Re:MatchRe:MatchIcon
For Refugees2023-03-14T16:18:37+01:00

We help you to find a German city that meets your needs and preferences

Re:Match is a small, needs-oriented relocation programme for refugees from Ukraine who are currently based in Poland and are interested in moving to Germany. On this page you can find out more about this programme and how it works.

How it works:

1. CONTACT US

Get in contact with us and learn about the Re:Match relocation process. For example, you can attend an info event in Salam Lab’s welcome centre in Krakow (Poland) where all your questions will be answered. If you wish to take part in the programme, you can arrange an in-person interview with our team in Krakow.

2. INTERVIEW

During the interview at Salam Labs office in Krakow, you will discuss your needs and priorities. You will also be asked to provide relevant information about yourself (and other people you want to be relocated with). Meanwhile, participating cities are also asked about their capacities and needs.

3. MATCHING

Based on the information you provided, we do our best to find the best match for you. We will discuss the match with you and provide more information on the proposed city. You have the final say on whether you’d like to accept the match.

4. RELOCATION & TRAVELLING

After informing the city, we will organise your relocation together with you: we help you arrange your trip and provide you information about the city and the local support structures.

5. ARRIVAL

Upon arrival, the local authorities will provide guidance for registration and other paperwork for you to receive a temporary residence permit, financial support and so on. Now you can start to settle in your new city.

Requirements

To participate you must fulfill all of the following requirements:

  • you are fleeing from the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine
  • you are a Ukrainian national who had their residence in Ukraine before February 24, 2022 or a Ukrainian national’s family member
  • you already reside in Poland or are currently planning to leave for Poland from Ukraine you have not applied for or received a temporary residence permit in Germany yet

Ready for the next step?

If you are interested in being relocated by Re:Match, contact us! You can do so via email or by visiting Salam Lab‘s in-person welcome center in Krakow (Poland). Our project coordinator Tetiana will answer any further questions you may have.

Disclaimer2023-02-20T12:16:51+01:00

All answers are based on the information provided by official government sources. For further details, please refer to the official information website of the German Interior Ministry for Refugees from Ukraine.

If you could not find an answer to your question in this Frequently Asked Section or in other official information sources, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

I am a refugee from Ukraine. Can I participate in this project?2023-02-20T11:20:35+01:00

In general, the Re:Match project is subject to the special ruling of the European Union called the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) which allows war refugees from Ukraine to enter and travel through the Schengen Area without a visa or residence permit. The project must also comply with the additional decisions of the Federal Republic of Germany made in this regard.

Therefore, you can participate in the Re:Match project, if you fulfill all of the following three  requirements:

  • persons fleeing from the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine: Ukrainian nationals who had their residence in Ukraine before February 24, 2022 and their family members, such as spouses, unmarried partners, minor unmarried children, and close relatives (even if these family members are not Ukrainian nationals);
  • persons who already reside in Poland or are currently planning to leave for Poland from Ukraine;
  • persons who have not applied for or received a temporary residence permit in Germany yet.

We can relocate all legal adults regardless of gender. Minors, persons unable to travel alone and pets can be relocated if accompanied by their guardian.

How can I participate in this project?2023-02-20T10:57:51+01:00

The process starts at the Welcoming Center of our project partner Salam Lab in Krakow, Poland. As the first step, get in touch with the project coordinator Tetiana at Salam Lab via email. She will provide you with all information and guide you through the whole process.

Will I get medical insurance in Germany?2023-02-20T11:01:49+01:00

If you register as a Ukrainian refugee upon arrival and apply to receive social assistance (Sozialhilfe in German), you will receive a health insurance card from a state-run health insurance fund. This allows you to access healthcare services and most doctors free of charge. The costs will be covered by the welfare office of the German government (Sozialamt in German).

If you are not yet registered as a refugee from Ukraine, a doctor issues a bill which you would have to pay from your pocket.

When it comes to medicine, you usually need to pay an additional amount for your prescription drugs at the pharmacy. This additional payment is usually between 5 euros – maximum 10 euros.

You cannot claim welfare incl. medical benefits in Germany by using your Ukrainian health insurance. According to the rules, you have to be in the German insurance system in order to receive financial support from the German state.

I need special medical care or assistance. Can persons with special medical needs participate in your project?2023-02-20T11:10:58+01:00

If you or someone you wish to relocate with belongs to a vulnerable group and requires special protection or medical care, we will consider these factors during your matching and relocation process. You will be asked to provide concrete and comprehensive information about your individual special needs during an interview with our project partner Salam Lab.

This way, we can determine your participation in the project. We will try to find a city which will match your needs but can not guarantee for immediate relocation.

As a rule of thumb, individuals insured by German state health insurance are automatically enrolled in social long-term care insurance. So there is no need to submit a special application for coverage if you need social long-term care insurance.

Will I be placed into a small town or a big city?2023-02-20T11:12:37+01:00

That depends on your preferences and priorities!

Our partner cities are of different sizes. The population, size and location as well as your other needs and priorities will be discussed with you in-depth during an in-person interview. The information you provided during the interview will serve as a basis for the matching algorithm to determine which participating city suits most of your needs and priorities.

Note: while one city can match your size and location preferences, another city can cater for your other needs in a better way. This is why we use an algorithm to come up with a balanced, best-possible match proposal for you.

Where will I live upon arrival?2023-02-20T11:16:33+01:00

Re:Match does not arrange housing in Germany. Rather, the project’s goal is to match you with a German city that will place you in the best local housing available at the time of your arrival. We closely cooperate with the participating cities and provide them with the information about your individual housing needs. We can assure there will be no accommodation in gyms or tents.

The accommodation type can be upgraded with time, for example from a dormitory to a private apartment, because each German city aims to provide the best possible conditions for refugees whenever it has the capacity to do so.

You are not obliged to stay in public housing assigned by local authorities. You may opt for a private accommodation if you have the means to arrange one. In the section Further Support  you will find organizations across Germany that can help refugees out in arranging private accommodation.

What kind of legal status can I get if I relocate to Germany?2023-02-20T11:19:50+01:00

Ukrainians and their families fleeing from the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine are able to enter Germany freely, without a visa, thanks to the special EU decision (Temporary Protection Directive).

Hence, many people from Ukraine currently do not need a visa if they enter Germany for the first time before 31 May 2023 (this is the current ruling of the German government very likely to be extended). They do not need a visa or residence permit to stay in Germany legally for up to 90 days from the date they enter. So the last date on which it is possible to be in Germany legally without a visa or residence permit is 29 August 2023. In general, the EU Temporary Protection Directive can be extended by EU countries until March 2025, depending on the war developments in Ukraine.

During the 90 days in which you can stay in Germany legally without a visa, you can decide whether you would like to stay in Germany longer. If you decide to stay longer, you have the following options:

  1. Within 90 days of entering Germany for the first time, you can apply for a temporary residence permit under section 24 of the German Residence Law (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG). Section 24 deals specifically with the situation of refugees from the war in Ukraine based on the relevant EU decision. You can find out here who is eligible for a temporary residence permit under section 24 of the Residence Law, and you can find out more about the procedure here.
  2. Within 90 days of entering Germany for the first time, you can apply for a temporary residence permit for a different purpose, such as to study or work in Germany.

To decide which option would be more advantageous for you, you can make an appointment with the Foreigners´Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde in German) in your area to ask them for advice.

Will I get a German residence permit if I already have one in Poland and receive welfare benefits there?2023-02-20T11:23:46+01:00

Ukrainian nationals can continue to travel within the Schengen area. Both Poland and Germany are part of the Schengen area. You can stay in countries of the Schengen area without a visa or a residence permit for a total of 90 days. The same applies if you have already received a residence title in one country of the Schengen area, e.g. for temporary protection.

If you want to travel on to apply for temporary protection in another EU Member State, you are allowed to do this (without a visa as well) and then apply for the residence permit for temporary protection locally in the new EU Member State, for instance from Poland to Germany as in our case. Every person, who registered and applied for a residence permit, has the right to apply for and receive welfare support from the German government.

More information from the German Interior Ministry can be found here (available only in German).

How will I get to Germany?2023-02-20T11:25:07+01:00

After you have been matched with a German city and agreed to the match, the Re:Match project team in Germany and Poland will coordinate your relocation. We will organize your transport and provide you with all information necessary for travel and arrival.

All costs for the transport will be paid by Re:Match.

If you wish to travel with your own car, you can let us know.

I would like to be relocated together with my children. What kind of school will they attend and is it free of charge? Will daycare be provided and is it free of charge?2023-02-20T11:29:10+01:00

All children from the age of six are generally required to attend school in Germany. There are private and public schools in Germany. Public school attendance is free of charge.

For children under the age of six, daycare/pre-schools are available free of charge.

Upon arrival in the matched city, local authorities will advise you on how to arrange daycare for children under the age of six and school attendance for children from the age of six.

Am I allowed to work in Germany as a person fleeing from Ukraine?2023-02-20T11:35:19+01:00

Yes, if you have a residence permit under Section 24 (1) of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz). As soon as a provisional residence document is issued in accordance with Section 24 (1) of the Residence Act, you are entitled to work. You can then undertake, in principle, any kind of employment in Germany or begin vocational training. Please note that there are certain labor market access restrictions for some professions under German law (e.g. doctors, teachers, educators) in terms of language proficiency, recognition of foreign higher education qualifications and such.

You are also able to start your own business or work as a freelancer. Every industry has specific requirements that need to be taken into account when starting a business. These may include professional law regulations, special licenses and insurance law issues.

If you meet the requirements, you can also directly apply for a residence permit for the purpose of employment or training at the local foreigners authority.

Upon arrival in the matched city, local authorities will advise you on how to arrange for work permit and if needed recognition of documents such as diploma, certificates, references.

How can I apply for financial benefits in Germany?2023-02-20T11:37:32+01:00

If you need financial support, the first thing you need to do is register at an initial reception centre (Erstaufnahmeeinrichtung in German). You can be registered anywhere in Germany at a foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde in German) office.

You can receive money from the jobcentre or welfare office if you have applied for a residence permit under Section 24 (1) of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz) at the foreigners authority office of the match city. If a residence permit cannot be issued immediately under Section 24 (1) of the Residence Act, you will first be issued a provisional residence document (known as a Fiktionsbescheinigung in German). This document already entitles you to receive social benefits.

Upon arrival in the matched city, local authorities will advise you on how to register and receive financial support.

What financial benefits can I receive in Germany?2023-02-20T11:38:39+01:00

The jobcentre (Jobcenter in German) can offer you the following types of support:

  • Benefits to secure living expenses, housing and heating (food, clothing, personal hygiene items, and rent).
  • Labour market integration assistance

The local welfare office (Sozialamt in German) can also support you with benefits to secure living expenses, i.e. money/vouchers for rent, food and personal hygiene items. It is also possible to receive one-off financial support, for example if you have found accommodation and need furniture.

In addition, it is possible to apply for child benefits. Members of your family can also receive financial support.

The  jobcentre and the local welfare office in the city you have been matched to will advise you on these issues.

Already in Germany?

In case you have already applied for a residence permit and been registered in a German city independently or have just been relocated by Re:Match, we have compiled some useful links and trustworthy information for your near future.

A better EU-relocation is possible.

We Make It Happen via Matching.

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