Applying for a residence permit for refugees

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

You must be issued with a residence permit (legal entitlement) if you have been recognised as a foreign refugee by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. 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 a deliberate criminal offence resulting in imprisonment or a juvenile sentence of at least 2 years).

Until the residence permit is issued, your stay is deemed authorised by law.

The residence permit authorises you to take up gainful employment.

The residence permit is issued for 3 years and can be extended thereafter.

You are subject to a 3-year 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 cancelled if you, your spouse, registered partner or a minor child have taken up employment subject to social security contributions or vocational training or studies. The commencement of employment must also be sustainable. This is assumed if your employment relationship is expected to last for more than 3 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 minor children is possible. The immigration authority may, at its discretion, grant a residence permit to the spouse or minor child of a recognised refugee who is joining them despite the fact that they are unable to secure their livelihood and lack sufficient living space. If the application for family reunification is submitted within 3 months of the residence permit being issued and it is not possible to establish the family cohabitation 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 Aliens' Registration Office will also determine ex officio whether you are entitled to take part in 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 authorisation certificate.

You must be granted a settlement permit if you

• have held the residence permit for 5 years,
• if the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has not notified you that the conditions for revocation or cancellation 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.
• their stay does not jeopardise or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany,
• are allowed to pursue gainful employment and have all the necessary licences,
• have a basic knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany,
• have sufficient living space for you 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 3 years.