Refugees from Ukraine who were already living in a third country with permanent or temporary residence status can no longer enter Germany so easily. This was confirmed by the Federal Ministry of the Interior at the request of tuenews INTERNATIONAL. The so-called mass flight directive (Section 24 of the Residence Act) no longer applies to them in Germany. They are still allowed to enter legally, the ministry explained, but can no longer justify their entry on the grounds of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Instead, they must submit a visa application, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. According to the Studierendenwerk in Berlin, this also applies to students who have enrolled at a university in another country, such as Poland. Whether and to what extent refugees who were already living in a third country receive social benefits depends on the purpose of their stay, explains the ministry.
The rules have also changed for refugees from other countries and stateless persons who have sought refuge in Ukraine but have not been granted a permanent Ukrainian residence permit. According to the Germany4ukraine website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), temporary protection will end for them from March 5, 2025, depending on when they entered the country. Anyone who has not applied for asylum or another residence permit by then must leave the country.
The new regulations are based on corresponding laws: the Ukraine Residence Transition Ordinance and the Ukraine Residence Continuation Ordinance.
Nothing changes for other refugees from Ukraine who already have a residence permit in Germany. Their residence permit has been extended until March 4, 2026. (tun24122301)
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