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Humanitarian stays

Asylum procedure

If you wish to apply for asylum in Germany, you must do so at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

The asylum application must always be submitted in person to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. Persons in the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) must report to the preliminary reception centre of the state of NRW (Landeserstaufnahmeeinrichtung NRW; LEA) for this purpose. The preliminary reception centre is located in Bochum and is easy to reach via public transport.

If you are currently held in custody or staying in a hospital, in a rehabilitation centre or nursing home or in a youth welfare facility, you can also submit your written asylum application to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Frankenstraße 210, 90461 Nuremberg).

You may also submit your written application if you hold a German certificate of residential status valid for more than six months. If you have any questions about submitting a written asylum application, you are welcome to speak to the staff of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.

After you have submitted your asylum application, you will be invited to a hearing at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. You will have the opportunity to describe your reasons for seeking asylum.

Following the personal interview, the Federal Office will make a decision regarding your asylum application.

If you have already applied for asylum in another EU country, you can find more information on the page for the Dublin procedure.

Residence status after submitting an asylum application

If you have submitted an asylum application to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), your stay in Germany is deemed permissible for the duration of the asylum procedure and you will receive a so-called temporary residence permit (“Aufenthaltsgestattung”). This document allows you to prove your status in Germany. The document stipulates whether you are only allowed to stay in a certain district (geographical limitation), whether you have to live in a certain place and whether or to what extent you are allowed to pursue employment.

If the decision is positive, four forms of protection exist (see the respective pages for more information):

Recognition of eligibility for asylum
Recognition of refugee status
Granting of subsidiary protection
Determination of a deportation ban

In the event of a negative decision by the Federal Office, further information about your options for a future in Germany and for voluntary departure is provided on the following pages:

“Duldung” (Exceptional Leave to Remain)
“Beschäftigungsduldung” (Exceptional Leave to Pursue Employment) (entry before 01.08.2018)
“Ausbildungsduldung” (Exceptional Leave to Pursue Vocational Training)
Voluntary departure