GermanyHumanitarian protection

Humanitarian protection in Germany

The programme allows the state to admit foreign nationals in acute need of protection on grounds of international law, humanitarian considerations or the protection of Germany's political interests. The status carries a residence permit issued on the basis of a decision by the Federal Ministry of the Interior or an authorised body. Admission can take place either through individual cases or through group programmes resettling refugees from abroad in coordination with UNHCR.

Threshold

§22: usually without own funds; §23: sometimes a sponsor's declaration under §68

Processing time

Resettlement usually takes several months

Work

A residence permit under §22/§23 usually allows work

Residence

Allocation to a federal state; a residence obligation (§22 — 3 years)

Source: gesetze-im-internet.de — §22 AufenthG, admission from abroad on humanitarian grounds

Who humanitarian protection suits

The programme is addressed to people abroad in a critical situation requiring protection by Germany under international law or on humanitarian grounds.

Individual protection (§22)

People of outstanding political significance who are in need of protection
Human rights defenders, journalists and public figures in acute danger
Those whom the designated federal bodies regard as a priority for Germany's political interests

Group programmes (§23)

Categories of refugees defined at federal level through ministerial orders
Groups of people from particular countries in need of resettlement by decision of the state
Resettled persons referred through UNHCR under agreed resettlement programmes

Additional conditions

No possibility of obtaining protection in a third country
A positive outcome of the German authorities' security checks
The possibility of being accommodated in one of the German federal states

When this programme will not suit you

People who have committed crimes against humanity or serious crimes

Criminal proceedings in the relevant jurisdiction; an extradition decision

People who pose a threat to Germany's security or interests

An entry ban (Einreiseverbot); monitoring by the security services

The possibility of obtaining protection through the ordinary asylum channels or in another country

Standard procedures for obtaining refugee status through EURODAC / the asylum procedure

Documents to gather

A set list of documents must be submitted to obtain humanitarian status.

Passport or travel document (valid or expired, provided it allows identification)
Admission guarantee (Aufnahmezusage) from the Federal Ministry of the Interior
Visa issued by the German embassy on the basis of the admission guarantee
Documents supporting the reason for the status: evidence of persecution, letters of recommendation from organisations, certificates about the person's activity
Evidence of family ties (marriage and birth certificates, guardianship documents for minors)
Medical certificates (results of the medical examination carried out at the embassy)
Security clearance certificates (on request), certificates of no criminal record or pending prosecution

How the process runs

The humanitarian protection process begins with the authorities considering candidates and ends with the issue of a residence status.

1
Identification and nomination of candidates
Variable
The Federal Ministry of the Interior or the bodies it authorises identify people who meet the programme criteria (individual cases under §22 or group programmes under §23). Nominations may come from UNHCR, German embassies, or governmental and non-governmental organisations.
2
Security and document checks
Several weeks to months
The German security services (BND, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the police) check that the candidate meets the criteria and poses no threat. The authenticity of documents, family information and migration history are verified.
3
Issue of the admission guarantee (Aufnahmezusage)
From weeks to months
Where the decision is positive, the Federal Ministry of the Interior issues a formal admission guarantee (Aufnahmezusage). This document entitles the person to apply for a visa at a German embassy.
4
Applying for the visa at the embassy
From a few days to weeks
The candidate holding an Aufnahmezusage applies to the German embassy in their country for a visa. A passport (or travel document) and the admission guarantee documents are required. Medical examinations and further checks are carried out where necessary.
5
Arrival in Germany
1-2 days
The person arrives in Germany on the visa issued on the basis of the admission guarantee. They register with the immigration authorities at the border and are referred to the state office for refugees and migrants.
6
Issue of the residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis)
From a few days to weeks
The competent authorities of the federal state issue the actual residence permit on the basis of the admission guarantee. The document states the residence authorisation, its period of validity and, where applicable, the work authorisation.
7
Accommodation and integration
The first weeks and months
The person is allocated accommodation under the state's placement plan. Information is provided on language courses, social assistance (where applicable) and employment. The process of integration into German society begins.

Who you can bring with you

Family members may join a person who has been granted humanitarian status if certain conditions are met.

Spouse and minor children

Residence permits may be issued under the family reunification scheme where an Aufnahmezusage exists or where the main applicant has been granted the status. Proof of the family relationship (marriage and birth certificates) and documents showing that family life exists are required. Where a sponsorship undertaking applies (§68), a financial guarantee from the sponsor may be required.

Parents of a minor applicant

If a minor has been granted status under §22 or §23 and there is no adult guardian in Germany, the parents (or one guardian) may receive a residence permit. Proof of the family relationship and compliance with the integration conditions are required.

Other relatives

Other family members (adult brothers, sisters, more distant relatives) may join only in extraordinary circumstances that endanger their safety or create particular hardship. These are exceptional cases and require a specific decision by the authorities.

Renewal and the grace period

A residence permit issued under the humanitarian protection scheme is normally granted for up to three years (in accordance with §26 AufenthG). Renewal is possible provided the grounds for protection remain. Each renewal requires a fresh check of any change in circumstances (safety in the country of origin, compliance with the integration requirements, absence of any threat to German security). On renewal the residence permit may again be issued for up to three years. After five years of continuous residence with a residence permit, and provided the conditions are met (financial security, knowledge of German, contributions to the pension insurance scheme), the person may apply for a permanent residence permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis).

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Humanitarian protection	Political asylum	Refugee status
Grounds	Critical risk	State persecution	Persecution
Money	§22: usually without own funds; §23: sometimes a sponsor's declaration under §68	Support under the AsylbLG during the procedure	Support under the AsylbLG during the procedure
Work	A residence permit under §22/§23 usually allows work	After recognition and the 3-year residence permit — full access to the labour market	Full access to the labour market after recognition
Residence	Allocation to a federal state; a residence obligation (§22 — 3 years)	Main place of residence in Germany; a Residenzpflicht is possible	A Wohnsitzauflage is common in the first years

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Niederlassungserlaubnis (§22) after 5 years; under §23 permanent residence is sometimes granted immediately

Route to citizenship

Naturalisation under the general rules (8 years, down to 6)

Frequently asked questions about Humanitarian protection

How long is the residence permit under the humanitarian protection scheme valid?

The residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) is normally issued for up to three years under §26 AufenthG. Once that period expires the permit may be renewed for a similar period if the grounds for protection remain. The holder may apply for renewal several months before the permit expires.

Are people with humanitarian status allowed to work?

Under §7 AufenthG a residence permit does not in itself automatically allow work. However, under §4a AufenthG a work authorisation may be granted by a separate decision of the competent authority. In most humanitarian programmes people are given a work authorisation (Arbeitserlaubnis) together with the residence permit or in the course of obtaining the status. The point should be clarified with the competent authority at the place of residence.

Can a person with humanitarian status move to permanent residence in Germany?

Yes. After five years of residence with a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) and provided the following conditions are met — securing one's own subsistence, contributions to the statutory pension insurance scheme for 60 months, a sufficient level of German (at least B1), knowledge of the constitutional order and social conditions in Germany, and sufficient living space — the person may obtain a permanent residence permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) under §9 AufenthG.

Is a sponsorship undertaking required to obtain humanitarian status?

For individual protection under §22 a sponsorship undertaking is normally not required. For group programmes under §23, however, the federal government or a state may require a sponsorship undertaking (Verpflichtungserklärung) under §68 AufenthG. In that case the sponsor undertakes to reimburse the state, for five years from admission, for all the costs of the resettled person's living needs (accommodation, food, medical care). The undertaking is filed in written or electronic form with the German diplomatic mission abroad.

Other ways to move to Germany

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Germany.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.