Information for refugees with a residency permit acc. to § 24 AufenthG
20. November 2025:
On November 19, 2025, the government passed a new law stipulating that Ukrainian refugees who obtain a residence permit under Section 24 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) for the first time after March 31, 2025, will no longer receive "Bürgergeld", but rather benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG). These benefits are lower than the previous benefits under SGB II and SGB XII. BAföG is not affected by this.
Please note: The law is not yet in force! It still has to be discussed by various committees.
The following applies to refugees from Ukraine who:
have a residence permit in accordance with Section 24 (1) of the Residence Act, provided that this was issued for the first time after March 31, 2025, unless
they were first issued with a fictitious certificate in accordance with Section 81 (5) in conjunction with Section 3 of the Residence Act until March 31, 2025,
or were granted another residence permit for the first time in the period from March 4, 2022, to March 31, 2025.
Nothing will change for anyone who entered the country before April 1, 2025.
Even after the change to the AsylbLG, refugees from Ukraine will continue to have immediate access to the labor market and be entitled to medical care. It will still be possible to switch to longer-term residence permits, e.g., for study, training, or work.
Persons who are subject to an enforceable obligation to leave the country and who have already been granted temporary protection in another EU member state, which continues to apply, are only entitled to transitional benefits.
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Extension of important rules for people who fled from Ukraine
Because the war in Ukraine is still going on, the European Union decided in June 2025 to continue protection for people from Ukraine.
Germany has also extended its rules.
1. Entering Germany without a visa
The following people can enter Germany without a visa until 4 December 2025 and stay for 90 days:
Ukrainian citizens
Stateless persons and people from other countries (not Ukraine), if they:
Had international or national protection in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, or
Are family members of such persons, or
Had a valid permanent residence permit under Ukrainian law and were living in Ukraine on 24 February 2022
2. Extension of residence permits
Anyone who already has a residence permit in accordance with Section 24 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) will automatically receive an extension until March 4, 2027.
Under the Ukraine Residence Permit Continuation Ordinance, residence permits for temporary protection that are still valid as of February 1, 2026, will be automatically extended until March 4, 2027. These were and are granted in accordance with Section 24 (1) of the Residence Act to foreigners who entered Germany due to the war in Ukraine. Refugees do not need to visit the relevant immigration office to obtain an extension.
This applies to:
Ukrainian citizens who lived in Ukraine before 24 February 2022
Stateless people and people from other countries (not Ukraine) who:
Had protection in Ukraine or
Had a permanent residence permit in Ukraine and lived there legally on 24 February 2022
Their family members
For third-country nationals who have fled from Ukraine to Germany and did not have permanent Ukrainian residence rights in Ukraine, the Ukraine Residence Permit Continuation Ordinance (UkraineAufenthalthFGV) will no longer apply as of March 5, 2025. This means that their current residence status as persons entitled to temporary protection will no longer be valid from this date.
Important: Ukrainian citizens who first fled to another country and got a temporary or permanent residence permit there (for example, to study), and do not have temporary protection under § 24 in Germany, cannot get a § 24 residence permit in Germany anymore.
Ukrainian citizens who were in Ukraine shortly before or on 24 February 2022 can enter Germany without a visa. They can stay without a visa for up to 90 days.
The same rule also applies to:
Stateless persons or people from other countries who had international protection or similar protection in Ukraine on 24 February 2022
Family members of these persons
Stateless persons or third-country nationals who had a permanent residence permit for Ukraine on 24 February 2022
What do you need to do?
If you want to stay in Germany for more than 90 days, you must apply for a residence permit (see chapter below: "Residence permit for temporary protection according to Section 24 of the Residence Act").
While you are waiting for a decision of the Immigration Office:
You are allowed to work
You can apply for social benefits (for example, money for rent, food, etc.)
You do not need a biometric passport or a Schengen visa to enter Germany.
The 90-day rule applies if you enter Germany without a visa before 4 December 2025. Then you are legally staying in Germany and can get support.
If you belong to the group of people mentioned in the chapter "Entry from Ukraine," you can apply for a residence permit under § 24 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG). This means: You are applying for temporary protection in Germany.
If you have been assigned to Berlin, you can apply for the residence permit online at the Berlin Immigration Office (LEA). You can find the online application and more information at: berlin.de/ukraine/en
What happens while you wait? While your application is still being processed, you will receive a “Fiktionsbescheinigung” (fictional certificate).
This is an official document that shows: You are legally allowed to stay in Berlin, even though your application is not finished yet.
If you already have a residence permit under § 24 AufenthG for a longer time, it will be automatically extended. You will not get a new card. So even if the expiration date on your card has passed, the residence permit is still valid.
With a residence permit under § 24 AufenthG, you can:
Study in Germany
Work without limits
Get social benefits like BAföG or Bürgergeld if you meet the other requirements
Usually, you are required to live in a specific place (this is called a residence obligation)
The permit is valid until 4 March 2026, unless the rule is extended again
Disclaimer: The advice and assistance provided by the Center for Student Refugees is subject to careful examination of the content. However, we do not assume any liability for the content. All advice and assistance are of a general nature and cannot cover every individual case in a binding manner. If you have any further questions, we will be happy to help.
