How Ukrainians Can Stay in Germany After Section 24: Residence Permit Options

Section 24 AufenthG gives Ukrainians in Germany temporary protection, the right to stay, work, study, and access social support. But this status is not permanent and does not replace a regular residence permit for work, study, business, or family reasons. If the goal is to stay in Germany long term, it is worth checking in advance whether it is possible to switch to another legal basis and which requirements must be met.

What Section 24 AufenthG Means

Ukrainians with temporary protection are often called refugees, but legally this is not the same as status under the Asylgesetz. Section 24 of the Residence Act Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) regulates temporary protection, voruebergehender Schutz, for people who had to leave their country because of war or large-scale danger.

Status under Section 24 usually provides:

the right to live in Germany for the duration of the permit;
access to the labor market if this is stated in the document;
the possibility to study, do an Ausbildung, and attend integration courses;
access to social assistance if the conditions are met;
medical coverage through the social system or insurance, depending on the situation.

The main limitation is that Section 24 is tied to the temporary protection regime. Extension periods are set by decisions of the EU and Germany, and the practical details depend on the Auslaenderbehoerde at the place of registration. That is why, before changing status or giving up benefits, you need up-to-date information from your local authority.

How Section 24 Differs From Asylum

Refugee status under the Asylgesetz is obtained through a separate asylum procedure. It requires proof of persecution or threats and can impose serious restrictions, including consequences for trips to the country of origin. For Ukrainians with temporary protection, filing for asylum en masse is usually not a “simple way to stay”: it is a different legal logic, a different risk, and a different set of requirements.

Section 24, by contrast, was created as a fast protection mechanism without the classic lengthy asylum procedure. It helps people live and work legally, but by itself it does not guarantee permanent residence after temporary protection ends.

When It Makes Sense to Think About Changing the Legal Basis

Switching to another residence permit makes sense if a person already has an independent basis: work, recognized qualifications, Ausbildung, study, business, family, or another lawful path. But changing the legal section can affect benefits, insurance, income requirements, and the consequences of losing a job.

Before applying to the Auslaenderamt or Auslaenderbehoerde, it is worth checking:

whether the right to social benefits will remain after changing status;
whether the income is enough for the whole family;
whether education or a profession is recognized;
whether health insurance covers all family members;
whether it is possible to return to Section 24 if the new residence permit is not extended;
whether a Fiktionsbescheinigung is needed while the application is being processed.

If the answer to any of these questions is unclear, it is better not to file documents blindly. In Germany, a mistake in the legal basis of residence can lead to loss of benefits, extension problems, or the need to urgently look for another status.

General Requirements for Almost Any Residence Permit

The specific conditions depend on the section of the AufenthG, but most options have a common foundation.

Income and Supporting the Family

For many residence permits, you must show that the person can support themselves and their family members without permanent dependence on social benefits. This usually includes salary, business income, sometimes Kindergeld, and other permitted benefits. Housing and heating costs are counted separately, so the same salary may be sufficient in one city and too low in another.

There is no exact universal threshold. It is assessed based on the family composition, rent, insurance, and the local practice of the authority. That is why the calculation has to be done for the actual place of residence, not based on average numbers from the internet.

Housing

Sufficient living space is usually required for a residence permit. The standards differ by federal state and authority. What matters is not only the number of square meters but also whether the family can realistically live in that apartment: the rental contract, registration, costs, and compliance with social or immigration requirements.

Health Insurance

Every resident of Germany must have health insurance. Employees and people in paid Ausbildung are usually covered by the statutory system through their salary. Non-working family members may be included in family insurance if the conditions are met. Students, self-employed people, pensioners, and people without work need to check their own option separately.

If coverage is currently tied to the Jobcenter or social assistance, it is important to understand in advance who will pay for the insurance and how after a change of status.

Documents and No Serious Violations

The authority checks identity, passport, registration, application forms, the basis for the residence permit, and any criminal record. Incorrect information in an application or a concealed serious conviction can be grounds for refusal. If there are criminal cases, entry bans, debts to authorities, or disputed documents, an individual legal review is necessary.

Main Options for Staying After Section 24

Basis	Who it suits	What is usually required
Work as a skilled worker: Sections 18a or 18b	People with vocational or higher education	Skilled employment, recognized or comparable qualifications, income, insurance
EU Blue Card: Section 18g	Specialists with higher education and a sufficient salary	Degree, suitable job, salary above the current threshold
Work under Section 19c	Certain categories of workers and special cases	Legal basis in the law or regulation, labor market interest, often involvement of the Bundesagentur fuer Arbeit
Ausbildung: Section 16a	Those ready to obtain a German profession	Ausbildung contract, language skills, financial means, insurance
University studies: Section 16b	Those admitted to a German university	Zulassung or Immatrikulation, funding, insurance
Self-employment or business: Section 21	Entrepreneurs and Freiberufler	A real business plan, financing, benefit or need for the economy, income
Family reunification	Spouses, children, and some family members	Family relationship, housing, income, insurance, sometimes language knowledge
Humanitarian grounds, including Section 25	Limited cases	Specific humanitarian or integration conditions, strong evidence

Residence Permit for Work

Work is the clearest path for those who have already integrated into the labor market. For a skilled worker residence permit, three things usually matter: qualifications, the nature of the job, and income. The job must be skilled, meaning it requires vocational training or higher education, and the education must be recognized in Germany or considered comparable.

The main work-related sections are:

Section 18a for specialists with vocational education;
Section 18b for specialists with higher education;
Section 18g for the EU Blue Card for qualified specialists with higher education and a salary above the current threshold;
Section 19c for special cases where eligibility depends on the law, a regulation, and often approval by the Bundesagentur fuer Arbeit.

Skilled work does not mean “any full-time job.” Cleaning, warehouse work, gastronomy, or simple assistance may provide income, but they are not always suitable for a skilled-worker residence permit. If the work does not require qualifications, you need to check separately whether there is an applicable path through Section 19c or another rule.

When switching from Section 24 to a work residence permit, it is important to understand the consequences of losing the job. Usually, you must inform the Auslaenderbehoerde quickly and look for a new position. The right to Arbeitslosengeld depends on the insurance period and contributions, not simply on the fact of living in Germany. That is why it is wise to have a financial reserve before changing status.

Ausbildung as a Path to a German Qualification

Ausbildung can be a strong option for those who do not yet have a recognized qualification in Germany or who want to change professions. During dual Ausbildung, a person studies and works, receives a salary, and gradually enters the German professional system.

For a residence permit for Ausbildung, you usually need:

a contract with an employer or educational institution;
sufficient German for study and work, often B1-B2;
coverage of living costs if the salary is not enough;
health insurance;
confirmed education and identity documents.

For families with children and spouses, one Ausbildung income may not be enough. The authority may ask for additional funds or proof that the family is financially secure.

University Studies or Preparatory Courses

Admission to a German university can become the basis for a residence permit if there is a Zulassung or confirmation of enrollment. For studying in Germany, authorities check financing, insurance, education documents, and the language of the program. German-language programs often require B2-C1, English-language programs require proven English and sometimes basic German for daily life.

If a school certificate does not give direct access to university, a Studienkolleg may be necessary. If the main goal is language learning, a residence permit for an intensive language course may be possible, but it does not always automatically lead to further stay. After the course, you need to have the next step: study, Ausbildung, work, or another legal basis.

Students usually have to prove financing. The amount changes, so instead of relying on old figures, it is better to check the current amount on the website of the German mission, DAAD, uni-assist, or in the authority’s requirements.

Business, Freiberufler, and Self-Employment

Section 21 AufenthG is suitable for those who can show real self-employed activity. This is not just registering a Gewerbe for the sake of a residence permit. The authority looks at the business plan, income, clients, financing, experience, benefit for the economy, and regional demand.

For Freiberufler, professional qualifications, a portfolio, contracts or letters from clients, income projections, and insurance are important. For a Gewerbe, additional requirements may include business registration, a financial plan, commercial premises, permits, or approvals.

If the business is already operating and generating income, the chances are better. If income is unstable or the family depends on benefits, the authority may refuse or request additional evidence.

Family Reunification

A family-based residence permit is possible for spouses, minor children, and in some cases other relatives. The basis may be marriage to a German citizen, a permanent resident, or a person with a suitable residence permit. Authorities usually check whether the marriage is genuine, the housing, income, insurance, and sometimes language knowledge.

Adult children usually do not qualify under standard family reunification just because their parents live in Germany. They more often need their own basis: work, Ausbildung, study, or another residence permit. Bringing parents is more difficult; such cases require separate review and usually cannot be solved by a simple reference to Section 24.

Section 25 and Risky Promises That It Is “Easy to Stay”

Offers to “transfer from Section 24 to Section 25 for money” should be treated cautiously. Section 25 AufenthG includes different humanitarian grounds, but they are not a universal replacement for a work or study residence permit.

Possible options within Section 25:

Section 25(2) for protection based on asylum or international protection grounds;
Section 25(5) for cases where departure is impossible for serious reasons;
Section 25b for residence based on sustainable integration if the legal conditions are met.

Section 25b can look attractive because it is linked to integration, language, and self-sufficiency. But if a person already has a stable job and suitable qualifications, it may make more sense to check work-related sections first. The decision depends on the documents, income, residence history, family situation, and the authority’s practice.

Practical Action Plan

Find out from the Auslaenderbehoerde until what date your document is valid and which extension rules apply in your city.
Do not give up Section 24 or benefits until it is clear that the new residence permit is realistic.
Gather proof of integration: work, language, courses, diplomas, children’s school documents, and no violations.
Check the recognition of education or professional qualifications.
Calculate family income taking rent, heating, insurance, and actual expenses into account.
Choose the main path: work, Ausbildung, study, business, family, or humanitarian grounds.
Prepare the documents and apply before the current status expires.
If the application takes a long time, ask whether a Fiktionsbescheinigung is needed.

FAQ

Can you simply stay in Germany after Section 24 ends?

Section 24 does not provide an automatic permanent right to stay. There must either be an extension of temporary protection or another lawful basis for a residence permit. The deadlines and transition rules should be checked against official notices.

Can you switch from Section 24 to a work residence permit?

Yes, if the requirements of the chosen work section are met: qualifications, a suitable job, income, insurance, and documents. The mere fact of having a job is not always enough if the position is not considered skilled or the salary is not enough for a family.

Will I lose Buergergeld after changing status?

It is possible to lose or change the right to benefits. This is one of the main questions before moving from Section 24 to another residence permit. You should clarify the consequences in advance with the Jobcenter and the Auslaenderbehoerde.

Is Ausbildung suitable for a family?

For one person, Ausbildung can be a realistic path. For a family, a trainee’s salary is often not enough, so the authority may require additional funds or another source of income.

Is it worth applying for asylum instead of Section 24?

Without individual grounds, this is a risky path. Asylum is a separate procedure with different consequences. Before taking such a step, you need advice from a qualified lawyer or migration counseling service.