By Brigitte Gisel
People from Ukraine who flee from the war in their homeland to Germany receive accommodation, food and medical care here. In the district of Tübingen, the city halls or citizens’ offices are responsible for this. It is there that those seeking protection should apply for their residence permits. Ukrainians who have a biometric passport do not need a visa for 90 days in many European countries, including Germany. But registration with the municipality is a prerequisite for applying for social benefits. The application is then forwarded to the foreigners authority. Except for the cities of Tübingen and Rottenburg, which have their own foreigners authorities, the district office is responsible for this.
The district of Tübingen has set up a hotline for questions:
0 70 71-2 07 37 00 (Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
ukraine@kreis-tuebingen.de
Housing: Anyone arriving in the Tübingen district who does not yet have a place to stay should register around the clock at the arrival center in the Kreissporthalle Tübingen, Waldhörnlestraße 13. Registration also takes place there during the day, and at least a bed and bedding are provided at night. Those who have found accommodation with friends or family members should contact the nearest town hall. Unlike asylum seekers, war refugees from Ukraine do not have to live in collective housing. So anyone who wants to take in people can report free living space to the municipalities. The district then rents the rooms. Anyone who rents directly to those affected must also settle accounts with them directly.
Social benefits: People with a Ukrainian passport who have fled the war do not have to apply for asylum to be allowed to live temporarily in Germany. Their protected status is based on a new EU regulation that allows them to remain in EU countries for the time being. In Germany, however, they still receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act – clothing, food and medical care.
Work: In principle, protection seekers from Ukraine are allowed to work, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior. However, this requires a permit from the foreigners authority.
Cheap food: In order to be able to buy food cheaply at the Tübingen Tafel, refugees from Ukraine can obtain a confirmation from a counseling center and then pick up the “Tübingen Tafel Card for a limited period of time” at the Tafel. For the time being, it replaces the Kreisbonuscard. For six months, adults can pick up goods for two euros (children free of charge) one day a week. There are also Tafel stores in Rottenburg, Mössingen and Reutlingen.
Local transport: Protected persons from Ukraine can use Tübingen’s city buses as well as the buses and trains in the Naldo network free of charge. The prerequisite is a Ukrainian passport or the “helpukraine” ticket. This special ticket issued by Deutsche Bahn makes it possible to travel to the destination free of charge after entering the country. It is available at train stations.
People from third countries: Ukraine was also home to people who had previously fled a war in their home country – for example, from Iraq. Protected status for refugees also applies to refugees recognized in Ukraine and to foreigners who were living in Ukraine on the day the war broke out on February 24.
Answers to many other questions can be found on the homepage of the Tübingen District Office at:
www.kreis-tuebingen.de/ukraine
Information in Ukrainian and Russian can be found at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees: www.bamf.de
and the Federal Ministry of the Interior: www.bmi.bund.de
Sources: Tübingen District Office, Tübinger Tafel, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Pro Asyl, Naldo, Deutsche Bahn
Further news on Ukraine: www.tuenews-ukraine.eu
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In der Kreissporthalle in Tübingen werden Geflüchtete aus der Ukraine kurzfristig untergebracht. Foto: tünews INTERNATIONAL / Mostafa Elyasian.
