Authorities or the media often talk about "safe countries of origin" ("sicheren Herkunftsländern" or "sicheren Herkunftsstaaten"). But to which countries do the term refer? Here we explain what a so-called "safe country of origin" is and how coming from such countries can affect your asylum procedure in Germany.
In Germany, a country is considered to be a "safe country of origin" when its people, in principle, are not subject to state-sponsored prosecution, and the state is in general able to protect its citizens from non-state persecution. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) initially assumes that the individuals who come from these countries do not need protection in Germany. The asylum seekers from these countries must, therefore, prove the opposite to BAMF during their asylum process.
Currently, the following countries are considered to be "safe countries of origin" in Germany:
- Albania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Ghana
- Kosovo
- Macedonia
- Montenegro
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Georgia
- Republic of Moldova
- all member states of the EU
The inclusion of the following countries to the list has been regularly the subject of debate in Germany:
- Algeria
- Morocco
- Tunisia
But currently, they are not considered as safe countries of origin.
The German Basic Law distinguishes between two categories of “safe countries”: States of origin and third countries. State of origin or country of origin means that a person is a national of this country. The term “third country” is used when a person has entered the country via a safe country.
When a person enters the country via a safe country, their asylum application may be rejected as “inadmissible”. However, they may be eligible for another form of protection. You can find more details on the website of BAMF (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees).
In principle, the asylum procedure of persons from "safe countries of origin" does not differ from the asylum procedure for others- but if you come from a "safe country of origin", your asylum procedure is usually concluded faster.
The hearing is the most crucial step for asylum seekers who come from "safe countries of origin". At the hearing you must describe the persecution you went through in the country of origin and, if available, provide evidence for your statements. If the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) acknowledges your statement as valid, despite coming from a "safe country of origin", you may be granted a protection status and, thus, a German residence permit.
However, most asylum applications from the citizens' of "safe countries of origin" are rejected as "Obviously unfounded" ("offensichtlich unbegründet"). Your application will be rejected as "Obviously unfounded" when the BAMF does not believe your story or assumes that you came to Germany for economic reasons.
If your asylum application is rejected as "Obviously unfounded", you have to react quickly. You only have one week to apply to the designated court for an urgent appeal ("Eilantrag") and challenge the decision. If you do not file an urgent appeal or in case the court rejects it, you may be deported. You can read more about this subject in our chapter "Rejected Asylum".
- In principle, Individuals from "safe countries of origin" must live in initial reception centres (or special accommodation facilities) until the end of their asylum procedure. That means you cannot find a flat and move out.
- Individuals from "safe countries of origin" are not allowed to work.
- Individuals from "safe countries of origin" may not travel within Germany, or can only do so with the permission of the Immigration Office ("Ausländerbehörde").
- In principle, individuals from "safe countries of origin" cannot participate in the integration courses.
- In some federal states, children who live in initial reception centres are not subject to compulsory schooling. Check landkarte-kinderrechte.de and our chapter "School" to find out whether your federal state is one of them or not.
Contact a local counselling centre if you have questions about your rights and options. You can find one on the Pro Asyl website. You can find lawyers nearby on our Local information page. Enter the name of your city and search for asylum, right of residence or legal advice.
Refugee Accommodation Centres
In initial reception facilities, often large groups of people live in limited spaces. So there are rules and standards to help the residents live together, and the staff are responsible for ensuring these regulations and standards are implemented and respected. In principle, these rules apply to all accommodation centres, including shared accommodation centres and, except a few exceptional cases, also emergency shelters.
Travelling Abroad for Refugees
Do you wish to pack your bags and go away for a while? Whether you want to travel for work- or family-related reasons or would like to have a holiday abroad, it is not always clear which countries you are permitted to go to as a refugee. Here, we try to clarify which countries you are allowed to travel to with your residence status and travel document as a refugee.
In principle, Foreign citizens in Germany are required to have a valid passport or a substitute passport. The issuing and renewal of foreign citizens' passports is usually the responsibility of the embassy or consulate of their country of origin.
However, certain groups of people are exempt from this regulation, for whom a passport substitute could be issued:
- Persons entitled to asylum and recognised “refugees” according to the Geneva Refugee Convention
- Stateless persons
- People who have subsidiary protection
- People for whom a national ban on deportation has been established and who have no reasonable opportunity to obtain a passport from their home country.
The mentioned groups are often issued a passport replacement document ("Passersatzpapier") in Germany, which exists in three forms:
- The travel document for refugees (Known as "Blauer Pass" or "Blue Passport")
- The travel document for stateless persons
- The travel document for foreigners
In principle, you will be handed the travel document for refugees together with your residence permit at the Immigration Office. Learn more about the travel document for refugees in our chapter "Blue Passport". As a stateless person or someone who is residing in Germany under subsidiary protection or due to a national ban on deportation, you must apply for the travel document for foreigners and stateless persons ("Grey Passport" or "Grauer Pass") at the relevant Immigration Office. You will need to prove to the authorities that it is not likely or feasible for you to obtain a passport from your home country. You can find the relevant Immigration Office at bamf.de.
Work Permit for Refugees
You need a work permit before you can start to work in Germany. And whether you would be issued a work permit depends on your residence permit. Here you can learn more about the regulations which apply to you when it comes to obtaining a work permit in Germany.
If you are not a refugee, you can visit our chapter “Immigration to Germany” to learn when and how you can apply for a work permit and enter the German job market.
Revocation Procedure
Under the revocation procedure, the protection status of individuals recognised as entitled to asylum, refugee status, subsidiary protection or a ban on deportation is re-evaluated. This means that the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) checks whether the person still needs protection. Revocation procedures only affect people whose asylum procedure has resulted in a positive outcome.
In reality, revocation procedures lead to an actual revocation of protection status in only a few cases. Nevertheless, it is crucial to be well prepared for the procedure and seek advice from a counselling centre or a lawyer.
Family Asylum
If your family has come to Germany after your recognition as an individual entitled to asylum, refugee status or subsidiary protection and in the framework of family reunification, they have the option to apply for family asylum ("Familienasyl"). If accepted, your family will have the same status and rights as you do.
Call Pro Asyl's Hotline
at 069-242 314 20
and benefit from their legal advice
in German and English.
Learn more about different forms of protection in the German asylum system.
To find legal advice, you can contact the Federal Refugee Council near you.