Contracts, cost traps, doorstep selling, etc.

Much in Germany will be new to you; a number of things will appear familiar but will possibly function differently from in your home country. The consumer advice office can give you information on how to transfer money, on doorstep selling and much more besides; it will also give you warning information about cost traps. Cf. website below:

Informationen der Verbraucherzentrale (DEUTSCH, ENGLISCH, ARABISCH)

Having a driving licence recognized

Persons in possession of a driving licence from states which are not members of the EU or the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and who can verify their normal place of residence as being in the Federal Republic of Germany require a German driving licence. A normal place of residence is considered to exist when a person is not resident there only for a short time but for a longer period – expressed in simple terms, when such persons live there for at least 185 days in a year. However, a German driving licence will not be required immediately on entering the country. It is possible to drive those vehicles for which the licence is valid for six months after entering the country with a foreign driving licence.

As a rule, it is necessary to have a German-language translation for all foreign driving licences which are not issued in German. But there are exceptions to this rule. Before driving a vehicle in Germany with a foreign driving licence, refugees should contact the driving licence authorities responsible for the federal state in which they are resident. The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure provides detailed advice under the following link:

Minor work in house and garden in return for a small token of appreciation

Refugees and displaced persons are only permitted to take on minor work in house and garden without encountering problems when such work is not considered to be gainful employment. Under residence law, this applies both to freelance activity and to dependent employment. In addition, additional legal considerations which are also valid for all citizens of the country must be taken into consideration (Minimum Wages Act, Control of Unreported Employment Act, tax and social security obligations). The scope of activities which it is permitted to carry out without being affected by such legislation is an extremely narrow one. Only carrying out such minor work on a one-off basis may be viewed with impunity.

Opening a bank account

Refugees and displaced persons have the right to open a basic bank account.

News services

National and regional news for refugees can be found on the websites of the NDR (North German Radio/TV) networks.

Nachrichten aus der Region

Germany Guide

See following link:

Sendung mit der Maus (TV programme “with the mouse” - for children)

See following link:

„Marhaba“ – Ankommen in Deutschland (Arriving in Germany – NTV network programme)

This programme (see link below) gives an insight into everyday life in Germany in the Arabic language.

Refugee Radio

See following link:

Radio licence fees

Persons receiving benefits under the Asylum-Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG) are exempt from paying radio licence fees. In cases in which asylum-seekers nevertheless receive communications from the radio licence fee authority, they or the persons responsible for their welfare should inform the authority without delay that the person concerned has the status of an asylum-seeker. Only through such notification is it possible for the person receiving this communication to avoid being registered for radio licence fees and to prevent a payment demand from being issued. The same applies to recipients of unemployment benefits II, social welfare payments, old-age basic income support or student support under the Federal Education and Training Assistance Act (BAFÖG—BUNDESAUSBILDUNGSFÖRDERUNGSGESETZ). Notification forms are available under rundfunkbeitrag.de. Cf. also following link:

Sport

See following link:

Sport opportunities

Support in legal proceedings

See following link:

Support in legal proceedings

Insurance

Refugees and displaced persons – like all German citizens – are in the first instance all uninsured. This situation changes, for example, as soon as they take up gainful employment and/or take out private insurance cover. Apart from a few exceptions, asylum-seekers in Schleswig-Holstein are issued with an electronic health insurance card.