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Recognised Refugee Protection

GermanyHumanitarian protection

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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What exactly is this: asylum, temporary protection, humanitarian admission, resettlement or another protection mechanism?

Refugee protection under the Geneva Refugee Convention, granted by BAMF at the end of an asylum procedure; one of the protection forms alongside asylum entitlement, subsidiary protection and the national deportation ban.

See recorded sources

Which population, circumstances or geographic group does the mechanism cover?

People outside their country of nationality (or, if stateless, of habitual residence) with a well-founded fear of persecution by state or non-state actors because of race, nationality, political opinion, religion or membership of a particular social group (which can include sexual orientation), and who cannot or, owing to that fear, will not use that country's protection. Excluded are e.g. persons who committed war crimes, crimes against humanity or serious non-political crimes, or who endanger German security.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/Asyl/Asylverfahren/Schutzformen/Fluechtlingsschutz/fluechtlingsschutz-node.html
    gelten Menschen als Flüchtlinge , die sich aus begründeter Furcht vor Verfolgung von staatlichen oder nichtstaatlichen Akteuren aufgrund ihrer Rasse (der Begriff "Rasse" wird in Anlehnung an den Vertragstext der Genfer Flüchtlingskonvention verwendet), Nationalität, politischen Überzeugung, Religion oder Zugehörigkeit zu einer bestimmten sozialen Gruppe (als bestimmte soziale Gruppe kann auch eine Gruppe gelten, die sich auf das gemeinsame Merkmal der sexuellen Orientierung gründet) außerhalb ihres Herkunftslands, dessen Staatsangehörigkeit sie besitzen, oder als Staatenlose außerhalb des Landes ihres gewöhnlichen Aufenthalts befinden. Diese Kriterien gelten auch, wenn sie den Schutz ihres Herkunftslands nicht in Anspruch nehmen können oder aufgrund der begründeten Furcht nicht in Anspruch nehmen wollen.
  • https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/Asyl/Asylverfahren/Schutzformen/Fluechtlingsschutz/fluechtlingsschutz-node.html
    Dies kann der Fall sein, wenn eine Person ein Kriegsverbrechen, ein Verbrechen gegen den Frieden oder gegen die Menschlichkeit begangen hat, eine schwere (nichtpolitische) Straftat begangen hat, den Zielen und Grundsätzen der Vereinten Nationen zuwidergehandelt hat, eine Gefahr für die Sicherheit der Bundesrepublik Deutschland darstellt

Where can protection be requested, and is this a direct application, border/in-country request, referral or other process?

In Germany, after arrival: the procedure starts with a personal application; any personal, informal expression to a competent authority of the wish for asylum or international protection counts as an application (specific legal terms are not needed). It can be made to a border authority, the police, a foreigners authority, a reception centre or an asylum authority. Unaccompanied minors can also apply. A written notice is allowed only exceptionally.

See recorded sources

What happens after the request: registration, family handling, major support and rights where officially stated?

After requesting protection, applicants have reception guarantees and procedural rights (e.g. state benefits for accommodation, medical care and food) and must cooperate in the procedure; all applicants are housed in initial reception centres. If refugee protection is granted: a residence permit for three years; a settlement permit possible after five years (three years with C1 German and a largely secured livelihood); unrestricted labour-market access; privileged family reunification.

See recorded sources

Which competent authority, UN body or official assistance channel should the person use?

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) is the competent authority; its decision-makers examine each asylum application individually. Applicants are informed where and how to lodge the application and of their right to free legal information.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No official fraud/scam warning found in the captured BAMF pages.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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