I need help

Welcome to Germany!

Our thoughts are with the people who are on the ground in Ukraine right now. And we warmly welcome all people who have fled the war zones and are arriving here.

Ukrainians who do not yet have a specific destination in Germany, please travel to Bahnhof Laatzen in Hannover.

Bahnhof Laatzen/Messebahnhof Hannover
Münchner Straße 2
30880 Laatzen

You will be accommodated there and receive further assistance (food, clothing, medical care). Travel by bus and train is free of charge for refugees.

Ukrainians who already have accommodation in the Hanseatic city or district and wish to stay here should contact the Foreigners‘ Registration Office.

Einwohnermeldeamt von Hansestadt und Landkreis
Bardowicker Straße 23
21335 Lüneburg
E-Mail: buergeramt@stadt.lueneburg.de
Tel.: +49 4131 3093259

There is an obligation to register only after three months of residence.

Hotline for questions regarding the law on foreigners

The staff of the hotline of the Hanseatic city and the district help to clarify questions regarding the law on foreigners.
Phone: +49 4131 309-3525

Tuesday: 10 a.m. till 11.30 a.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m. till bis 12 a.m.
Thursday: 1.30 p.m. till 3 p.m.

Further information

Well-prepared information on entry and residence for people from Ukraine can be found on the multilingual pages of the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration:

• Germany4Ukraine.de – Multilingual information for a good arrival in Germany
  Germany4Ukraine offers information and assistance from the German Federal Government for a good start in Germany. The website is constantly being updated and expanded. The information is available in Ukrainian, Russian, English and German.
• Handbookgermany.de – Multilingual information on various topics
  Handbook Germany provides information for refugees from Ukraine in the categories of work, family, health, life, learning, law and legislation in Ukrainian, Russian, English and German.

In addition, the following offices/ministries provide information in Ukrainian and Russian, among other languages:

• Federal Office for Migration and Refugees
• Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs
• Foreign Office
• Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior and Sport

1. Schengen residence

If you have recently entered Germany, you are initially permitted to stay in Germany for 90 days from the date of entry. If, for example, you are staying with family or friends in Germany and are able to look after yourself, there is no acute need to take action to legitimise your stay.

You can be granted a further stay under the Schengen regulations for up to a total of six months. To do so, you must submit an application to the Aliens‘ Registration Office before the 90 days have expired. You are free to choose where to live, but you are not permitted to take up employment.

If you are staying in the Hanseatic city or the district of Lüneburg for a longer period of time, you should nevertheless register at the competent registration office of your place of residence and present the confirmation of accommodation (see download area).

2. Temporary protection according to § 24 of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz)

You can apply for a residence permit according to § 24 of the Residence Act (temporary protection). This residence permit is initially valid for one year, entitles you to take up employment and access to social benefits according to the current status.

ATTENTION: With such a residence permit you cannot freely choose your place of residence. By submitting an application, you will be allowed to take up residence with current accommodation

• in the Hanseatic City of Lüneburg to the territory of the Hanseatic City of Lüneburg
• in other municipalities belonging to the district of Lüneburg (without the Hanseatic City of Lüneburg)

limited.

Should you wish to apply for temporary protection under these conditions, please proceed as follows:

1. If possible, register at the competent registration office by submitting a completed and signed housing provider confirmation (see download area). There you will receive a certificate of registration.
2. Please complete and sign our application form (see download area).
3. Send the completed application form together with the registration certificate in advance to auslaenderbehoerde@stadt.lueneburg.de.

You will then receive an appointment from us as soon as possible. Please bring the original application form and a biometric photo with you to this appointment. Following this appointment, you will be given another appointment at a later date for identification treatment.

3. Asylum application

You will be forwarded to the nearest Land reception authority to apply for asylum. You would also not be free to choose your place of residence. Please note that an asylum application entails a lengthy and complex procedure. In view of the possibility of applying for temporary protection (see point 2.), the Foreigners‘ Registration Office Lüneburg currently advises against applying for asylum.

4. Residence permit for other reasons

Due to the temporary abolition of the visa requirement, you may be able to apply for another residence permit in special cases, for example for family reasons. If there are special circumstances in your individual case, please contact our hotline at +49 4131 309-4444.

Non-Ukrainian third-country nationals or stateless persons who have fled Ukraine and cannot obtain temporary protection pursuant to section 24 of the Residence Act or another residence title must first be granted a toleration pursuant to sections 60 or 60a of the Residence Act. These persons would then be subject to an enforceable obligation to leave the country and threatened with deportation to their country of origin. They should contact a counselling centre to find out about the prospects of success of an asylum application or other prospects under residence law.

Neither the municipality, nor the local contact persons or refugee social workers of the district provide legal advice. Advice on the asylum procedure is provided by the Diakonie’s procedural counselling service. The counselling supports you with …

• applying for asylum
• preparing for the interview
• counselling during the asylum procedure
• the search for suitable legal advice

In the case of a rejection of the asylum application, information and assistance on possible legal remedies and prospects under residence law. The counselling service is free of charge, confidential and interfaith.

Lebensraum Diakonie e.V. Lüneburg
Asylum counselling
Franziska Spehling
House of the Church
An den Reeperbahnen 1
21335 Lüneburg
Phone: +49 4131 74 92-18
E-mail: franziska.spehling@lebensraum-diakonie.de
www.lebensraum-diakonie.de

If you incur costs due to legal advice or court proceedings, these are not covered by the district or the municipality. However, under certain conditions you have the right to apply for a free initial consultation or legal aid at the local court in Lüneburg. Please seek advice before you incur any costs. The local court is located on the Markt opposite the town hall.

Lüneburg Local Court
Am Ochsenmarkt 3
21335 Lüneburg
Telephone +49 4131 202-1
E-mail: AGLG-poststelle@justiz.niedersachsen.de

In war and on the run, women and children in particular are at risk of becoming victims of crime. Many people want to help those coming from Ukraine at the moment. Unfortunately, among those helping are sometimes people with bad intentions who could take advantage of your plight, e.g. human traffickers or even trafficked women.

Therefore, for your safety, please note:

1. Do not give your passport out of your hand. Take a photo or a copy of it and send it to a trusted person.
2. Keep your phone with you at all times. Memorise the phone number of a trusted person who can help you if you get into an emergency here. Agree on a code word that will serve as a sign of distress.
3. Take a photo of the car registration number before you get into a car. Send the photo to a trusted person. If the driver objects, it is better not to get in.
4. If you are offered a flat or a room, ask to see your identity card and write down your name and address.
5. You have the right to register at this address and to get financial help from the city.
6. In Germany, you have the right to an employment contract and minimum wage (about 10 euros per hour). Be careful if someone promises you a lot of money quickly.
7. Make a note of the names and telephone numbers of aid organisations. Support services for refugees are free of charge in Germany. Do not pay alleged mediators.
8. Human traffickers or pimps are not only men. You should not blindly trust women either. Stay in contact with relatives, friends and other refugees.
9. If you are in a predicament or danger, contact:
   – Violence against women: 08000 116 016 (around the clock).
   – Police: 110

The Lower Saxony Ministry for Social Affairs, Health and Equality has produced a flyer with important information and contact points for people who have fled Ukraine (see download area).

The Federal Foundation for mother and child offers information for pregnant women in emergency situations in German, Englisch und Ukrainian.

If you are a new arrival in the district and need accommodation, please first go to Bahnhof Laatzen/Messebahnhof Hannover. The journey by bus and train is free of charge for refugees.

Bahnhof Laatzen/Messebahnhof Hannover
Münchner Straße 2
30880 Laatzen

At first, you will be accommodated in the arrival centre.

In addition, you can contact the contact persons in the respective municipalities. They help to arrange accommodation in the district.

If you need medical assistance, please go to the Bahnhof Laatzen/Messebahnhof Hannover. Here, free health care is provided for refugees. The journey by bus and train is free of charge for refugees.

Bahnhof Laatzen/Messebahnhof Hannover
Münchner Straße 2
30880 Laatzen

Note: In order to offer medical and pyschological help to all war refugees in their local language, we rely on your help. We are looking for volunteer support from people from Ukraine in the fields of education, psychology and medicine:

• Educators
• teachers
• doctors
• medical professionals

If you have the appropriate training and would like to volunteer, we would be happy to receive your e-mail to Karin Kuntze, Head of the Education and Integration Office: imke.moeller@landkreis-lueneburg.de – please in German or English. Ms Kuntze will collect all offers and get back to you.

Arriving in a foreign country is a great challenge. In the district there are extensive counselling and support services for migrants and refugees in very different life situations.

The Network for Traumatised Refugees in Lower Saxony e.V. (NTFN) also offers psychological and psychosocial counselling for refugees, in German, English or with the support of interpreters (e.g. in Ukrainian, Russian as well as many other languages). The counselling centre in Lüneburg is located in Katzenstraße. You can find more information in the flyer:

• NTFN_Flyer_Psychological Counselling_Ukrainian
• NTFN_Flyer_Psychological Counselling_Russian
• NTFN_Flyer_Psychological Counselling_German

Psychosocial Treatment Centre Lüneburg
Katzenstraße 3, 21335 Lüneburg
Phone: +49 4131 26 788 43
E-Mail: info-lg@ntfn.de
Open consultation hours: Mondays from 10.45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Information about the Corona vaccination is available in different languages on the website www.impfen-schuetzen-testen.de.

The Federal Center for Health Education has published a lot of information about Corona in Ukrainian, and there are also videos in Ukrainian.

The government of Lower Saxony provides the most important basic information on protective measures against the corona virus in German, Turkish, Russian, Polish, Bulgarian, Romanian, English, Arabic, Farsi and Ukrainian.

Together with the mobile vaccination teams of the municipalities and the state reception authorities, vaccination offers are organised for the refugees accommodated in the state facilities. Those who do not live in a state reception centre but privately (for example with relatives or acquaintances) have the opportunity to be vaccinated free of charge at a municipal vaccination service or in a doctor’s practice. You can find all vaccination services in the district of Lüneburg on our Corona topic page.

The Employment Agency in Lüneburg (Agentur für Arbeit) can help you find a job or training place in Germany. Here you can find advice and specific job offers are arranged. In addition, there are various support measures: for example, the assumption of application costs, coaching and training courses.

Information on the recognition of professional degrees and qualifications can be found at https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/fuer-menschen-aus-dem-ausland/anerkennung-abschluss.

„UA Talents“ – Job platform
New online offer for refugees from Ukraine

The new platform aims to bring together job seekers from Ukraine and employers in Europe. Companies from all over Europe can advertise their vacancies for people from Ukraine who have lost their jobs due to the war. Initially, jobs will be offered in the technology sector. It is planned to quickly expand the offer to other sectors. Remote work will also be considered. The website is in Ukrainian and English. Interested persons can fill out a questionnaire there, among other things about their qualifications. This information is compared with existing job offers.
www.heise.de/news/UA-Talents-Jobplattform-fuer-Gefluechtete-aus-der-Ukraine-online-6540843.html

As soon as you have accommodation, you can apply for social benefits according to the Asylum Seekers‘ Benefits Act (AsylbLG).

If you do not yet have accommodation, please go in person to the train station Laatzen/Messebahnhof Hannover, Münchner Straße 2, 30880 Laatzen.

If you have a Ukrainian biometric passport or a Ukrainian residence title, please contact the Foreigners‘ Registration Office of the Hanseatic City and County. Here you can apply for temporary protection (application for protection). This contains a fictitious certificate, which you can use to apply for benefits from the Social Welfare Office or the Job Centre.

Which institution is responsible for me?

• People in need of assistance who are capable of working:

You are entitled to benefits from the Basic Security for Job Seekers according to the Social Code Book II (SGB II). The Job Centre Lüneburg has been responsible for you since 1 June 2022.

• People in need of assistance who are not fully able to work:

They are entitled to basic welfare benefits according to the Social Code XII. The Social Welfare Office is responsible for them.

• People in need of assistance who have reached German retirement age (born before 1 July 1956):

You are entitled to basic old-age benefits according to the Social Code XII. The Social Welfare Office is responsible for you.

In order to take good care of the children and young people who have fled from Ukraine and to offer medical and pyschological help to all war refugees in their national language, we depend on your help. We are looking for volunteer support from people from Ukraine in the fields of education, psychology and medicine:

• Educators
• teachers
• doctors
• medical professionals

If you have the appropriate training and would like to volunteer, we would be happy to receive your e-mail to Karin Kuntze, Head of the Education and Integration Office: imke.moeller@landkreis-lueneburg.de – please in German or English. Ms Kuntze will collect all offers and get back to you.

Children from Ukrainian war zones have a right to free childcare in the district of Lüneburg. Places for childcare in a crèche, day care centre or kindergarten are allocated through the towns and municipalities, among others. Families arriving in the district of Lüneburg should register quickly with their town or municipality. There they will find information on the specific childcare services offered as well as the subsequent school registration. In addition, free kindergarten and „Krippen“ places in the Hanseatic city and district can be searched for in the Kita-Portal. As a rule, childcare takes place as close as possible to the place of residence.

In childcare, a distinction is made between „Krippe“ and kindergarten:

• Krippe: for very young children aged four months to three years
• Kindergarten: for children aged three to six years

More information, also in Ukrainian, can be found on the website of the state of Lower Saxony: https://www.niedersachsen.de/ukraine/kinderbetreuung-und-schule-209321.html.

Source: https://www.niedersachsen.de/ukraine

Children and young people from the Ukrainian war zones can and should make use of various education and care services in Lower Saxony. Like all children and young people, they have a right to free care, free schooling or vocational training from the state – depending on their age.

Education system in Lower Saxony

• Children between the ages of about 6 and 10 attend primary school, from grade 1 to 4.
• After primary school, children go on to secondary schools. There are different types of schools in Lower Saxony. This is to ensure that there is a suitable school offer for every child. There are Hauptschulen, Realschulen, Gesamtschulen, Oberschulen, Gymnasien and certain Förderschulen. After four or five years – after grade 9 or 10 – young people can take their first school-leaving certificate.
• The young people can then do (dual) vocational training. With good performance and grades, pupils can also continue in school and take the Abitur after three years in grades 11-13. With the Abitur, they can attend a college or university.
• If the young people do an apprenticeship, then they transfer to the vocational school that is appropriate for the respective profession. Most of the time, training takes place at school and in a company. However, other qualifications can also be obtained at vocational schools.

Registering your children for a school

As soon as it is settled that your family has a so-called residence status – i.e. can stay and live in Lower Saxony – your children (from the age of six) can attend a school in Lower Saxony. They even have to, school attendance is compulsory. Pupils can register directly at the school in their place of residence or at the local authority (in the town hall of the town or municipality).

Even if the residence status has not yet been determined, your children can attend a school. They will then be accepted by the schools as guest pupils.

Source: https://www.niedersachsen.de/ukraine

Are you new to Germany and would like to attend a German language course? You can find an overview of language and integration courses in the region on www.landkreis-lueneburg.de.

Free online offers for learning German

• VHS-Lernportal: Online language learning portal of the Adult Education Centre – Digital opportunities for self-learning at different levels or on different topics. With instructional texts in Ukrainian, among other languages.
• Compilation by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees – Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF) of online language courses – for participants in integration courses, occupational language courses and for care workers.
• Compilation of online and smartphone offers by the IQ Servicestelle Berufsbezogenes Deutsch (Occupational German) – orientation, online dictionaries and vocabulary trainers, German courses on the Internet, via app, Youtube channels, podcasts.
• BELUGA – Vocational learning software for basic education, helps to improve competences in a occupationally oriented way.

Picture dictionary for easy communication

In order to simplify communication for the refugees and all volunteers, the picture dictionary of the Tüftelakademie can be freely used, shared and passed on. It will be updated regularly.

• Picture dictionary: https://tueftelakademie.de/fuer-zuhause/bilderwoerterbuch/

To help you be mobile in the city of Lüneburg and in the district, here is some information on means of transport and how to use them.

Bicycle

At StadtRAD Lüneburg you can easily rent bicycles at several stations in Lüneburg. This works very simply via an app. You can find more information here: https://stadtradlueneburg.de/de

You can find used bicycles cheaply via Ebay classifieds: https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/

Note: Please observe the road traffic regulations when cycling in the city and in the countryside. If possible, you and your children should always wear a bicycle helmet to protect you in case of accidents.

Bus

In the city and the communities of the district you can reliably reach many places by bus. These usually run in the Lüneburg region from about 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. All buses go to the city centre, to the bus stop „Am Sande“ and to the „ZOB Bahnhof“. From the larger communities in the district of Lüneburg, buses run regularly during the day to the ZOB/train station and to the centre of Lüneburg.
Timetables can be found on the Internet at www.kvg-bus.de/fahrplane-liniennetz/fahrplane/fahrplane-landkreis-luneburg

Bus Info Lüneburg
Große Bäckerstraße 18
21335 Lüneburg
Telephone: +49 4131 40 53 03
E-mail: businfo@kvg-lueneburg.de

Anruf-Sammel-Mobil

In the late evening or at night, when there are no buses, a Anruf-Sammel-Mobil (ASM) will drive you. You have to order the ASM in advance by telephone: +49 4131 533-44. You will then be picked up at the agreed bus stop. You can find more information at https://www.kvg-bus.de/fahrplaene/landkreis-lueneburg/mein-rufmobil/rufmobil-fahrplaene/anruf-sammel-mobil-asm/

Car-Sharing

At Cambio Lüneburg you can rent cars at several stations in the city. You can find more information at https://www.cambio-carsharing.de/cms/carsharing/de/1/cms_f2_10017/cms?cms_knschluessel=HOME

In the Hanseatic city and district of Lüneburg there are numerous social or church institutions where you can buy used clothes, shoes, children’s toys or household items very cheaply or for a donation. For some facilities, you have to prove that you have a low income. Please bring your certificate with you. Then you will receive a customer card and can shop at a reduced price. Opening hours vary, so it is advisable to check on the internet or call beforehand.

Clothes and shoes

Kleiderkammer / DRK Ortsverein Lüneburg-Stadt e.V.
An den Reeperbahnen 1a, 21335 Lüneburg
Phone: +49 4131 266 69-0
Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Soziales Kinderland / Caritas
St. Stephanus Passage 24, 21337 Lüneburg
Tel.: +49 4131 400 50-20 and 0157-7988 7138
Opening hours: Tuesday and Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Umsonstladen Kaltenmoor / Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO)
Kurt-Hubert-Str. 1, 21337 Lüneburg
Phone: +49 4131 72 14 26
Opening hours: Tuesday and Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Kleiderkeller / Diakonieverband Nordostniedersachsen
An der Reeperbahn 1, 21335 Lüneburg
Phone: +49 4131 59-202
Opening hours: Monday: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Thursday: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

ZEUGHAUS (Second Hand Shop)
Katzenstr. 3, 21335 Lüneburg
Phone: +49 4131 75 71 388
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Kinderladen Adendorf
Kirchweg 17 b, 21365 Adendorf
The children’s shop is located in the Kirchwaldtreff (youth centre).
Phone: +49 4131 990-150
Opening hours: Tuesday and Thursday: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Unser Lädchen e. V.
Gärtnerweg 2, 21385 Amelinghausen
Phone: +49 4132 1560
Opening hours: Wednesday and Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Tuesday: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

FUNDUS Dahlenburg – social shop with internet café
Lüneburger Str. 10, 21368 Dahlenburg
Phone: +49 5851 97 94 20
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

B-Clothing
Im Oelkamp 10, 21379 Scharnebeck
Phone: +49 4131 20 72 – 0
Opening hours: Monday: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Food

In the city and district of Lüneburg there are various facilities that distribute food free of charge or for a small contribution, also to refugees with limited financial means or food for children.

The Lüneburger Tafel supports those in need by handing out food. The Tafel collects surplus food that can still be used according to legal regulations. The work of the Lüneburger Tafel is supported by volunteers, donors and sponsors. Every customer needs a Tafel ID card issued by us. The card can be applied for on Tuesdays from 11 am to 1 pm. For this purpose, we need the identity card as well as verifiable information on income and expenses.

Lüneburger Tafel e.V.
Im Tiefen Tal 64, 21339 Lüneburg, Germany
Phone: +49 4131 40 21 80
E-mail: tafel@luenecom.de
Distribution times: Wednesday to Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Kindertafel
Bunsenstr. 82, 21337 Lüneburg, Germany
Phone: +49 4131 22 34 77 or 0160-2688 665
E-mail: info@kindertafel.de
Opening hours: The Kindertafel is open on all school days from Monday to Friday from 12:30 – 16:30.

Foodsharing
There are 6 fair share stations, please check them out at: https://foodsharing.de/?page=fairteiler&bid=158

Household and furniture

Sack & Pack offers cheap second-hand and new furniture, crockery, household appliances, books etc. In addition, Sack & Pack offers removals, household clearances and small transports.

Sack & Pack
Vor dem Neuen Tore 35, 21339 Lüneburg, Germany
Phone: +49 4131 70 71 97
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Are you new to the district and would like to visit a church congregation or synagogue? There is a Russian Orthodox church congregation in the Hanseatic city of Lüneburg. There are Jewish communities in Hamburg.

• Russian Orthodox Church Parish Lüneburg
  www.rokil.de
  Phone: +49 176 48682467
• St. Marien Catholic Parish
  Friendenstr. 8
  Phone: +49 4131 603090
• Jewish community in Hamburg
  Community centre
  Grindelhof 30
  Phone: +49 40 4409440
• Synagogue Hohe Weide Hamburg
  Synagogue
  Hohe Weide 34
  Phone: +49 40 4409440
• Liberal Jewish Community Hamburg
  Religious institution
  Große Johannisstraße 13
  Phone: +49 40 32086677

Pet owners from Ukraine can enter Germany with their pets without having to apply for a permit in advance until further notice. Those entering the country are requested to contact the veterinary office, a veterinarian or a veterinary surgeon in order to be able to determine the health status of the animal with regard to rabies. Possible measures are first isolation of the animal, antibody titer determination, rabies vaccination, microchipping and issuance of a pet passport.