Some federal states of Germany continue to accept refugees from Ukraine and provide them with assistance, but since March, Ukrainians have faced problems entering the country. Here are the current addresses of refugee camps, accommodation conditions, and changes in entry rules

Legal assistance for Ukrainians on migration issues

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Currently, some European countries are recording an outflow of refugees from Ukraine. At the same time, Germany is one of the few countries where the flow of Ukrainians continues unabated. At the same time, Germany is chosen by a considerable number of people to relocate and obtain repeated temporary protection. However, since March 4, Ukrainians have faced delays and additional checks when entering the country.

Here are the details of the changes in the rules, the current addresses of the camps that accept Ukrainians, and the conditions of refugee accommodation in Germany as of April 2024.

First entry to Germany after 04.03.2024: difficulties and conditions

The uahelp.wiki portal notes that since March 4, there have been difficulties with entering Germany, in particular due to the complication of entry rules for those traveling for the first time. 

"The situation with entry has become very troubled, there are many cases of people being detained," the portal warns, adding that "this situation will last at least until the end of May 2024."

According to the portal, most of the known cases of problems and refusals occurred at all airports when arriving from non-Schengen countries, as well as at the land border with Bavaria. Therefore, volunteers advise avoiding these routes.

At the same time, there are still problems with housing in Germany, so Ukrainians should be prepared to live in hangars, dormitories, containers or gyms for a long time, not necessarily near a large city. 

Is the UkraineAufenthÜV special resolution no longer in effect? How do I enter Germany?

According to the current rules, the UkraineAufenthÜV resolution, which granted Ukrainians the right to enter Germany, has not been in force since March of this year and, accordingly, is not a basis for crossing the border. Formally, it is valid until June 03, 2024, but only for the stay of those who entered Germany before March 03, 2024.

Accordingly, those entering for the first time must have other grounds during border control. Such grounds may include:

– a visa or a valid residence permit;

– visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens if its conditions are met (biometric passport, sufficient funds for the trip and medical insurance, short-term travel purposes such as tourism or visiting relatives, etc;)

– entry as part of an asylum application (Asyl).

At the same time, the portal emphasizes that the purpose of the trip "fleeing from war/going to apply for temporary protection" is not "short-term" and therefore does not strictly follow the letter of the law for visa-free travel. And border guards have the right (and the duty!) to refuse entry to anyone who does not have sufficient grounds for entry.

At the same time, official agencies have not made any specific statements to date and avoid questions and requests from NGOs and other authorities regarding the current situation and problems at the borders.

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Which German states are accepting refugees in April: addresses of camps

Remember that it is almost impossible to choose a federal state for registration, because even if a Ukrainian arrives at a particular camp in a particular state, there is no guarantee that he or she will stay there and will not be redirected to another federal state. To move to another state, you will need to obtain a special permit, but it is granted only if there is a good reason (job, spouse, minor children).

There is also no possibility to change the reception center (camp). Ukrainians are given one opportunity to register - after that, they will not be accepted elsewhere.

As of April 7, 2024, the following initial reception camps for refugees from Ukraine were opened:

Berlin

▶Tegel (old airport) - the largest initial reception center, from where refugees are resettled throughout the country. The territory is closed and can only be accessed by a special bus (you must also leave your own car in the external parking lot). All the necessary information, including the contact number of the center, is available here.

Baden-Württemberg

Currently, the majority of refugees from reception centers in Baden-Württemberg are distributed to other federal states, including Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. The decision on distribution to any state is made on a case-by-case basis by an automated system, so there are no guarantees. As of April 7, the following camps are operating:

▶ Karlsruhe (Durlacher Allee 100, 76137 Karlsruhe) - open, but often distributes to other federal states. You can arrive by car, but refugees with large (larger than a cat) pets are not accepted here.

▶ Meßstetten (Geißbühlstraße 51, 72469 Meßstetten) - open, but often distributes to other federal states. Keep in mind that it is difficult to get here by public transport, it is better to drive. Since April this year, it has not accepted refugees with animals!

▶ Freiburg (Basler Landstraße 16, 79111 Freiburg) - open, but often distributes to other federal states. Please note that the center does not accept people who need special medical care and cannot take care of themselves. However, small pets are allowed (they must stay with their owners at all times, dogs must be on a leash at all times).

Bayern

▶ München (Dachauer Str. 122a, 80637 München) - from the reception center there is a distribution in Bavaria. However, it should be borne in mind that since February 2024, problems have been reported here for those arriving with pets (further distribution with animals is impossible, and shelters are overcrowded).

Hessen

▶ Gießen (Rödgener Straße 59-61, 35394 Gießen Ankunftshalle) - it is advisable to arrive before 20:00 on weekdays. If you are arriving late and without a car, contact the Bahnhofsmission in Frankfurt, they can accommodate you for one night.

Saarland

▶ Lebach (Schlesierallee 17, 66822 Lebach) - works and accepts refugees from Ukraine.

Nordrhein-Westfalen

▶ Bochum (Gersteinring 50, 44791 Bochum, Erstaufnahmeeinrichtung) - works and accepts refugees from Ukraine.

Schleswig-Holstein

▶ Neumünster (Haart 148, 24359 Neumünster) - works and receives, but distributes to other reception centers.

▶ Boostedt (Von-dem-Borne-Straße, 24598 Boostedt) - works with and accepts pets, including large dogs

▶ Seeth (Hauptstraße 100, 23845 Seeth) - accepts pets, including large dogs

Thüringen

▶ Hermsdorf (Max-Hellermann-Straße 15, 07629 Hermsdorf) - works with and accepts refugees from Ukraine.

Please remember that one of the prerequisites for staying abroad is the availability of health insurance, and due to the complication of border crossing rules, border services may actively check the availability of appropriate insurance. At the same time, it is important to understand that with insurance, you will be able to receive high-quality medical care without having to pay for it and will be protected from unforeseen situations even when you are far from home.

You can buy insurance online in a few clicks here. A ready-made insurance policy will be sent to your email in a few minutes. 

If you need legal advice on entering Germany and obtaining temporary protection, please contact Visit Ukraine lawyers. Our specialists will answer all your questions, help you solve your immediate problems and collect or submit the necessary documents.

You can order a legal consultation or full legal support by following this link.

We remind you! Refugees from Ukraine have the right to drive a car with Ukrainian registration in Germany, but the time limit is limited by several regulations. Read how long you can drive a car with Ukrainian license plates in Germany and how to register a vehicle in our previous article.

Photo: picture alliance/dpa

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