Your first days in Berlin: accommodation and support

If you are able to stay with friends or relatives in Berlin, the following applies: As you are a war refugee from Ukraine and can stay in Germany legally without a visa until 31 August 2022, you do not have to register now. However, if you want to stay longer, take up employment or need social benefits, you must register.

If you do not have accommodation in Berlin, you can stay in the homes of private individuals or families. You can make a request for accommodation on unterkunft-ukraine.de even before you enter the country. Otherwise, go directly to the Ukraine Arrival Centre in Tegel. Shuttles are being provided to the Arrival Centre from the main station (Hauptbahnhof) and from the bus stop General-Ganeval-Brücke around the clock. There you will be temporarily accommodated and cared for. Afterwards, you will be moved on to accommodation in Berlin or in another German federal state. You will then receive your accommodation, social benefits and medical care at your destination.

The Jewish Community of Berlin has set up an initial reception centre for Jewish refugees from Ukraine, where you can get a kosher meal, a welcome package with emergency items, and where they will arrange temporary accommodation and other help and support. The centre is open daily from 8 am to midnight and is located in the community centre of the Jewish community at Fasanenstraße 79/80, 10623 Berlin.

Contact details
Tel.: +49 30 880280”
E-mail: ukraine-hilfe@jg-berlin.org

You are not required immediately to register as a war refugee and apply for a residence permit for temporary protection. You are allowed to stay in Germany legally without a visa until the end of August 2022. However, if you wish to stay longer, work or need social benefits, you have to register and apply for the temporary residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis).

For this, the first step is to report to the Arrival Centre at the former Tegel Airport. The Arrival Centre will check whether you can stay in Berlin or whether you will be allocated to another German federal state. If you have relatives in Berlin, or you have found permanent accommodation or a job, you will generally be allowed to stay. If you are allocated to Berlin, you will also be registered immediately at the Arrival Centre. Among other things, your fingerprints will be taken and photos will be taken of you.

Subsequently, you can apply for a temporary residence permit online. You can access the online application here. After you have filled out the application, you are allowed to work and apply for social benefits.

Registering your residence is important for many further steps. For example, for children and young people to attend school and daycare.

To register your residence, you will need your passport and, if possible, confirmation of your address – what is called a “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” in German (housing provider confirmation). You can get this from your landlord or the main tenant of the place you are living. You can download a sample form here (PDF – in German).

You do not need an appointment, but you must be prepared to wait. You can register your residence at the following Residents’ Registration Offices (Bürgerämter) depending on where you live:

Some rules are currently in place in Berlin due to the corona pandemic. Here is an overview of the current measures. You must wear an FFP2 mask on public transport.

You can get tested for the coronavirus free of charge at numerous test centres.

You can get vaccinated at the corona vaccination centres and corona vaccination points run by the state of Berlin. This is possible even if you are unable to present an official photo ID. You will be given a document showing you have been vaccinated that you can insert into your vaccination records, (known as an Einlegeblatt in German) and which allows you to easily get your digital vaccination certificate.