Frequently asked questions for people affected by the Ukraine crisis.
Ukrainian nationals in possession of a biometric passport are exempt from the visa requirement for short stays of no more than 90 days per 180-day period.
Ukrainian nationals who not are in possession of a biometric passport require a so-called Schengen visa for short stays. In the absence of a visa, identity will be determined by the Federal Police upon entry.
In these cases, entry into the territory of the EU, and thus also into Germany, is not allowed. According to reports, this group of people often includes children lacking their own passports or for whom an entry in the mother's passport has not yet been applied for. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that members of this group of persons (not only children) will also have left Ukraine as a result of war activities.
The Council of the European Union passed a resolution on 4 March 2022 declaring the existence of a massive influx of refugees according to Article 5 par. 1 of Regulation 2001/55/EU of the Council of 20 July 2001 fixing minimum standards for provision of temporary protection. This regulation was published on 4 March 2022 in the EU Official Gazette and went into effect the same day.
With the ordinance of 7 March 2022, the Federal German Ministry of the Interior stipulated that foreign nationals who were in Ukraine on 24 February and travelled to Germany are retroactively, from 24 February to 23 May 2022, exempted from the residence permit requirement (Temporary Ukraine Residence Ordinance). Their residence is therefore allowed up to that point – regardless of whether they hold a visa. The Ministry of the Interior has published information regarding the main legal framework conditions currently in force on its homepage.
Members of this group of persons whose visa-free stay is coming to an end can apply for a residence permit during their legal residence in Germany. The immigration / foreign nationals offices of the districts and independent cities are competent in these matters.
In such cases, both the period of validity and the period of stay of a Schengen visa may be extended free of charge if the visa holder is prevented by force majeure or humanitarian reasons from leaving the territory of the Member States before expiry of the visa. Due to the current armed conflict, apparently affecting the entire territory of Ukraine, the presence of force majeure circumstances can be assumed.
Due to the special circumstances in Ukraine, it is currently, and until further notice, unreasonable for Ukrainian nationals already residing in Germany to undergo the formally required visa procedure before a residence permit is issued.
The resolution passed by the Council of Europe on 04 March 2022 confirming a massive influx of refugees according to Article 5 par. 1 of Regulation 2001/55/EC renders § 24 of the Residence Act directly applicable.
Under certain circumstances, a stay in Schleswig-Holstein can be made use of to take gainful employment. In any case, this requires a residence permit or probationary certificate issued by a foreign nationals and immigration authority.
Ukrainian citizens who have a residence permit or are staying in Germany without a visa are generally not obliged to live in reception facilities. The obligation to register and reside in a reception centre normally applies when an asylum application has been made. Then the general asylum regulations for admission and (nationwide) distribution apply.
Further regulations on the basis of the decision of the European Council are currently being drawn up by the Federal Government.
Federal Ministry for Migration and Refugees: The stages of the asylum procedure
Regardless of individual residence status, a voluntary departure with the destination Ukraine is currently not expected in any case. The promotion of voluntary departures to Ukraine through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is also currently suspended.
The information available on this situation is still not definitive. However, the Ministry of the Interior assumes that travel to Ukraine is currently and for the time being impossible or only possible with unacceptable risks to life and limb. Of course, this also affects Ukrainian nationals who are currently staying in Schleswig-Holstein for various reasons. There are reports of attacks throughout the country. The Ukrainian government has therefore imposed martial law on its territory.
In this context, Ukraine's airspace has been closed to civil air traffic. In addition, crossing the Ukrainian borders on land in both directions is likely to be impossible or possible to a limited extent only.
In view of this situation, deportations to Ukraine are currently virtually impossible.
It is unclear at the moment how many Ukrainians will flee or be expelled from their home country and subsequently enter Germany. The admission quotas of the German States for persons seeking asylum or for whom the European Council has confirmed so-called "mass influx" are based on the so-called "Königstein Key". For Schleswig-Holstein, this means an admission rate of 3.4%.
Ukrainians who are granted temporary protection may have entered the country directly or have been accommodated briefly by the State Office of Immigration and Refugees. In keeping with their residence location requirements, they can stay with relatives or friends, can seek housing on their own, or they will be allotted accommodations by the communities as needed, which latter are obligated to provide accommodations according to the State Temporary Accommodations Act if the State Office confirms their allotment. Within this framework, the foreign nationals authorities must report persons who did not arrive in the country under the auspices of the State Office.
Depending on the local situation, accommodations will be provided in shared housing or in a flat. If these accommodations are not available due to massive influx, the communities may have to make emergency accommodations available.
Minors are considered unaccompanied if they enter the country without persons with custodial or guardianship rights; they are then considered to be “unaccompanied minor foreign nationals”.
Persons with rights of custody are normally the parents. Guardians are defined as persons of legal age who are assuming custodial duties in agreement with the parents that are more than temporary and do not apply solely to individual duties. This agreement need not be in writing. The local Youth Office will determine whether legal guardianship applies in specific cases.
When unaccompanied arrival of a child or youth is registered, the child or youth is initially entrusted to the care of the competent local Youth Office in a youth welfare facility, in some other form of accommodation or with a suitable care person. Suitable persons can be foster parents or other persons to whom the child or youth has developed a good relationship as a refugee.
The Youth Office responsible for standard welfare accommodation will arrange for designation of a legal guardian or supplemental care provider and decide what type of welfare is to apply to care of the child, his or her accommodation and other care.
Further information: Arrival in Schleswig-Holstein – Unaccompanied Minors
If you become aware of unaccompanied minors or would like to help by providing accommodations for children or youths from Ukraine, please contact the Youth Office in your community or city.
In Schleswig-Holstein there is a network including many offices providing counselling and support. There are immigration counselling offices for adult immigrants and the Immigration Counselling Office Schleswig-Holstein. These offices offer help starting on the first day regarding many questions of importance to you, e.g.
and will refer you to the responsible authorities.
Youth immigration services are available for young refugees and their families who come to Germany.
All of these services are open and free of charge to Ukrainians. However, you may be issued an appointment with a waiting period.
Ukrainians of both sexes will in most cases take part in integration courses. Integration courses usually last 600 hours and impart sufficient levels of oral and written language skills. Integration courses conclude with an examination. A so-called B1 Certificate can be obtained.
Detailed information on the integration courses: BAMF – Federal Office for Immigration and Refugees – Integration Courses
The BAMF-NAvI shows where integration courses are offered. To participate, you must apply for admission with the Regional Office of the Federal Office for Immigration and Refugees in 24539 Neumünster, Brachenfelder Straße 45. The sponsor of your language course can help with the application.
Ukrainians of both sexes can also attend initial orientation courses and STAFF courses. In these courses you will learn important things about everyday life in Germany and about locally available counselling and services while at the same time learning to speak the German language.
Here you will find information on the initial orientation courses
A STAFF Basic Course takes 300 hours. Here you will find additional information on the STAFF courses
Here you can see where initial orientation courses and STAFF courses begin or are already in progress: https://www.deutschkurs-sh.de/
The MiA (Female Immigrants Master Everyday Life) Courses are for women only. These courses take 34 hours and give women a chance to talk about various things and learn German while doing so. Shared outings help develop contacts with other women.
Federal Office for Migration and Refugees: Female Immigrants Master Everyday Life
If your German is already fluent enough you can also attend a professional language course. A work permit is a prerequisite. To find out if a professional language course is the right thing for you, contact an Immigration Counselling Office or the Employment Agency.
Federal Office for Migration and Refugees: German at Work
Ukrainians of both sexes have access to all of the language courses listed above. A residence permit acc. to § 24 Residence Act is required. A probationary certificate should include a reference to future issue of said permit so you can participate in a course as soon as possible.
Participation in the courses is free of charge. Transportation costs can also be remunerated. You will automatically be released from the cost contribution obligation when you register for an integration course. Documentation is not required.
You must expect some waiting time before getting into a course, since they are very popular. Many service offices also offer courses given by honorary instructors at which you can also learn German without a residence permit.
In some integration courses, initial orientation courses or STAFF courses it is possible to leave your children with child supervisors when you are attending the course. If you require child supervision while attending a course, ask your language course sponsor ahead of time where the child supervision is on offer. The sponsor will help you find the right offer for you so you can learn German even if you have children in your care.
Some language courses are also provided online. If you wish to attend an online course, speak with your sponsor about a suitable course for you. Tablets can also be borrowed for this purpose if you do not have a suitable device.
The International Organization for Immigration, together with the nationwide Coordination Centre Against Human Trafficking e.V., has put out a flyer that explicitly addresses persons at risk of falling victim to human trafficking when crossing borders. The flyer also includes contact data for the "Emergency Phone Number to Combat Violence to Women".
International Organization for Immigration: Information for people fleeing from Ukraine
Ukraine is a non-listed third country in which cases of rabies occur in household pets.
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture: Conditions for entering Germany with pet animals
Ukrainians are distributed to the municipalities after their stay in the reception facilities/state accommodations. Schleswig-Holsteiners who want to provide private housing for accommodation should therefore first contact their municipal or official administration.
Ukrainians will be distributed to the municipalities after their stay in the state accommodations. Residents of Schleswig-Holstein who wish to volunteer should therefore first inquire with aid organisations in their community or the competent administrative offices.
Donation accounts are published on the pages of non-profit aid organizations and charities.
