment. Please bring the completed application for issuing a residence permit and all required documents with you to the appointment.
• Ukrainian citizens and citizens of other countries who fulfil the requirements for a residence permit according to § 24 German Residence Act (AufenthG) receive the residence permit at the appointment or a fictional certificate for the duration of the process. The requirements for temporary protection can be found on the page Online application for residence permits.
• Citizens of other countries who do not directly fulfil the requirements for a residence permit according to § 24 AufenthG and who must undergo further review should take advantage of residence permit advising offered by the Berlin Welcome Centre (Link) after the first appointment with the LEA. During the second appointment with the LEA they can then get a fictional certificate that is valid until the LEA decides on the application.
• After you have received your residence permit or fictional certificate from the LEA, you have the right to receive more social welfare benefits. For this, you will need to submit an application to the Job Centre.
• Integration courses: Refugees from Ukraine can sign up for any of the courses supported by the BAMF. You can register for the integration courses by submitting a request to the BAMF. You can find more information on the page Your first days in Berlin: accommodation, support and practical tips.
• German language course: Refugees who do not have Ukrainian citizenship can and should participate in the German courses for refugees offered by the Berlin Adult Education Centres or register for a German course with private language course providers, which you will have to pay for yourself.