Ukrainian residents with MS relocating to Germany | Country-specific information

18.05.2022

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Country-specific information for Ukrainian residents with MS relocating to Germany

German MS Society (DMSG)
  • Name: Dr. Alina Beckermann
  • Phone: +49 511 968340
  • Email: beckermann@dmsg.de
  • Languages: Russian, Ukrainian

After passing German border - registration

  • Please contact the nearest immigration office or police station if you do not have a valid visa or a biometric passport with which you can prove that you are legally staying in Germany, or you have no financial means for your own care. The police are usually present at train stations. They will first register you and, if necessary, arrange for your accommodation and meals. If you have a valid visa or a biometric passport and you can initially provide for your own needs, the nearest immigration authorities or police stations will usually only record your data. You are then free to choose your accommodation. In addition, many cities have central contact points that you can contact.
  • Ukrainian nationals may enter the Schengen area (and thus also Germany) for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days without a visa if they have a biometric passport. If you have a non-biometric passport, you need a Schengen visa for this short stay, but entry can also be granted for humanitarian reasons. The Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland (BMI) is working on regulations that will make it possible to extend the permitted stay to a limited extent without particularly burdening the immigration authorities. In order to avoid an inadvertently unauthorized stay, the persons concerned can first informally agree in writing, stating their personal details (preferably a copy of the passport data page) and the reason for their stay (war situation in Ukraine and possibly other reasons) and the day of the first entry into the EU Apply for a residence permit at the immigration office responsible for your place of residence.
  • Regardless of this, the right to file an application for asylum continues to exist in principle. Should you apply for asylum your visa expires when you apply for asylum. If you are in possession of a biometric passport, your visa-free stay expires when you apply for asylum. You are then usually obliged to live in a state reception facility for a certain period of time and can no longer freely determine your whereabouts. More information on this is expected in the coming days.
  • If you do not have been registered passing the German border so you are not in possession of an official registration document, the first step is to register within the within the immigration authority located in the city you are now living for being allowed to apply for further help (https://bamf-navi.bamf.de/en/Themen/Behoerden/). After successful registration, a certificate (proof of arrival) will be issued.

How to apply for accommodation

  • As long as you are allowed to stay in Germany without a visa or have a visa, you are free to choose your place of residence. You can also live with friends or family or find your own apartment. You do not have to live in a shared accommodation. If you do not have your own money, the social welfare office will cover the costs.
  • If you are already registered as refugee, you also can get accommodation facilitated by the social welfare office of the city you are resident. Please address your inquiry to that office.
  • However, the social welfare office will only pay the rental costs up to a certain amount and only if certain conditions are met. Therefore, before looking for an apartment, ask your social welfare office how high the rent may be and what other requirements the apartment must meet. The allowed amount of rent varies from city to city and depends on various factors, such as the type of heating and the size of the building.
  • You can read more about forms of accommodation here: https://handbookgermany.de/de/ukraine-info/en/wohnen.html

How to apply for financial support

  • Section 24 of the Residence Act, you are entitled to financial support from the state. You can get this support via the so-called “Asylum Seeker Benefits Act” (“„Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz”). This includes accommodation and money for food, clothing, etc. You will also receive a small amount of pocket money. If you move into your own apartment, you can also get additional financial support for furnishing the apartment. Important: Even if you do not currently have a residence permit according to Section 24 of the Residence Act and are not yet registered, the Federal Ministry of the Interior states that the following applies: If you need help from the state (accommodation, food, medical care), you are already entitled to it.
  • The following applies to everyone: You must apply for this assistance from the social welfare office (“Sozialamt”) responsible for you. The social welfare office responsible for you is the social welfare office at the place where you are staying. On http://www.sozialaemter.com/  you will find a list of all social welfare offices in the respective
  • If you have already or want to apply for a residence permit according to federal states.

How to apply for a work permit

  • As a registered refugee from Ukraine you will be allowed to work in Germany. A gainful employment must first be permitted by the foreigners authority. When the residence permit is issued, the foreigners authority will already enter in the residence title that gainful employment is permitted, even you do not have at the moment a concrete job is in prospect yet. This means that no further work permit from another authority is required.
  • The foreigners authorities will issue so-called probationary certificates when an application is submitted. These bypass the residence law until the actual residence title  can be issued and granted. The foreigners authority will also enter "gainful employment permitted" in the probationary certificate. Even with this probationary certificate, it is therefore possible to work in Germany on a self-employed basis or as an employee. Special professional access requirements (such as a licence to practise medicine or a permit for a trade requiring a licence) naturally apply to temporarily protected persons just like to everyone else. But the procedures for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications are also open to those affected, just like everyone else.
  • Persons with a residence permit for temporary protection in Germany are also eligible for advice and placement services in accordance with Social Code III (SGB III) through the employment agencies.

When do refugees from Ukraine need a residence permit?

  • People from Ukraine normally need a permit to entry and stay in Germany legally for a longer period of time. This permit is called a “residence permit”. Because of war in Ukraine, an exception to these rules has been made. So for the time being, war refugees from Ukraine do not need a residence  permit. However, this does not apply forever; the regulation is initially limited until August 31, 2022.
  • After August 31, 2022 war refugees from Ukraine will certainly need a residence permit. According to the current status it is sufficient if the application for the residence permit will be submitted to the local immigration authority by August 31, 2022 at the latest
  • Important: Latest from the moment that war refugees from Ukraine ask for state support in Germany in the form of accommodation, care, or social benefits (such as financial support and medical care), a residance permit is required.
  • There exist different types of a resident permit. As a war refugee from Ukraine you deffinitely should apply for a residence permit pursuant to §24 AufenthG (German Residence Act - Granting Residence for Temporary Protection).  It will be granted with immidiate effect.
  • https://www.germany4ukraine.de/hilfeportal-en/entry-residence-and-return

When do refugees from Ukraine need a registration at their place of residence?

  • A registration is a confirmation that someone has notified the city that he or she has moved into an apartment or another accomodation. All people who move into an apartment have to register in Germany, including Germans. With a confirmation of registration, you can prove that you are currently registered at an address.
  • Important: Latest from the moment that war refugees from Ukraine ask for state support in Germany in the form of accommodation, care, or social benefits (such as financial support and medical care), registration is required.
  • If you have not found private and permanent accommodation, you will normally be assigned to a certain place. To receive government support for accommodation, contact a reception center in your district. Anyone who lives in accommodation in the federal state or the municipality (city or municipality) is automatically registered.
  • Important: In this case, you should only apply for a residence permit when it is clear to which district you have been assigned. This is because the authorities responsible for this district are then also responsible for social benefits.
  • If, on the other hand, you can initially provide for yourself because e.g., you are living with friends or relatives, you are then free to choose your accommodation and will not be assigned. Then you have to be registered at the address where your friends/relatives live latest from the moment you ask for social benefits. https://www.germany4ukraine.de/hilfeportal-en/entry-residence-and-return
  • If you want to stay in Germany and need MS therapy, you have to apply for a residence permit and to register at your place of residence.  Only then you can get a membership in a health insurance company, which covers the costs of your MS therapy.
  • Important: Even if you are not registered and do not have health insurance, you are entitled to medical help in an emergency. So, in the event of a medical emergency, don’t be afraid to go to the nearest hospital or call an ambulance. Unfortunately MS relapses are usually not emergencies! The medical emergency is defined as a sudden event that poses an immediate threat to the life and health of the patient. You can read more about emergencies in the  "Emergency" chapter (https://handbookgermany.de/en/live/emergencies.html).

Links to government websites:

Links to non-profit organisations

  • The Refugee Council of the state/city you are living
  • Medinetz – a large number of cities are running such an organisation. As a rule, all employees, both mediators and those treating, work on a voluntary basis. The spectrum of those treating you ranges from doctors and psychotherapists to nurses, midwives, physiotherapists and physiotherapists to alternative practitioners. Interpreters often help on a voluntary basis as well. Costs incurred, mostly for materials, medicines or complex operations that cannot be carried out on an outpatient basis, i.e. under certain circumstances even if free treating physicians are not available, are financed by donations.
  • Gesundheit für Geflüchtete – facilitation for health vouchers. These networks have been working for many years in 33 locations in Germany to provide healthcare to refugees and migrants who do not have sufficient healthcare cover ( present in Berlin, Bielefeld, Bremen, Dusseldorf, Freiburg, Göttingen, Giessen, Hannover, Jena, Kiel, Leipzig, Magdeburg and Marburg). The multidisciplinary team that produces it works full-time in fields such as human medicine, psychology, health science and law.
  • Caritas Deutschland and Diakonie Deutschnald offices for clothes. These type of organisations are present all over the country
  • AWO stands for Arbeiterwohlfahrt, meaning Parity Welfare Association. This walfare association helps help poor people, refugees, people with disabilities and their families in different ways. These type of organisations are present all over the country
  • Tafel Deutschland is an organisatiom which helps poor people by giving them free food. These type of organisations are present all over the country.
  • Local churches
Links to organisations dealing with refugee issues
  • If there is a need, all persons covered by the scope of § 24 AufenthG receive benefits to cover medical care according to the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG)
  • Please address your needs to the welfare office of the city where you are resident. These will issue treatment certificates and prescriptions for therapies etc. In general if medical care is urgently needed, please contact directly the health department within the social welfare office via the citizen hotline.
  • Important: Even if you do not have health insurance and do not want to apply for asylum, you are entitled to medical help in an emergency. So, in the event of a medical emergency, be sure to go to the nearest hospital or call an ambulance. You can read more about emergencies in the  "Emergency" chapter (https://handbookgermany.de/en/live/emergencies.html). If it is not an emergency, the following applies: If you have an acute illness or pain and you do not have your own money, you can get help from the social welfare office. This also includes emergency medical care. You can find out how to apply for this in the “Can I get financial support?” section. Please note: You must apply for this help before you go to the doctor. The social welfare office will then give you a so-called “certificate of treatment” (“Behandlungschein”). In some federal states you will also receive a so-called “health card” (“Gesundheitskarte”). With it you can go to a doctor for free. You can find out more about this in the chapter “Health care for refugees” (https://handbookgermany.de/en/live/healthcareforrefugees.html.)
  • Note: If persons entitled to benefits according to the AsylbLG have special needs that go beyond the needs already covered by §§ 3 and 4 AsylbLG, § 6 paragraph 1 AsylbLG allows the granting of benefits to cover such special needs. This can also include necessary care services and services that materially correspond to the services of integration assistance. It is always necessary to consider the circumstances of the individual case.

How to apply for medical insurance in Germany?

  • Every person who lives in Germany is obligated to get a medical insurance!
  • Refugees from Ukraine in need of financial help of social benefits (such as financial support for rent, food, clothing or medication) can submit an application for unemployment benefit called ALG II (also known as Harz IV) to the Jobcenter of the respective place of residence.
  • If your application for ALG II (Harz IV) is approved, you will automaticly get access to the statutory health insurance (in German: gesetzliche Krankenkasse) and thus also to the social long-term care insurance
  • Refugees from Ukraine in need of social help who are older the 65 years or unable to work submit an application for basic security in old age (in German: Grundsicherung) to the Jobcenter of the respective place of residence.
  • If your application for Grundsicherung is approved, you will automaticly get access to the statutory health insurance (in German: gesetzliche Krankenkasse) and thus also to the social long-term care insurance
  • Persons who have fled Ukraine but are not in need of social benefits are granted the right to voluntarily join the statutory health insurance and social long-term care insurance. (This possibility concerns only very rich people or people who are able to continue working for their company and whos salary is enough to cover all their costs in Germany. If you are not sure if you have a claim for financial support, don’t hesitate and ask at the Jobcenter)

From what point are you insured and can go to the doctor?

  • You have health insurance from the day on which you applied for ALG II (Harz IV) or Grundsicherung. The prerequisite is that your application has been approved. If the application for ALGII or Grundsicherung is approved, the health insurance company you chose will be informed by the job center.
  • Normally the health insurance company will write to you and welcome you as a new member. Then you will get your health insurance card. You need to submit a photo for this.
  • However, issuing the health insurance card takes some time.
  • If you want to see a doctor after receiving the approval notice from the job center but before you receive your health insurance card, you should inform the health insurance company and ask them to fax the doctor a confirmation of cost coverage.
  • It also may happen that you need medical help, but your application for ALG II (Harz IV) or Grundsicherung has not yet been approved. In this case, please contact your health insurance company.
  • Important: In case of emergancy you are always entitled to medical help. So, in the event of a medical emergency, don’t be afraid to go to the nearest hospital or call an ambulance.

What costs will be covered by the health insurance?

Your insurance will cover the costs of the full catalogue of services that the statutory health insurances must offer.
  • Doctors, including neurologists, can be consulted and MS therapy can be started or continued. If you go a doctor you just need your health insurance card. Your doctor and your health insurance company will regulate the assumption of costs with each other
  • The same applies for the medically ordered examinations (e.g. MRT scans)
  • Also the costs for the prescribed medication are covered by the health insurance for the most part. You have to co-pay only a small contribution to the cost of medication in the pharmacy. The own contribution is usually 5 to 10 euros.
  • Notice: There is a load limit even for those small contributions. If you receive Harz IV or Grundsicherung your load limit is 98,16 € per year; for chronically ill patients it is 49,08 €. After you have paid this amount of money you can apply for exemption from statutory co-payments. To do this, you have to contact health insurance company.

Where can people get specialised MS care?

  • No information available at this time

What treatments for Multiple Sclerosis are available in Germany?

  • No information available at this time

Do pharmaceutical companies allow/support patients to continue a clinical study that they started in Ukraine?

  • Sanofi-Aventis has conducted studies with MS preparations (so-called BTK inhibitors) in Ukraine (pls. contact for information Sabine Fröhlich (Sabine.Froehlich@sanofi.com)
  • Novartis is still running a study with a few children (approval study). Attempts are currently being made to reach/locate all families/children in Ukraine/at the place of refuge And continue to provide care there or at the place of escape. (pls. contact for information Dr. Thomas Kolter (Thomas.kolter@novartis.com)
  • Merck Serono is running a phase III study (evobrutinib) in the Ukraine. Merck is currently clarifying the procedure and will also name a German contact person in order to make possible to address ongoing therapy inquiries
  • Responses are still pending from Janssen and Brystol Myers Squibb (BMS)
Note: Biogen does not have ongoing study in Ukraine and according to that no possibilities for further care in Germany

Refugees from Ukraine with physical or mental disabilities

How to apply for a disabled card

  • §  As a recognized person with disabilities in Ukraine, you have the opportunity to apply during your stay in Germany for a disability card, which gives you access to various benefits.
  • For example people who are significantly impaired in their freedom of movement on the road or people with significant walking and/or standing disabilities pay less fort he public transport. In some cases their attendant. You may also pay lower entrance fees in museums, theaters, swimming pools etc.
  • §  Therefore you have the option to submit your application for a disabled card electronically (form to be find on  office‘s website). Your data will be transmitted in encrypted form to the branch office of the State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Family (Landesamt für Soziales, Jugend und Familie) responsible for    your place of residence.
  • §  There is no need to send your original or copies of your Ukrainian disability card to testify status of disability.

How to apply for unemployment benefit according to ALG II (Harz IV) or Grundsicherung?

  • Anyone who is able to work and who is older than 18 and younger than 65 years old submits an application for unemployment benefit according to ALG II (also known as Harz IV) to the job center of the respective place of residence. This way you (and your children) get financial support according to the Second or Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB II or SGB XII), including financial support for rent, food, clothes etc. In return, the applicant undertakes to take part in language and integration courses and to look for a job.
  • Anyone who is older the 65 years or unable to work submits an application for basic security in old age (in German: Grundsicherung) to the Jobcenter. This also includes financial support for rent, food, clothing, etc. according to the Second or Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB II or SGB XII).

Prerequisites for receiving ALG II (Harz IV) or Grundsicherung are:

  • Residence permit according to § 24 AufenthG (Section 24 Paragraph 1 of the Residence Act) or proof that you have applied for a residence permit according to § 24 AufenthG (fictional certificate). The application for the residence title according to § 24 AufenthG is submitted to the foreigners authority of the place of residence
  • Identification service process: To receive a residance permit according to § 24 AufenthG there has to be made an identification treatment. This means that your photos and fingerprints must be recorded in the Central Register of Foreigners. The foreigner’s authorities are responsible for this. As not every local foreigner’s authority has the required equipment, sometimes the local police takes over the identification service and takes the photos and fingerprints.
  • Registration at your place of residence
  • Application for membership in a statutory health insurance company (in German: gesetzliche Krankenkasse) and the certificate from this statutory health insurance company about your membership application  There are many different statutory health insurance companies in Germany. You are free to choose one of them. In general, they offer very similar services at a similar price. In the case of language barriers, it is advisable to choose the health insurance company that has a branch close to where you live.
  • You have to have a Ferman bank account

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