National protection entitlement
Under certain circumstances, you may not be deported to your country of origin, even if you have not been recognized as a person entitled to asylum, refugee or subsidiary protection.
This decision is made if there is evidence of targeted persecution. There is a specific danger exclusively for you.
For example, you are threatened with inhumane treatment because of your religion, you are excluded from all livelihood opportunities or suffer from a dangerous illness that cannot be treated in your country of origin, etc.
The Federal Office will determine an obstacle to deportation related to the destination country (prohibition of deportation according to § 60 para. 5 or para. 7) and you will be granted a residence permit according to § 25 para. 3 of the Residence Act, usually for one year.
Persons entitled to national protection pursuant to Section 60 (5) or (7) of the Residence Act are always only individuals. If there is an equivalent risk to a specific population group, national protection cannot usually be granted.
If deportation cannot take place because the person is unable to travel or does not have a passport, the regulation also does not apply.
ID card
You are not entitled to a refugee passport. Your residence permit is valid together with your home passport or as a substitute for a passport.
The issuing of a residence permit may be made dependent on obtaining a passport. You are therefore obliged to obtain a passport from your home country.
In principle, you can reasonably be expected to obtain a passport once the asylum procedure has been irrevocably concluded. You can accept a national passport from your country of origin without detrimental consequences for your right of residence.
Exceptions
You can only obtain a German travel document if it is exceptionally not possible to obtain a passport or if it is subject to unreasonable conditions.
The gray passport will then be issued to you as a travel document for foreigners. You can use it to travel, but usually no entry facilitations apply.
If you decide to apply for recognition of refugee status, you should avoid visiting an embassy in the meantime.
Integration course
In principle, you are not entitled to participate in an integration course. However, you can still try to be admitted if there are places available.
If you come from a country with a high recognition rate, you can still be admitted or obliged to attend.
You can submit a written application for admission to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
Living
As soon as you have your residence permit, you should look for an apartment yourself. The Jobcenter (in Jena the Eigenbetrieb Jenarbeit) will cover the cost of rent, provided it is reasonable and you have little or no income.
If you were recognized on 01.01.2016 or later, you will be subject to a residence regulation for a period of 3 years and, if applicable, a residence requirement.
These can only be lifted under the generally applicable conditions.
Work and training
You can find more information about your access to work,training or studies at in the relevant section.
Medical care
Your residence permit entitles you to benefits from the statutory health insurance funds.
If you have an employment relationship subject to social insurance contributions, you are covered by statutory health insurance and are entitled to all benefits.
If you receive social benefits to secure your livelihood, you are also entitled to all statutory health insurance benefits.
In both cases, you will receive a health insurance card, which you must show every time you visit a doctor.
Services
If you have been granted a form of protection or an obstacle to deportation, you can receive basic security benefits for jobseekers.
Basic security benefits for old age and reduced earning capacity are also possible.
Information on the type of these benefits and other possible support can be found in the Life section.
Residence perspective
Your residence permit can be extended if you submit an application in good time, at least 8 weeks before the expiration date. The reason for your stay must still exist.
The same documents are required for the application at the Foreigners' Registration Office as for the initial application.
If you submit the application on time, you will be issued a fictitious certificate. This secures your residence while a decision is made on the issue or extension of a residence permit.
The fictitious certificate has the same status as your previous residence permit with all the associated rights and obligations.
If the subsequent application is not submitted in good time before the deadline expires, you will only be granted a tolerated stay until a new decision is made.
After 5 years, you can apply for a settlement permit or EU permanent residence permit if you meet the necessary requirements.
Duties
You are generally obliged to comply with the provisions attached to the issue of your residence permit and to comply with requests for assistance.
You must report any changes in your personal circumstances to all relevant authorities immediately.
If you fail to do so, any benefits you have wrongly received will be reclaimed from you and current benefits may be reduced.
Furthermore, you must comply with the same obligations as all other German residents.
Complaints
As a person entitled to national protection, you have fewer rights than persons entitled to asylum, recognized refugees and persons entitled to subsidiary protection.
You have 2 weeks to appeal against your rejection as a refugee in court. You should discuss with an advice center and a lawyer whether an appeal makes sense and is likely to be successful.
Beratungsangebote
Es ist unschätzbar wertvoll, Hilfe zu bekommen, wenn man nicht mehr weiter weiß. Deshalb gibt es in Deutschland viele Beratungsstellen, die Hilfesuchenden in den unterschiedlichsten Lebenssituationen mit Fachwissen zur Seite stehen.