General information on arriving and living in NRW, Germany and the EU

This page contains a compilation of general information that is helpful when arriving in Germany and North Rhine-Westphalia. Here you will find practical links to contact points that can actively support and advise refugee artists and cultural professionals on their arrival in NRW and Germany.

 

The „Culture helping Culture“ project launched by the Kulturrat NRW in 2022 will end in May 2024. Please note that the information library will no longer be updated after this date. We recommend that you check the project pages listed to ensure that the information is up to date and to find out about any new calls for proposals. The information library continues to serve as an overview of the funding landscape in NRW.

  • Germany4Ukraine is an information service provided by the German government for refugees from Ukraine. The digital “contact point” contains the most important initial information for individuals arriving in Germany in Ukrainian, Russian, German and English.
  • The Goethe Institut offers a well-structured welcome portal in German, Ukrainian and Russian, which summarizes the most important information and links.
  •  On the website of the Bundesbeauftragten für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration you will find answers on topics such as housing/accommodation, work, study, school, childcare, health, financial support and much more in German, English, Ukrainian and Russian.
  • Handbook Germany has created a special page with helpful information for refugees on the situation at the borders, entry and further stay in Germany.
  • Pro Asyl provides support and information on asylum law.
  • Minor – Projektkontor für Bildung compiles comprehensive information on residence law issues in Germany for people from Ukraine.
  • The basics of residence law for refugees from Ukraine, with further information on social law issues and additional links to advice options, are summarized by touring artists in a helpful overview
    (ITI Germany, IGBK, Dachverband Tanz and SMartDe – Netzwerk für Kreative e. V. assume no liability for the suitability, completeness and relevance of the information published and transmitted to the specific situations of the users. We are also not liable for the topicality of the content. We expressly point out that the information provided only offers general guidelines for the cases in which it may be used; it serves as a point of orientation and suggestion. Its use is in no way a substitute for expert legal advice. Status as of April 5, 2022.)
  • Refugee Law Clinics (RLCs) are voluntary offers of student legal advice for refugees, especially in the field of migration law. In addition to asylum law and migration law, some RLCs also focus on social law and other legal issues related to the topic. An overview of RLC locations in Germany can be found here.
  • With COSMO ukrayinskoyu,WDR offers a radio and podcast program in Ukrainian. Broadcasts are online on weekdays from 6 pm or on the radio at 10 pm. All programs and other offers can also be found on the corresponding website.

Childcare and schools

 The Ministry of Schools and Education in North Rhine-Westphalia provides comprehensive information (in German) on the procedure for registering children from Ukraine at German kindergartens, daycare centers and schools.
 

Information on kindergartens and daycare centers:

“Children of nursery school age who have fled Ukraine with their families are to be looked after in the future in so-called ‘bridge projects.’ Upon request, this was announced by the State Ministry for Families, Children, Refugees and Integration. According to the ministry, these bridge projects are ‘low-threshold early education services for children and families who have experienced displacement.’ They are tailored to individual needs, and the state government is ‘in close contact with all stakeholders.’” (Source: Kölner Stadtanzeiger, March 18, 2022)
 
Information on registration in schools:

“The allocation of a school place for school-age children and young people is carried out by the locally responsible state education authorities. As part of the allocation process, families arriving from Ukraine also receive advice on the appropriate schooling for their children. In most municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia, this advice is provided by teachers delegated to the municipal integration centers of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. As there has been a steady influx of immigrants in recent years, there are good advisory practices and tried and tested concepts in place.
Of course, this planned procedure cannot rule out the possibility that children and young people with as yet unresolved residence status and without prior assignment by the school supervisory authorities will present themselves directly to schools in the coming days. In these cases, school attendance should be made possible with immediate effect—and also in anticipation of the expected legal situation—in coordination between the lower school administration responsible for allocation and the school authority.” (Source: Kölner Stadtanzeiger, March 18, 2022)
 

Colleges and universities

In the list provided online, you will find German art colleges without access restrictions for refugees. In 2024, different rules may already apply than in 2022/23. Please contact the colleges and universities directly to find out about the possibility of being admitted to a course of study via a simplified procedure.

Looking for work in Germany

The Federal Employment Agency provides extensive information on finding a job and on citizens’ benefits in Ukrainian, Russian, German, English and simplified German.

Here you will find contacts for the following topics:

  • Citizens’ allowance (also known as “citizens’ basic income”)
  • Child benefits
  • Information on training and further education
  • Job placement and support offers

There are numerous networks and online platforms where you can find or offer accommodation. We only list a few offers here.

Nationwide

  • #Accommodation Ukraine
    If you have space to host refugees from Ukraine, you can register with Hospitality Ukraine.

Internationally

  • At Host4Ukraine people who have the possibility to accommodate refugees from Ukraine can register—this can be anything from a bed to a house.
  • The UkraineNow platform compiles various offers of support for Ukrainian refugees worldwide. Volunteers can register here for accommodation, volunteer work and transportation services.

Important information from the Minister of State for Migration, Refugees and Integration:

  •  Many people in Germany and Europe are currently offering free accommodation to people from Ukraine. However, protect yourself from dubious offers and inform the police (phone: 110) if you feel uncomfortable. Under no circumstances should minors be accommodated privately without their families. The police or the youth welfare office must be informed. The Violence against Women Helpline provides free advice by telephone at 08000 116 016, as well as via email and online chat in 17 languages, including Russian.
  • You can also be accommodated in the initial reception centers or emergency shelters of the individual federal states. Please ask your local immigration office or the police for an address. You do not have to apply for asylum in order to be accommodated.

 

 
Asylum seekers are entitled to medical care after their arrival in Germany. They are either directly covered by statutory health insurance or there are subordinate entitlements under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act.
 
  • The website of the Minister of State for Migration, Refugees and Integration (under point 3 on the website) currently provides information on all health-related topics—in German, English, Ukrainian and Russian. Here you will also find information on questions regarding medication, COVID-19, etc

In urgent cases, you can visit the emergency outpatient clinics in hospitals. If you are in need of help, you are entitled to benefits under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act. If you are suffering from an acute illness or are in pain, the necessary medical and dental services, including the provision of medicines and dressings, will be granted in accordance with § 4 of the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act. In addition, further benefits may be granted in accordance with Section 6 of the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act if they are essential to safeguarding health in individual cases. Furthermore, people who have residence permits in accordance with § 24 Para. 1 AufenthG and special needs, such as those who have suffered torture or serious forms of violence, shall receive medical assistance to the extent necessary (§ 6 Para. 2 AsylbLG).

Please contact your local social welfare office for advice.

Information on medical care for refugees can be found at the German Medical Association.

You can also obtain advice on health insurance (also as a non-EU national) from the Equal Treatment Office for EU Workers (in various languages).

  • The Federal Foundation Mother and Child supports pregnant women in emergency situations and provides financial assistance—for example, for baby clothes and purchases for the child after birth. Pregnant women who have fled from Ukraine can also apply for unbureaucratic help from the foundation at many pregnancy advice centers. A flyer in Ukrainian provides information.
  • The “Pregnant women in need” helpline of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs is available around the clock for pregnant women at 0800 40 40 020. Qualified counselors provide anonymous and free advice in Russian and English. The helpline also offers free and anonymous online advice.
  • The nationwide working group of psychosocial centers for refugees and victims of torture offers support on all mental health issues. Counseling is free of charge and available on-site at the psychosocial centers. An overview of addresses can be found here.
  • The Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) offers a list of contact points and health care for refugees.
  • DoQtor  brings refugees from Ukraine together with psychologically trained staff free of charge. Languages: German, English, Ukrainian, Russian.
  • The Germany4Ukraine website contains a wealth of information on the subject of German lessons.
  • Pupils in Germany are entitled to instruction in their native language. You can find more information on the website of the NRW Ministry of Education or on the websites of the respective cities in NRW.
  • Three helpful apps for Ukrainian-German real-time translation are PONS Übersetzer (for iOS and Android), Say Hi (for iOS) and Sprechende Übersetzer (for Android).
  • The translation tool DeepL added the Ukrainian language in 2022 and is currently one of the most popular translation engines. 
  • Language support for refugees from Ukraine is provided by the publisher PONS. First aid learning packages for German as a foreign language are available to download free of charge. 
  • Another comprehensive German-Ukrainian picture dictionary is available for free download from the Tüftelakademie.