Do Ukrainian refugees need a work permit and where do they get it?

Ukrainian refugees need a work permit. However, they can already obtain this when they apply for a residence permit. They then receive a so-called fictitious certificate, which enables them to take up work immediately. A fictitious certificate enables dependent or self-employed gainful employment, even if the decision on the residence title has not yet been made.

IMPORTANT: As long as Ukrainians are in Germany without a visa or with a visitor visa, they are not yet allowed to work! Taking up training is equivalent to being allowed to work.

Notes on the residence permit

Ukrainian nationals who have been expelled from Ukraine since 24 February 2022 as a result of the military invasion by Russia do not have to go through an asylum procedure. People from Ukraine who have entered Germany without a visa can currently obtain a residence permit in accordance with §24 of the Residence Act (granting of residence for temporary protection). They can apply for this residence permit at the foreigners authority of their place of residence or stay without having been granted a visa outside Germany beforehand.

The residence permit is applied for at the foreigners authority where the refugee lives or is registered and is valid for 2 years and can be extended up to 3 years if necessary. On the homepage of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, you can find the responsible foreigners authority by entering your place of residence.

What is a certificate of fiction?

If a residence permit according to § 24 has been applied for at the Aliens' Registration Office, the latter issues a so-called fictitious certificate. With the receipt of a fictitious certificate, dependent or self-employed gainful employment is possible immediately, even if the decision on the residence title has not yet been made.

Important: As long as Ukrainians are in Germany without a visa or with a visitor visa, they are not yet allowed to work!

Note: Taking up training is equivalent to being allowed to work.

Are they allowed to change their place of residence because of a job?

Affected persons are usually subject to a residence requirement, which means that a move to another city/municipality is only possible on the following grounds:

  • Taking up employment subject to compulsory insurance (also studies or training)
  • .
  • Family reunification
  • Special hardship cases
  • .

In NRW, however, the residence requirement for Ukraine refugees has been newly regulated. For those affected, relocation within the federal state is possible without further permission until further notice. However, a change of residence to another federal state must still be applied for in writing to the Arnsberg district government.

Checklist for employers

The "Netzwerk Unternehmen integrieren Flüchtlinge" (Businesses Integrate Refugees Network) has created a checklist that shows how the employment of refugees from Ukraine can succeed. From registration with the relevant foreigners authority to onboarding in the company and at the place of residence.

General Ukraine aid in the Münsterland

© Münsterland e.V./Philipp Foelting

The city of Münster and the districts in the Münsterland region provide information on their websites on the topic of Ukraine aid. As a rule, the contact persons in the cities and municipalities are also listed there.

  • District of Borken. You can find more information here.
  • Coesfeld district. You can find more information here.
  • City of Münster. You can find more information here.
  • Steinfurt district. You can find more information here.
  • District of Warendorf. You can find more information here.

Link-Tips Ukraine-Aid

Selection of links on the entry and residence of Ukrainian refugees
  • KOFA Competence Centre for Skilled Workers. You can find more information here.
  • Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs. You can find more information here.
  • Network Companies Integrate Refugees. You can find more information here.
  • Federal Ministry of Education and Research. You can find more information here.

Your contact persons

Get in touch and let's talk about your concerns. We will be happy to develop the next steps together with you.

Monika Leiking
© Münsterland e.V./Anja Tiwisina
Monika Leiking
Head of Service Onboarding@Münsterland
Employer network
Consulting for companies

0049 2571 94 93 15

Birgit Stübing-Beunink
© Münsterland e.V./Anja Tiwisina
Birgit Stübing-Beunink
Service Onboarding@Münsterland
Consulting for companies
Consulting professionals

0049 2571 94 93 79

Stefanie Prange
© Münsterland e.V./Philipp Fölting
Stefanie Prange
Service Onboarding@Münsterland
Consulting for companies
Consulting professionals

0049 2571 94 93 52

More information