Applying for a residence permit for refugees

If you have been granted refugee protection by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, apply for a residence permit at the immigration authority responsible for you.

You must be granted a residence permit (legal entitlement) if you have been recognized by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees as a foreign refugee within the meaning of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 28 July 1951 (so-called Convention refugee). However, you may not be granted a residence permit if you have been deported due to a particularly serious reason for deportation (e.g. conviction for an intentional criminal offense resulting in imprisonment or a juvenile sentence of at least two years).

Until the residence permit is issued, your stay is deemed to be permitted by law.

The residence permit entitles you to pursue gainful employment.

The residence permit is issued for three years and can be extended thereafter.

For three years, you are subject to a residence requirement for the federal state in which you have been assigned to carry out the asylum procedure. The residence regulation does not apply or can be lifted if you, your spouse, registered partner or a minor child take up employment subject to social security contributions with at least 15 hours per week and a minimum income that is above the average monthly requirement according to the German Social Code (SGB) (currently 723 euros), or take up vocational training or studies. The employment must also be sustainable. This is assumed if your employment relationship is expected to last for more than three months.

You are entitled to social benefits (basic income support for jobseekers or basic income support in old age or in the event of reduced earning capacity), child benefit, parental benefit and educational support

Family reunification for your spouse or underage children is possible. The foreigners authority may, at its discretion, grant a residence permit to the spouse or minor child of a recognized refugee who is joining them despite the fact that they are unable to secure their livelihood and there is insufficient living space. If the application for family reunification is submitted within three months of the residence permit being issued and it is not possible to establish the family partnership in a third country, there is a legal entitlement to the permit being issued.

You are entitled to attend an integration course. When issuing the residence permit, the immigration authority will also determine ex officio whether you are entitled to attend an integration course. If this is the case, it will issue you with a certificate of eligibility. At the same time, you will also receive a list of course providers in your area where you can register on presentation of your certificate of eligibility.

You must be granted a settlement permit if you

• have held a residence permit for five years,
• if the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has not informed you that the requirements for revocation or withdrawal have been met,
• have sufficient knowledge of the German language (level A 2),
• can support yourself and your family (community of need) mainly (at least 51%) from your own income.
• Your stay does not jeopardize or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany,
• are allowed to pursue gainful employment and have all the necessary permits,
• you have a basic knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in the Federal Republic of Germany,
• have sufficient living space for yourself and your family.

If you are able to support yourself and your family mainly (at least 75%) from your own income and have a command of the German language (equivalent to level C 1), you will be granted a settlement permit if you have been in possession of a residence permit for three years.