Germany

Germany > Contacts

More or less in all bigger cities in Germany various groups and organisations are active in solidarity with refugees and migrants, offering also political, social and legal support. In the following list you will first find some most recommended self-organisations of refugees and migrants and also a few antiracist groups. Following some links to more specific initiatives concerning legal and medical aid as well as for labour and minors problems, you can find a list of the (more institutionalized) refugee councils, which are located all over Germany and might help to find useful contacts in every city.

Germany > Overview

Usually refugees or non-EU migrants are able to obtain temporary or permanent residence in Germany only by applying for asylum or through marriage. It’s more or less impossible – except for a few highly qualified experts and specialists – to get papers concluding a labour contract. Already since 2014 but with another peak point after the incredible "summer of migration" in October 2015 many more people than before applied for asylum in Germany. This lead to a few changes, especially concerning accommodation (the first weeks and months especially people have to stay in first reception centers that are very often overcrowded) and the duration of asylum procedures that varies a lot depending of the country of origin.

Germany > Dublin III

If you have given your fingerprints to authorities in other European countries, for example in Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary or Greece on your way or even in other countries where you have applied for asylum before and you don’t stay there but continue your journey, you might get threatened to be deported back. This is based on the so-called Dublin-regulation.

When you are threatened with "Dublin"-deportations this does not mean that finally you will be really deported. There are many people who have overcome the deportation threat and their asylum case has to be handled finally in Germany. Less then 10% are deported right now. The first step is to get organised for your right to stay.

Germany > Asylum

There are several multilingual guidebooks for refugees available, which may help you to understand the asylum system in Germany. The asylum system is complicated and the legal practice changes often.It is recommended to contact one of the counselling groups named in the contact-list additionally.

Germany > Minors

This guide especially for minors provides an overview of your rights here in Germany. These rights apply to all minors (children and teenagers under the age of 18) independent of their origin, gender, religion, etc..

Germany > Legal status of refugees

Information on the different legal status refugees have in Germany before and after their decision on their asylum claim.

Germany > Deportation

The following information is intended to help people who do not wish, or are unable, to return to their country of origin or another country, to prevent their deportation while still at the airport. If you can, inform your friends that you want to resist the deportation. They can support you from outside by speaking to the airline and informing them that you will not fly voluntarily. At Frankfurt Airport (where most deportations in Germany take place) there is a group who go to the airport in these cases, to inform passengers and airlines and to protest against your deportation.

Germany: Deportations to Afghanistan - Information against the fear

Since Germany has regularly carried out collective deportations to Afghanistan, the fear of deportation is huge in the Afghan community. Many are insecure and fear that they could be the next to be deported to Afghanistan. In most cases this fear is unfounded! Contrary to what is often claimed, the chances of Afghan refugees being granted the right to stay in Germany are still not bad. And despite regular collective deportations, only a comparatively small part of the Afghan community is threatened by deportation to Afghanistan.

Germany: Deportations to Pakistan - Information against the fear

Over the last months, many within the Pakistani community have felt a growing fear about the risk of deportation from Germany to their country of origin. First charter-deportations were organized from German airports to Islamabad, latest from Frankfurt and Düsseldorf in January and in March 2018. One flight left with 23 and another one with 35 rejected asylum-seekers from Pakistan. There are serious hints that more deportation flights from Germany to Pakistan will follow.

Germany > Medical Assistance

Undocumented migrants are excluded from the regular health system in Germany. Medical Aid Groups for Refugees offer practical medical assistance for refugees and migrants:
- who are afraid of visiting a doctor's practice because they don't have residency status or papers,
- whom, despite of owning valid papers, ‚Sozialamt’ refuses to cover the costs of health care,
- who, through the experience of torture, war or exile, need psychological support.

Germany > Work

You‘re entitled to rights - even if you‘re undocumented!
Low pay or no wages at all? You can sue your boss.
Work accident or on sick leave? You‘re entitled to receive health care and sickness benefits.
No annual leave? Take legal action for your statutory right.
A 14-hour workday and just 8 hours‘ wages? Sue your boss for outstanding pay.

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