Visa and Residence Title
Please note
Persons who were in Ukraine on 24 February 2022 and are entering Germany due to the war until 4 December 2026 can register for temporary protection and obtain a residence title in accordance with §24 AufenthG (Residence Act) without first obtaining a visa to enter Germany. Link to the law
General information
For citizens of Ukraine who arrived in Germany after 1 April 2025, there have been changes in German law regarding social benefits and legal status. Ukrainian asylum seekers will now be responsible for providing assistance in accordance with the Asylum Act (Asylgesetz), such as the BAMF (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees), employment centres (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), or social services.
A residence permit regulates the stay of foreigners in Germany. Applications for a long-term residence permit are submitted, as is registration, to the relevant foreign nationals’ office (Ausländerbehörde). Ukrainians who move to Germany due to military action can obtain a residence permit for temporary protection under § 24 AufenthG.
Please note that refugees from Ukraine have different options when applying for a residence permit. These vary depending on which country you are a citizen of, what activities you can engage in with these residence permits, and what social services you can access.
You can find more info on this topic on the federal government’s central portal for supporting refugees from Ukraine: germany4ukraine.de.
Handout with information on entry, registration, residence, right of residence and protection permit (in Ukrainian): Handout from Germany4Ukraine
For Ukrainian citizens and their family members who are in Germany, the validity of their residence permits will be extended again: temporary protection residence permits that were still valid on 1 February 2026 will be automatically extended until 4 March 2027. This group of people does not need to apply for an extension of their residence permit, and no related appointments with the immigration authorities are necessary. Link to the law
Information for students
If you are planning to study in Germany, the process of applying for a visa or residence permit depends on a number of personal factors.
The main options for obtaining a visa or residence permit are:
- Temporary protection under § 24 AufenthG allows you to study without opening a blocked money account. The possibility and conditions for granting this status depend on the decision of the local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) and the availability of ‘quotas’ in the relevant federal state and city where you plan to study.
- A national student visa is issued at the German embassy in one of the countries neighbouring Ukraine, as the visa centre in Ukraine is currently closed). As a rule, a student visa requires you to open a blocked account to confirm that you have the necessary financial support. Processing a student visa can take up to one month or longer, as the relevant authority in the area where you plan to stay in Germany must grant permission for the visa to be issued.Students with a scholarship should apply for a national student visa at the embassy of one of Ukraine’s neighbouring countries. Visa applications for scholarship holders are usually processed more quickly.
Practical steps for obtaining a visa or residence permit
Contact your place of study’s Foreigners’ Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde) in advance to inform them of your circumstances. Find out whether you are eligible for a residence permit under § 24. If not, prepare a package of documents for a student visa at the German embassy in one of Ukraine’s neighbouring countries.
Apply for a visa in advance to avoid delays at the beginning of your studies. Obtaining a student visa in advance minimises the risk of visa issues and problems during your studies.
If you have a residence permit under § 24 and you enrol as a regular student on a degree programme, you will no longer be eligible for social benefits. Instead, you can receive an interest-free government study loan (BAföG). Free listeners and exchange students, on the other hand, can receive social benefits but are not entitled to BAföG.
Due to possible changes in the legal status of Ukrainians, the situation regarding obtaining a residence permit in Germany may change. Be sure to check the latest information with the relevant authorities, your local Ausländerbehörde, or on the website of the German Embassy in Ukraine.
Please note
Applicants who have been in Germany for more than fifteen months at the time of the application deadline or who have already started their studies or research can no longer be funded by the DAAD in Germany.
