Approval of your Asyl-Antrag

In Germany, there are four different kinds of recognition. The positive decision notice will say which kind has been given to you.

Granting of asylum and refugee status
If you are granted asylum or refugee status, you will be given a residency permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) and a blue refugee passport. The residency permit is valid for three years. After that, the BAMF checks whether the conditions which led to the residency permit being granted are still fullfilled. Under certain conditions, you can get a permanent residency (Niederlassungs-Erlaubnis) after five years. However, you can only do this if you are working, have your own appartment and speak german. If you were granted refugee status, then you can get a Niederlassungs-Erlaubnis after three years, under certain conditions. These conditions include speaking very good german and earning enough money to not be entitled to any Sozial-Leistungen. Speak to an migration advice office When you have the positive decision notice, you can apply for family reunion.

You have to make the application for family reunion within three months! Talk to a migration advice office.


Until you earn your own money, you will get money from the Job Center. As soon as you have your positive decision notice, you have to go to the JobCenter and apply for Sozialleistungen. You can / must take an Integrationskurs.
If you have problems, ask a migration advice office.

International subsidiary protection
If you have been given international subsidiary protection, you will be given a residency permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) for one year. After that, the Aufenthaltserlaubnis can be extended for two years. You do not get a blue refugee's passport. A family reunion is possible, but very difficult. Speak to an migration advice office if you have subsidiary protection and want to bring your family to Germany.
Until you earn your own money, you will get money from the JobCenter. As soon as you have your positive decision notice, you have to go to the JobCenter and apply for social benefits. You can / must take an integration course. You cannot simply go and live somewhere else. If you want to move somewhere else, go to a migration advice office.

National ban on deportation
If a national ban on deportation has been pronounced, you will be given a residency permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) for one year. After this, the Aufenthaltserlaubnis can be extended. You do not get a blue refugee's passport.
If you want to bring your family to Germany, you have to fulfill many conditions. Go to a migration advice officee.
Until you earn your own money, you will get money from the JobCenter. As soon as you have your positive decision notice, you have to go to the JobCenter and apply for social benefits. You can take an integration course. You cannot simply go and live somewhere else. If you want to move somewhere else, go to a migration advice office.

You can appeal against the decision of the BAMF at the administrative court (Verwaltungs-Gericht). Sometimes, an appeal may be a good idea. It is important to decide quickly. You often have to make your appeal within two weeks. After that, you have no more possibility to do so! Get advice from a migration advice office regarding whether or not an appeal is recommended. If you appeal, you need a lawyer.

You cannot lose your current status by appealing.

If you have been granted asylum or refugee status, you have the right to bring your nuclear family (Kern-Familie) to join you.

You have to make the application within three months of receiving your positive decision notice.


You have to make the application for family reunification together with timely notification. The application has to be made with the german embassy in your home country or in one of the neighbouring countries, as well as with the immigration authority (Ausländerbehörde). Ask a migration advice office.
If you are from Syria, there is a website for the application. The website is in German and Arabic. At the end, you have to fill out and print all of the forms from the website and e-mail or fax them to the german embassy.
If you have been given international subsidiary protection, you can apply for a family reunion at any time without having to give notification within three months. However, the process for achieving a family reunion is much harder for people with subsidiary protection. Ask a migration advice office for assistance.

You can now do an integration course. If you do not speak much german, you have to do an integration course. The course does not cost anything if you are getting money from the JobCenter. Ask an advice office where you can do an integration course.

Your ID document will say how long you are allowed to stay for. When this time has passed, the BAMF will examine whether or not to extend your ID card. The BAMF will check if the original reason for granting your status still apply. The BAMF will also check if there are other reasons why you should be allowed to stay in Germany.
After five years, you may also live and work in a different EU country. Before this point, this is possible only in very rare cases. You then have permanent residency in the EU. Perhaps you can be granted a „Niederlassungserlaubnis“, allowing you residency in Germany without a time limit. In order to get it, you have to be working and you have to speak good german. Once you have permanent residency, you can become a german citizen if you fulfil certain other criteria as well. If you have questions, go to a migration advice office.