Germany continues to accept refugees from Ukraine under the temporary protection program Paragraph 24. Unfortunately, the camps are no longer open in all federal states. Find out more about the conditions of accommodation of Ukrainian refugees and the current conditions of camps in Germany as of May 2024

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Ukrainians arriving in Germany usually arrive at temporary reception centers, which are actually refugee shelters. After the first stage, they are distributed to the federal states. 

In February 2024, volunteers from uahelp.wiki emphasized that Ukrainians will have to be prepared to live for a long time in different places, such as hangars, dormitories, containers or gyms, and this may be far from large cities. This is due to the extremely difficult housing situation.

It is almost impossible to choose a federal state for registration, because even if a Ukrainian is placed in a particular camp in a particular state, there is no guarantee that he or she will stay there and not be redirected to another state. To move to another land, you need a special permit, which is granted only for a good reason: a job, a spouse, or minor children.

The uahelp.wiki website advises choosing the camp that is most convenient for you to get to, as all reception centers have approximately the same conditions. It is almost impossible to change the place of reception, the information about registration is one-time - after that, you will not be accepted in another place.

What awaits Ukrainian refugees upon arrival at temporary reception centers?

Ukrainian refugees receive state housing, which can be apartments, hotels, dormitories, former nursing homes, gyms, hangars, container towns, or even tents.  The state distributes refugees from different countries, such as Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and various countries in North and Central Africa. The main rule you need to be prepared for is the lack of opportunity to choose your own place and living conditions during the first months. Also, refugees may be resettled several times without the possibility of refusing to move. 

Another important thing to consider after moving to Germany is the bureaucracy that permeates almost everything here. The paperwork process requires a lot of filled out questionnaires, handwritten notes on paper, photographs, and sending letters by traditional mail. Agencies dealing with refugee issues act independently of each other, which leads to additional delays in the process.

Temporary protection status usually takes from four weeks to six months or even longer, depending on the circumstances. Finding housing and work can also take several months, as you need to have housing and a residence permit to obtain a work permit. All of these procedures require a lot of time and patience, and information about the status of documents and possible delays is very slow to come.

The issue of social assistance is also worth considering. Germany provides social assistance to refugees from Ukraine, including health insurance, at a level equivalent to that of unemployed citizens. 

Until your application for temporary protection is processed, you are entitled to social and health care benefits for refugees. However, the amount of this assistance is significantly less than the standard assistance and has its own peculiarities, especially in terms of health insurance. 

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Current addresses of reception centers for refugees in May 2024

Most refugees arrive at initial reception centers, the so-called “camps,” where they are further distributed to the federal states. However, it is impossible to predict exactly where you will be sent in advance.

After registration, you are obliged to live in the federal state to which you have been assigned. To move to another state, you need a special permit, which is issued only for valid reasons (e.g., employment, family circumstances).

There is little point in choosing between camps, as the conditions of stay are approximately the same in all of them. So it is better to choose the one that is most convenient for you to get to.

You can't change the reception centers at will. Once you have registered, you have only one opportunity, and you will not be accepted to register elsewhere.

All of the reception centers listed here are open 24/7.

Baden-Württemberg 

Currently, the reception centers in Baden-Württemberg often distribute 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. Therefore, you should not expect to stay in Baden-Württemberg.

Karlsruhe (Durlacher Allee 100, 76137 Karlsruhe). It is open around the clock, but nowadays it often redirects refugees to other federal states. You can drive your own car, but you need to park it outside the reception center. Refugees with animals larger than a cat are not accepted. 

Meßstetten (Geißbühlstraße 51, 72469 Meßstetten). It is located in an inaccessible place, so it is better to get there by car. Refugees with pets are not accepted. 

Freiburg (Basler Landstraße 16, 79111 Freiburg). Does not accept refugees in need of special medical care. Refugees with animals can live in this camp, but dogs must be on a leash at all times.

Bayern - Bavaria

München: Dachauer Str. 122a, 80637 München. This reception center is used for distribution to other camps in Bavaria. Refugees with pets are not always accepted. This is a big problem, because further distribution with animals is impossible, and shelters in Bavaria are overcrowded.

Berlin

Tegel (the old airport) is the largest initial reception center, from where refugees are resettled throughout the country. The territory is closed, you can get here only by special bus (you also need to leave your own car in the external parking lot).

Hessen - Hesse

Gießen (Rödgener Straße 59-61, 35394 Gießen Ankunftshalle). The reception center is open only on weekdays until 20.00. At other times, you may be admitted, but you will have to wait a very long time. As a last resort, go to the Bahnhofsmission in Frankfurt, where you will be accommodated for one night.

Schleswig-Holstein

Neumünster (Haart 148, 24359 Neumünster) is the basic reception center from which distribution to other camps continues.

Boostedt (Von-dem-Borne-Straße, 24598 Boostedt). Open around the clock, but now often redirects refugees to other federal states. Refugees are always accepted here with animals and even large dogs.

Remember that one of the prerequisites for staying abroad is to have health insurance. Thanks to insurance, you will be able to receive high-quality medical care without having to pay for it.

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 are planning to leave Ukraine by car, you should take care of obtaining a Green Card policy in advance, because without it, your car will not be allowed to cross the border. You can buy car insurance quickly and profitably on the Visit Ukraine website.

We remind you! The law on mobilization signed by the President in April provides for a number of changes for men, including mandatory updating of their personal data. Find out what ways men abroad can do this and what will happen if they do not update their accounts.