First days in Berlin: Accommodation, support services and practical tips

Ankunftszentrum Tegel

You are generally not obliged to register immediately after your arrival in Berlin. As a war refugee from Ukraine you may stay legally in Germany without a visa for a maximum of 90 days after your first entry. However, if you want to stay longer, find work or need social benefits, you must register.

Initial support in the Arrival Centre

If you do not have accommodation in Berlin, you can stay in the homes of private individuals or families. You can make a request for accommodation on www.helfendewaende.de even before you enter the country. Otherwise, go directly to the Ukraine Arrival Centre in Tegel.

Take the S-Bahn or U-Bahn to the station Jungfernheide. From there, shuttle bus number 410 will take you to the Ukraine Arrival Centre at the former Berlin-Tegel airport. This bus also stops at the U-Bahn station Jakob-Kaiser-Platz and at the General-Ganeval-Brücke. You cannot reach the airport by foot! The shuttle bus is free of charge and a bus comes every 10 minutes. The shuttle bus will also take you from the Ukraine Arrival Centre back to the Jungfernheide station.

Alternatively, you can take bus number 109 from the stations Zoo or Charlottenburg and transfer to the shuttle bus 410 at General-Ganeval-Brücke. Please note: You must pay the regular BVG fare to take bus 109.

There you will be temporarily accommodated and cared for. Afterwards, you will be moved on to accommodation in Berlin or in another German federal state. You will then receive your accommodation, social benefits and medical care at your destination.

Registration and temporary residence permit

You are not required immediately to register as a war refugee and apply for a residence permit for temporary protection. You may stay in Germany for a maximum of 90 days after your initial arrival without a visa or residence permit.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community has passed an ordinance on this matter. The 90-day rule applies if you enter Germany until March 04, 2025, without a visa and without a biometric form of identification. Then you are still staying legally in Germany and are entitled to support. For Ukrainian citizens and people who have a refugee status in Ukraine, the following applies in addition: You may legally stay in Germany even if you were not in Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

However, if you wish to stay longer, work or need social benefits, you have to register and apply for the temporary residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis).

For this, the first step is to report to the Arrival Centre at the former Tegel Airport. The Arrival Centre will check whether you can stay in Berlin or whether you will be allocated to another German federal state. If you have relatives in Berlin, or you have found permanent accommodation or a job, or if you have a trans* or inter* identity, you will generally be allowed to stay. If you are allocated to Berlin, you will also be registered immediately at the Arrival Centre. Among other things, your fingerprints will be taken and photos will be taken of you.

Subsequently, you can apply for a temporary residence permit online. You can access the online application here. After you have filled out the application, you are allowed to work and apply for social benefits.

Registering your residence in Berlin

Registering your residence is important for many further steps. For example, for children and young people to attend school and daycare.

To register your residence, you will need your passport and, if possible, confirmation of your address – what is called a “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” in German (housing provider confirmation). You can get this from your landlord or the main tenant of the place you are living. You can download a sample form here (PDF – in German).

You do not need an appointment, but you must be prepared to wait. You can register your residence at the following Residents’ Registration Offices (Bürgerämter) depending on where you live:

District of residence Location of Residents’ Registration Offices
Mitte, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Neukölln Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Pankow, Marzahn-Hellersdorf, Lichtenberg, Reinickendorf, Treptow-Köpenick Residents’ Registration Office for Refugees
Flüchtlingsbürgeramt
Rathaus Tiergarten
Mathilde-Jacob-Platz
10551 Berlin
Go to location
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Spandau Residents’ Registration Office for Refugees
Flüchtlingsbürgeramt
Hohenzollerndamm 174-177
10713 Berlin
Go to location

If you are moving home within Berlin, you must re-register. To do this, you can go to any Citizens’ Registration Office (Bürgeramt) in Berlin, but you must make an appointment in advance. Go to the overview of the Citizens’ Registration Offices (Bürgerämter) in Berlin.

German SIM cards: services and conditions

SIM cards are not expensive in Germany and you do not need a contract when buying them. However, to buy a SIM card in a shop or activate it online, you have to show an identity document – e.g. your passport. That is obligatory in Germany. Some providers such as Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone are offering refugees special prepaid rates.

Opening an account in Germany

You can open what is called a “basic account” in most banks. This enables you to deposit and withdraw money, make bank transfers, arrange direct debit mandates and set up standing orders. The charges for a basic account vary, depending on the bank. To open an account you only need proof of identity – e.g. your passport. If you want to open a regular giro account you will need more documents, depending on the bank.

Changing money

Since the end of October 2022, it has no longer been possible to exchange hryvnia into euros. The Ukrainian Central Bank continues to recommend to all people who are fleeing or have already fled Ukraine that they do not withdraw hryvnia to get cash but, if possible, leave it in their account and make cashless payments when in other countries. That, however, is only possible with international money cards such as credit cards. Sometimes Ukrainian refugees in Germany and other EU countries can withdraw cash from automated teller machines (ATMs) with an international money card. But frequently this creates problems.

Advisory Centre in Park Center Treptow

Refugees from Ukraine can receive support for administrative and bureaucratic issues at the Advisory Centre LARO in Park Center Treptow (Treptower Park 14, 12435 Berlin). This also includes assistance with filling out forms, writing response letters or booking appointments. At the Centre, Ukrainian refugees can also request a Ukrainian passport or driving licence. The Centre is open from Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Learning German

Support in everyday life: Tandem projects and counseling services

In tandem projects, people with and without a background of immigration meet as partners. The tandem partnerships support refugees in their everyday lives – whether through helping with visits to government authorities, joint leisure activities or simply through having regular contact. Other services for support, advice and making contact are also available.

Further information

Beratung im Callcenter

Migration advice center for adult immigrants

If you need advice, for example on the registration of your children for school, attending a German course or looking for a job, contact a migration advice center for adult immigrants (MBE). More information

Laptop

Online application for residence permits

Online application for residence permits for the purpose of temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine. More information

Willkommenszentrum Berlin

Counselling Service at the Welcome Centre

The Welcome Centre, the advisory centre of the Commissioner of the Berlin Senate for Integration and Migration, supports you in matters of legal or social counselling and other questions concerning arrival and residence. Counselling is offered in several languages. More information

Regenbogenflagge in Berlin

Contact points for LGBTI refugees

Berlin is rainbow city and supports LGBTI refugees along with many projects and institutions. LGBTI refugees can get support at at lot of contact points in the city. More information

Brandenburger Tor

Arrival: Important information for refugees from Ukraine

Berlin welcomes you! Below you will find the most important information on entering Germany, residence status and assistance available to you. More information