With the approval of the Bundesrat on 17 May 2024, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community has extended the easing of entry restrictions for refugees from Ukraine for the fifth time. Ukrainian nationals, as well as third-country nationals and stateless refugees from Ukraine who have a permanent right of residence in Ukraine, can continue to enter Germany without a residence title until 31 December 2024.

This was achieved by extending the Ukraine Residence Transition Ordinance for the fifth time and amending it accordingly. The Federal Government did this in response to Russia’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine.

Under the new rules, stateless persons and non-Ukrainian, third-country nationals who did not have a permanent right of residence in Ukraine are no longer exempt from the requirement to hold a residence title and therefore require a visa to enter Germany. This limits the facilitation of entry and residence to individuals who are entitled to protection under European law.

Further information, including translations into English, Ukrainian and Russian, can be found on the Germany4Ukraine website.