Seeking protection in Germany - an orientation to asylum and temporary protection

In Berlin, newly arriving people seeking protection - including people from Ukraine - go to the arrival centre (Ankunftszentrum) of the State Office for Refugee Affairs and Accommodation (Landesamt für Flüchtlingsangelegenheiten und Unterbringung, LFU; until April 2026 called LAF):

Oranienburger Straße 285, Haus 2, 13437 Berlin (Reinickendorf, on the grounds of the former Karl-Bonhoeffer-Nervenklinik). Public transport: U8 and buses M21, X21 and N8 to S+U Karl-Bonhoeffer-Nervenklinik.

At registration, the LFU carries out a health screening, takes fingerprints and checks identity and security databases. A nationwide quota system decides whether you stay in Berlin (Berlin takes roughly 5% of asylum seekers) or are sent to another federal state. If you stay, you receive an arrival certificate (Ankunftsnachweis); if you are allocated elsewhere, you receive a certificate telling you where to go. Social workers check whether you have particular protection needs - for example illness, pregnancy, disability, trauma, or being LGBTIQ+ - and you receive accommodation, meals, a small cash allowance and medical care if you have no means. People from Ukraine receive temporary accommodation and, where needed, an appointment at the LFU's administrative site at the former Tegel airport.

Check the LFU's arrival page for current opening hours before you go.

This is a simplified overview. Your counselling service can explain how each step applies to you.

1. Asking for protection. You can ask for asylum at the border, to the police or another authority, or directly at an arrival centre. You are then registered and sent to a reception facility.
2. Screening. Since the EU reform (from 12 June 2026), people who entered the EU irregularly go through a short screening: identity, biometric data, health and security checks, and an assessment of special needs.
3. Formal application and responsibility check. You file your application with the BAMF. The BAMF also checks whether another EU country is responsible for your application under EU rules (previously known as the Dublin procedure). During the procedure you receive a permission to stay (Aufenthaltsgestattung). Keep it safe and report a loss to the police.
4. Personal interview (Anhörung). This is the most important step: you explain in your own words why you left and what you fear on return. Prepare with a counselling service beforehand. Since the reform, interviews are audio-recorded for the file.
5. Decision. The BAMF decides whether you receive entitlement to asylum (under Article 16a of the Basic Law, for political persecution), refugee protection (based on the Geneva Refugee Convention), subsidiary protection (if you would face serious harm on return), or a national ban on deportation - or rejects the application. Since the EU reform, the definitions of refugee status and subsidiary protection come directly from EU law. Each status comes with a different residence permit and different rights, for example for family reunification.
6. Legal remedy. If you disagree with the decision, you can bring a case before the administrative court. The deadline is usually two weeks from delivery of the decision, and one week in some cases. These deadlines are strict - contact a counselling service or lawyer immediately when you receive a letter from the BAMF.

Since the reform, there are three procedure types with target durations: a regular procedure (six months), an accelerated procedure (at most three months, for example for applicants from countries with a protection rate of 20% or less), and a border procedure (twelve weeks) at external borders, which in Germany means airports and seaports.

Current validity. The EU has extended temporary protection for people displaced from Ukraine until 4 March 2028 (Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912). In Germany, residence permits under section 24 that were valid on 1 February 2026 were automatically extended until 4 March 2027, including the right to work, by federal ordinance; no application is needed and existing cards are not reissued. How permits will be extended beyond 4 March 2027 in line with the EU decision is announced by the federal government and the LEA - check the LEA news page and Germany4Ukraine.

New rule for military obligations. Since the EU decision took effect in summer 2026, people newly applying for temporary protection who are subject to military obligations under Ukrainian law - in practice mainly men of mobilisation age - generally have to show that they comply with these obligations or are exempt, for example with an exit stamp or a record in the Reserv+ app. People who already had temporary protection are not affected. Those who do not qualify can still apply for asylum, which is examined individually.

Protection in another EU country. If you have already received temporary protection in another EU member state, you are generally no longer covered by Germany's simplified entry rules. Ask a counselling service before moving.

In Berlin. Register first at the arrival centre (see above). Only once you have been allocated to Berlin can you apply for the section 24 residence permit through the online application. The PDF you receive after submitting certifies that your stay is permitted and that you may take up any employment; the LEA then emails you an appointment - check your spam folder.

Benefits. People with a section 24 permit who need support have been receiving Bürgergeld through the Jobcenter. A federal bill (Leistungsrechtsanpassungsgesetz) would move people who arrived on or after 1 April 2025 to benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act instead. As of mid-2026 it was still in the parliamentary process; ask the Jobcenter or the LFU about the current situation.

• Asylum procedure counselling (Asylverfahrensberatung). The federal government funds counselling that is independent of the authorities, free, confidential and voluntary. It should start before your interview and can continue until a final decision. Since the 2026 reform, the BAMF also offers free legal information about the procedure; independent counselling remains separate from it.
• Berlin Welcome Center (Willkommenszentrum Berlin), run by the Berlin Senate's Commissioner for Integration and Migration: free, multilingual counselling including legal advice on migration law. Potsdamer Straße 61, 10785 Berlin; appointments by phone on +49 30 9017-23172 (Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10:00-12:00) or by email to beratung@intmig.berlin.de.
• Flüchtlingsrat Berlin (Berlin Refugee Council), an NGO. It is not itself a counselling centre, but offers telephone first contact and referral (Monday to Thursday 10:00-15:00) and publishes lists of free counselling centres for asylum seekers in Berlin and of lawyers specialising in asylum and residence law.
• LFU social services for people with particular needs, available through the LFU.

If you need a lawyer and cannot afford one, ask about legal aid (Beratungshilfe and Prozesskostenhilfe); see the legal help guide.

• Keep your address up to date with the BAMF, the LFU and the immigration office. Official letters are delivered to your registered address, and deadlines start running when a letter is delivered - even if you do not read it.
• Open your post every day and get any letter from the BAMF or a court translated and explained quickly.
• Keep copies of every document you submit and receive.
• Distribution and place of residence. You generally cannot choose the federal state or town you are allocated to. Tell the staff at registration about close family members already in Germany and any special needs.
• Work and courses. Whether and when you may work or attend an integration course depends on your status and situation. Ask the LFU or your counselling service.