Did you receive a protection status after your asylum application ? Here you can find important information about your rights, obligations, moving to another place, and family-related matters.
Which Protection Status Do I Have?
If you received a positive decision on your asylum application , there are different types of protection status:
- Flüchtlingseigenschaft (refugee status)
- Asylberechtigung (asylum status)
- Subsidiärer Schutz (subsidiary protection)
- Abschiebeverbot (prohibition of deportation)
You can find more information about the different types of protection status on the BAMF (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees) website:
Can I Lose My Protection Status?
Yes, protection status does not automatically last forever. In certain situations, you can lose it.
These are some ways you can lose your protection status:
- Widerruf (revocation): This can happen if the reason for your protection no longer exists. For example, if a war has ended and there is peace again in your country of origin.
- Rücknahme (withdrawal): This can happen if the BAMF (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees) later considers the decision on your asylum application to have been incorrect. For example, if you provided false information.
- Erlöschen (expiration): This can happen, for example, if you receive German citizenship.
Important
If you travel to your country of origin, you may lose your protection status. In this case, the BAMF will always review whether your protection status should be revoked.
What Happens If I Receive a Revocation Letter?
If the BAMF (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees) believes that there may no longer be a reason for your protection status, it will review your case. This only happens in certain situations. For example, if you traveled to the country you fled from or if the situation in your country has changed.
What happens next?
- You will receive a letter from the BAMF. If the BAMF is not yet sure whether to start revocation proceedings for your protection status, the letter may first contain questions about your situation. In most cases, however, the letter states that revocation proceedings have already started. The letter will then include questions about why your protection status should still be valid.
- You must respond to this letter from the BAMF in every case. This is important. Get support from a counseling center or seek help from a lawyer (Anwalt oder einer Anwältin).
- The BAMF will then decide whether to start proceedings and/or whether to revoke your protection status.
- You will receive the result in an official decision letter (Bescheid) from the BAMF. If the decision is negative, you can file an appeal against it.
What Do I Need to Consider If I Move?
With a protection status, there are two things you need to consider if you want to move:
Residence Requirement (Wohnsitzauflage)
After your asylum procedure , you usually have to live in the same federal state for three years. This is called a Wohnsitzauflage (residence requirement). If you received your protection status in Berlin, you are usually expected to stay in Berlin for three years. The residence requirement is listed in your residence permit or in the additional sheet attached to it.
There are exceptions, for example if you work enough to meet certain requirements.
If you need to move for urgent reasons, you must submit an application through the LEA contact form. An urgent reason could be, for example, starting a job or apprenticeship in another place.
Informing the Jobcenter
If you receive payments from the Jobcenter , you must inform them if you move. Another Jobcenter may then become responsible for your case. If you move away from Berlin and do not inform the Jobcenter , you may later have to pay money back.
Can I Bring My Family to Germany?
Depending on which protection status you have, different requirements apply to family reunification. On Handbook Germany, you can find up-to-date information and videos in different languages. If you have specific questions about your situation, go to a counseling center.
How Can I Get a Permanent Residence Permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis)?
Depending on which protection status you have, different requirements apply.
If you have a Flüchtlingseigenschaft (refugee status) or Asylberechtigung (asylum status), you may be able to get a Niederlassungserlaubnis (permanent settlement permit) more quickly. If you have a good command of German (language level C1) and earn enough money to support yourself, you may be able to apply after only 3 years. If your German is still more limited (language level A2), you may need to wait 5 years before applying for a Niederlassungserlaubnis (permanent settlement permit). In the Service Portal, you can find all information about the special permanent settlement permit for people with asylum status and recognized refugees:
If you have a subsidiärer Schutz (subsidiary protection), speak German at a sufficient level (language level B1), and earn enough money to support yourself, you can apply for a Niederlassungserlaubnis (permanent settlement permit) after 5 years. In the Service Portal, you can find all information about the special permanent settlement permit for people with subsidiary protection:
Locations in this map
Migrationsberatung für erwachsene Zugewanderte (MBE) Reinickendorf
Show on mapThe offer is basically aimed at migrants from the age of 27 with a permanent residence status and up to three years after entry or obtaining the permanent residence status.
The MBE offers free counselling mainly on the following topics:
- German language courses (e.g. integration courses)
- Work and vocational training (job search, recognition of vocational qualifications, etc.)
- Children and family
- Economic situation (income, job centre, debts...)
- Health (health insurance, medical care, pregnancy, disability)
- Everyday matters (contact with authorities, housing, leisure time...)
- Legal questions concerning residence
Humannstraße 27
13403 Berlin
Germany
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 09:00-15:00 and by appointment.
Please make an appointment with us.
Migrationsberatung für erwachsene Zugewanderte (MBE) Spandau
Show on mapThe counselling service is aimed at newly immigrated men and women from different age groups, with different origins and nationalities as well as their relatives. The MBE offers individual, confidential and free-of-charge counselling on the following topics in particular:
- German courses (e.g. integration courses)
- Work and vocational training (job search, recognition of vocational qualifications, etc.)
- Children and family * Economic situation (income, job centre, debts...) * Health (health insurance, medical care, pregnancy, disability) * Everyday matters (contact with authorities, housing, leisure time...)
- Legal questions concerning residence
Reformationsplatz 2
13597 Berlin
Germany
At the location:
Monday and Tuesday 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
At the cooperation partner Gemeinwesenverein Heerstraße Nord e. V.:
Friday 13:15 - 15:15
Migrationsberatung für erwachsene Zugewanderte (MBE) Spandau
Show on mapThe counselling service is generally aimed at adult immigrants over 27 years of age up to three years after entry.
We advise on the following questions:
- Right of residence
- family reunification
- integration courses
- Access to the labour market (taking up employment, recognition of professional qualifications, etc.)
- Social security
- Health (health system/health care/health insurance)
- Housing situation
- Family/education/childcare
- Offers in the social area (clubs, community, etc.)
- Orientation in everyday life (rights and duties of citizens in Germany, information about offices and authorities, etc.)
Counselling is free of charge and confidential and is offered in different languages. If necessary, we work together with language mediators.
Galenstraße 39
13597 Berlin
Germany
Tuesday 09:00-12:00,
Thursday 15:00-18:00,
and by appointment
Migrationsberatung für erwachsene Zugewanderte (MBE) Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Show on mapThe offer is basically aimed at migrants from the age of 27 with a permanent residence status and up to three years after entry or obtaining the permanent residence status.
The MBE offers free counselling mainly on the following topics:
- German language courses (e.g. integration courses)
- Work and vocational training (job search, recognition of vocational qualifications, etc.)
- Children and family
- Economic situation (income, job centre, debts...)
- Health (health insurance, medical care, pregnancy, disability)
- Everyday matters (contact with authorities, housing, leisure time...)
- Legal questions concerning residence
Johanna-Stegen-Straße 8
12167 Berlin
Germany
Monday 09:00-11:00 ,
Other appointments by appointment only
Migrationsberatung für erwachsene Zugewanderte (MBE) Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Show on mapThe offer is basically aimed at migrants from the age of 27 with a permanent residence status and up to three years after entry or obtaining the permanent residence status.
The MBE offers free counselling mainly on the following topics:
- German language courses (e.g. integration courses)
- Work and vocational training (job search, recognition of vocational qualifications, etc.)
- Children and family
- Economic situation (income, job centre, debts...)
- Health (health insurance, medical care, pregnancy, disability)
- Everyday matters (contact with authorities, housing, leisure time...)
- Legal questions concerning residence
Götzstr. 24 e
12099 Berlin
Germany
by arrangement on the phone or via e-mail
Migrationsberatung für erwachsene Zuwanderer (MBE) Lichtenberg
Show on mapThe offer is basically aimed at migrants from the age of 27 with a permanent residence status and up to three years after entry or obtaining the permanent residence status, as well as asylum seekers from Syria and Eritrea.
The MBE offers free counselling mainly on the following topics:
- German courses (e.g. integration courses)
- Work and vocational training (job search, recognition of vocational qualifications, etc.)
- Children and family
- Economic situation (income, job centre, debts...)
- Health (health insurance, medical care, pregnancy, disability)
- Everyday matters (contact with authorities, housing, leisure time...)
- Legal questions concerning residence
Anton-Saefkow-Platz 3-4
10369 Berlin
Germany
Tuesday 09:00-12:00 (with Arabic, Farsi)
Wednesday 10:00-12:00 (with Vietnamese)
Thursday 15:00-18:00 (consultation hours)
and by appointment
Migrationsrechts- und Flüchtlingsberatung
Show on mapWe offer:
- Advice on issues relating to residence law and related areas of law, such as citizenship law
- Cooperation with other projects, such as the Integrationslots:innen, the Stadtteilmütter project, the migration advice service for adults (Migrationsberatung) and the social advice service at tam (Sozialberatung) Referral to other specialist advice centres if required
Please make an appointment for a consultation in advance by e-mail or telephone.
Counseling is available in German, English and Chinese. Mediation for other languages is possible by prior arrangement.
Wilhelmstraße 115
10963 Berlin
Germany
Please make an appointment for a consultation in advance by e-mail or telephone.
Migrationsrechtsberatung für Migrant*innen und Geflüchtete
Show on mapKarl-Marx-Straße 172
12043 Berlin
Germany
Rechtsberatung für Geflüchtete
Show on mapOur target group includes refugees in the asylum procedure, tolerated persons, people with border crossing certificates, stateless persons and non-registered persons, people in the family reunification procedure.
Offers are:
- legal and procedural advice on all legal and practical questions
- Accompaniment to the Aliens' Office/BAMF and administrative offices of the Land Berlin
- Inspection of files at the public offices, the Administrative Court Berlin or the Social Court Berlin
- Advice on work permits, entitlement to social benefits and health care
- Advice on family reunification
- Support in proceedings in cooperation with lawyers and regional networks in asylum and refugee work.
Languages in cooperation with the district integration guides.
Please note the opening hours and the different locations.
Landsberger Allee 563
12679 Berlin
Germany
Monday : 10.00-!4.00 Bitterfelder Str. 13 12681 Berlin
Tuesday ,10.00-12.00 Brebacher Weg 15 House 41 12683 Berlin
Wednesday : 10.00-13.00 Marzahner Promenade 38 112679 Berlin (district centre Marzahn-Mitte)
Friday : 14.00-16.00 Dingolfinger Str. 1 12683 Berlin
Rechtsberatung für Geflüchtete
Show on mapAdvice on the following concerns:
- Legal and procedural advice: advice on all legal and practical issues prior to and during the asylum procedure.
- preparation for the interview
- on questions concerning work permits
- on questions concerning social benefits during the asylum procedure
- counselling after completion of the procedure
- family reunification
- questions on return
Oldenburger Straße 45
10551 Berlin
Germany
Opening hours: Tuesday from 9-12 and Thursday from 14-17 and by appointment.
Currently there are no open office hours. Please contact us using the contact details provided.
Rights and Obligations in the Asylum Procedure | BAMF
On the BAMF (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees) website, you can find many multilingual videos about the asylum procedure and protection status. For example, about the asylum procedure :
Who Is a Refugee? | UNHCR
Das Video ist auf Englisch.
