According to estimates by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), around three million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the war. The organization estimates that at least another million people are expected in the coming weeks.
There is already room for 1,100 people in the tent villages of the Hanoverian exhibition halls. Right next door, DB Cargo has the Rail bridge to Ukraine opened a collection point for donations that are brought directly to Ukraine and the Polish border. There is great solidarity and willingness to help in our city. And at the same time, volunteers are also faced with legal questions: Are you even allowed to accept refugees just like that? After all, this was not possible during the 2015 refugee crisis. And what should relatives of refugees pay attention to when supporting their relatives?
We have compiled the most important answers to these questions for you.
I would like to host refugees in my house. What is the legal situation?
If you own your house or apartment, you can welcome refugees at any time. If you are a tenant, you should consult your landlord in advance.
You need permission from your landlord if refugees are not just temporary visitors or if they are family members. However, it is not defined how long “temporary visit” lasts. However, from a period of six to eight weeks, you can assume that your guests won't just stay “temporarily.” Since it is currently not foreseeable how long people from Ukraine will not be able to return home, consulting with the landlord makes perfect sense.
My Ukrainian relatives have moved in with me. Do they have to apply for asylum now?
In theory, refugees can apply for asylum in Germany. In fact, this creates some disadvantages for them: For example, they are not allowed to work for three months after the application has been submitted. Above all, refugees with an asylum application are not allowed to freely choose their place of residence for the first few months and must live in a reception center. An asylum application therefore hardly makes sense, especially for families with relatives in Germany.
The better solution: A residence permit for temporary protection. Ukrainians and people who were in Ukraine at the start of the war are allowed to travel to Germany without a visa. With the so-called Mass Inflow Directive, the European Union has created the legal framework for them to remain temporarily without lengthy asylum procedures and — unlike during the 2015 refugee crisis — also be able to live in private accommodation.
Refugees have until May 23 to register with their local immigration authority and apply for a longer-term residence permit there. They will then receive a “residence permit for temporary protection.” Important: The application must be submitted at the same place where the refugees would like to live afterwards. So if you are waiting for Ukrainian relatives in Hanover, the application should be submitted here first — and not before passing through Berlin.
Who pays the refugees' costs?
So far, there is no government support if you want to accept refugees. But: Refugees with a residence permit are entitled to various government benefits — including medical care and money for food and clothing. Refugees are entitled to acute assistance — for example in medical emergencies — even before they obtain their residence permit. You can apply for these benefits from the responsible social welfare office. If you do not speak Ukrainian or Russian, you will find Help from the Ukrainian Association in Lower Saxony e.V.
Important: Government benefits for refugees do not include liability insurance. You must therefore pay for any possible damage yourself — especially if you are a tenant of the house or apartment.
