FAQs

No, unfortunately this is not possible. People are only eligible for the resettlement programme, if they are registered with the UNHCR in the countries of first refuge and are then selected as part of a complex procedure through UNHCR and the German federal authorities. There is no legal entitlement to a place in an admission programme, even a lawyer cannot help. 

Since 2015, resettlement refugees receive a residence permit according to section 23 (4) Residence Act (AufenthG). Frequenting the home embassy is considered unreasonable and a travel document for foreigners is issued in accordance with sections 5 and 6 of the Residence Ordinance (Aufenthaltsverordnung).  They are entitled to social benefits according to SGB II/ XII, may work and can participate in an integration course. In addition, privileged family reunification can be applied for. After three years at the earliest, a permanent residence permit can be obtained, after five years the conditions are easier to fulfil. For more information see the relevant admission orders.

Persons selected by UNHCR for resettlement must fulfil at least one of the following criteria: 

• Persecuted religious and ethnic minorities

• Legal and physical protection needs

• Survivors of violence and torture

• People with special medical needs

• Elderly refugees

• Women at risk

• Children and adolescents 

• Persons with no prospects of return and no integration opportunities in the first host country

• Persons whose family members are already in a third country

However, the German authorities are responsible for a decision of admission to Germany. These authorities have set up additional admission criteria, such as family ties to Germany and the ability to integrate (age, educational qualifications, language skills). 

Yes, it is possible for the nuclear family (underage children, spouse) to join you through family reunification. The notification for compliance with the deadline must be submitted within the first three months of the residence permit being issued according to section 29 (2) s. 2 Residence Act (AufenthG) (for further information see here).

No, this is not possible. In the case of humanitarian admission from Turkey, it is not possible for those seeking protection or acquaintances to apply independently. Persons have to be registered with the Turkish migration authority (DGMM) - they make a pre-selection and forward it to the UNHCR. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) in turn examines the UNHCR dossiers and, following individual interviews, makes a final decision on admission. 

People who enter Germany through the humanitarian admission programme from Turkey receive a residence permit under section 23 (2) Residence Act (AufenhG) upon arrival. They are entitled to social benefits according to SGB II/ XII, may work and can participate in an integration course. Unlike resettlement, however, it is not possible to apply for privileged family reunification.

Persons admitted through the humanitarian admission programme from Turkey are also required to present national passports. In exceptional cases, a travel document for foreigners can be applied for. If this might be the case for you, please contact an information centre. 

In these cases, family reunification is only possible according to section 29 (3) Residence Act (AufenthG). This means that special reasons under international law or humanitarian reasons must be presented, or reunification must be permitted to safeguard the political interests of the Federal Republic of Germany. In addition, the livelihood of the family members must be ensured in Germany.

The persons to be admitted must be recommended by authorised registration offices; individual registration is not possible. Authorised registration offices enter the required data and information in an IT application provided by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home Affairs. Access to the IT application is only possible after prior authentication by the Ministry of the Interior as an organisation authorised to register. Having ones data entered into the template does not constitute a confirmation of admission or a guarantee of entry to Germany. This requires further checks by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and the Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home Affairs. In addition, the procedures are very long and non-transparent.

Persons who are granted admission as part of the federal admission programme receive a residence permit according to section 23 (2) Residence Act (AufenthG) after entering the country. They are entitled to participate in an integration course, as well as to benefits according to SGB II/XII. 

A valid national passport is mandatory for entry. In exceptional cases, a travel document for foreigners can be applied for.

In these cases, family reunification is only possible according to section 29 (3) Residence Act  (AufenthG). This means that special reasons under international law or humanitarian reasons must be presented, or reunification must be permitted to safeguard the political interests of the Federal Republic of Germany. In addition, the livelihood of the family members must be ensured in Germany.

First and second-degree relatives (e.g. siblings, parents of adults, grandparents) of a family member living in Germany can be nominated for federal state admission programmes that run through so-called declarations of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärungen) and are considered as extended family reunification. This excludes the nuclear family, which must be reunited through the regular family reunification process. The prerequisite for the federal state admission programmes is that a declaration of commitment is signed in Germany for the first five years - this means that the applicant must pay for their own accommodation and living expenses. An overview of current federal state admission programmes can be found here.

It is not possible to register yourself or someone else for resettlement-like federal state admission programmes. Only persons who are registered with the UNHCR in the countries of first refuge and are then selected as part of a complex procedure through UNHCR and the German federal authorities can be accepted for these programmes. 

People who enter Germany through a federal state admission programme receive a residence permit according to section 23 (1) Residence Act (AufenthG) after arrival. They are not entitled to social benefits, but in most federal states, health insurance and an integration course are financed. The persons are allowed to work; however, they must reside in a certain area where the process was started until they take up employment subject to social insurance contributions in another federal state. Family reunification is restricted. 

A declaration of commitment is a guarantee in which a person liable for tax in Germany with a certain income guarantees that no state aid will be used for the person entering Germany for five years. This means that living expenses (rent, living costs, etc.) must be covered privately (health insurance costs are usually excluded). 

A declaration of commitment alone does not guarantee a spot in a federal state admission programme, but it is a mandatory requirement. The application must be submitted to the local immigration authority and will be processed there. There is no legal entitlement to a confirmation of admission.

The countries of admission are specified in the respective admission regulations (Aufnahmeanordnungen). 

Only people from Afghanistan are admitted via the Federal Reception Programme for Afghanistan; they leave for Germany via Pakistan. 

Syrian nationals and stateless persons are admitted via the current Humanitarian Admission Programme from Turkey. Resettlement admissions in 2024 are from Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Kenya, Rwanda, and Pakistan. 

Information on federal state admission programmes and the participating federal states can be found here. 

Both humanitarian aspects and public interests can have an influence on the decision for admission. The following criteria are referred to in the respective admission orders of the Ministry of the Interior (admission orders can be found here).

• Degree of special need for protection

• Protection of the family unity

• Family or other integration-promoting ties to Germany

• Ability to integrate (indicators: level of education and vocational training, work experience, language skills, age)

The decision of admission to Germany is the responsibility of the Federal Office of Migration and Refugees (BAMF). Following proposals submitted by the UNHCR, the Federal Office of Migration and Refugees conducts interviews with the persons concerned and then grants or rejects admission to Germany.

People who enter Germany through a humanitarian admission programme are subject to a residence requirement for the first three years according to section 12a Residence Act (AufenthG). This means that they cannot choose where to live, they are assigned to a town or village within Germany.  If they wish to move, they must apply to the local immigration office to have the residence requirement deleted. There are certain conditions that must be met in order for the residence requirement to be deleted, for example family and medical reasons or taking up an employment subject to social insurance contributions. 

Admission procedures are very complex. A graphic illustration can be found here:

No. This decision is made by the authorities and distribution takes place according to a system called Königsteiner Schlüssel. If certain conditions are met, such as family and medical reasons or taking up employment subject to social security contributions, the residence requirement can be deleted by the local immigration authority.

There is generally no resettlement from countries whose asylum systems comply with international law, as is the case in Germany. It is assumed that a permanent solution has already been found for persons admitted to those countries and that there is no need for a resettlement procedure.

In principle, no, as the residence permit granted through the admission programme expires with the application for asylum and the outcome of the asylum procedure is uncertain. However, there are few constellations in which it may make sense to apply for asylum. If you have any doubts, you should always consult a counselling centre concerning this matter.