What can I do when I receive the asylum decision?

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Find out in 5 steps what you can do when you receive the decision of your asylum procedure. A quick overview:

You usually receive the decision 6 to 12 months after submitting your asylum request.
Consider if you want to take legal action. Contact a lawyer for help.
With a positive decision, you will receive a new residence permit.

This guide does not apply to Dublin decisions.¹

Click on headlines to open steps

For more information, click on the small numbers.²

1. Receive your asylum decision

You usually receive the decision 6-12 months after submitting your asylum application.³ You usually receive the decision in a yellow envelope.⁴
If you agree with the decision, your asylum procedure is complete. If not, you can take legal action.⁵

2. Learn about your asylum decision

Look on the first page of the letter for the type of decision:

Flüchtlingseigenschaft (Refugee Status) or Asylberechtigung (Asylum Status)⁶The decision might state: “Flüchtlingseigenschaft wird zuerkannt, Asylanerkennung wird abgelehnt” (Refugee status is granted, asylum status is denied) or “Flüchtlingseigenschaft wird zuerkannt, Asylberechtigung wird anerkannt” (Refugee status is granted, asylum status is recognized.) (good status):
Click for details.
- Flüchtlingseigenschaft or Asylberechtigung⁷ is given to people who are persecuted in their home country.⁸
- You will receive a residence permit for 3 years. It will be extended afterwards if your status has not been revoked. This can happen if the situation in your home country has significantly changed.
- You can apply more easily for a permanent residence permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) later.
- You will receive a travel document for refugees (Reiseausweis für Flüchtlinge).
- You can work or do vocational training (Ausbildung).
- You can apply for family reunification.⁹
Subsidiärer Schutz (Subsidiary Protection)¹⁰The decision might state: “Flüchtlingseigenschaft wird nicht zuerkannt, Asylanerkennung wird abgelehnt, subsidiärer Schutz wird zuerkannt” (Refugee status is not granted, asylum status is denied, subsidiary protection is granted.) (medium status):
Click for details.
- Subsidiärer Schutz is given to people who are in danger in their home country, for example because of war.¹¹
- You will receive a residence permit for 3 years. It will be extended afterwards if your subsidiary protection has not been revoked. This can happen if the situation in your home country has significantly changed.
- You can work or do vocational training (Ausbildung).
- With certain restrictions you have to possibility to apply for family reunification.¹²
Abschiebungsverbot (Prohibition of deportation)¹³The decision might state: “Flüchtlingseigenschaft wird nicht zuerkannt, Asylanerkennung wird abgelehnt, subsidiärer Schutz wird nicht zuerkannt, Abschiebungsverbote nach §60 liegen vor” (Refugee status is not granted, asylum status is denied, subsidiary protection is not granted, but a prohibition of deportation according to §60 applies.) (medium status):
Click for details.
- Abschiebungsverbot is given to people who are at risk if they return to their home country.¹⁴
- You will receive a residence permit for at least 1 year. It will be extended afterwards if your deportation ban has not been revoked. This can happen if the situation in your home country has significantly changed.
- You can work or do vocational training (Ausbildung).
- You may have limited opportunities for family reunification.¹⁵
Rejection (Ablehnung)¹⁶The decision might state: “Flüchtlingseigenschaft wird nicht zuerkannt, Asylanerkennung wird abgelehnt, subsidiärer Schutz wird nicht zuerkannt, Abschiebungsverbote nach §60 liegen nicht vor.” (Refugee status is not granted, asylum status is denied, subsidiary protection is not granted, and no prohibition of deportation according to §60 apply.) It might also state: “Ablehnung als offensichtlich unbegründet” (Rejected as manifestly unfounded). If the decision says “Ablehnung als unzulässig” (Rejected as inadmissible), it might be a Dublin decision, and this guide does not apply to that case. (negative decision):
Click for details.
- A rejection means that, for example, no significant danger is seen in your home country.¹⁷ If the BAMF believes that you did not tell the truth, you might receive a “manifestly unfounded” rejection.(Ablehnung als offensichtlich unbegründet)¹⁸
- You will be asked to leave Germany.¹⁹ If you do not take legal action or if the lawsuit is rejected, you may be deported to your home country by the police.
- If there are reasons against deportation, you might receive a Duldung (tolerated stay) (or possibly a residence permit).²⁰

3. Consider if you want to take legal action

Consider if you want to take legal action in court if you have been given Subsidiärer Schutz or Abschiebungsverbot. The help of a lawyer costs money, but the court might give you a better status.²¹Consult a lawyer to discuss the chances of success. Carefully consider a lawsuit especially in the following cases:
- You want to bring your spouse or children to Germany.²²
- You think you might not have a good chance of passing the German B1 exam or finding adequate work or vocational training.²³
If you have received a rejection, taking legal action might give you a chance to receive a positive decision. Taking legal action also gives you time to improve your chances for a long-term residence permit, regardless of the asylum process, because you cannot be deported during the procedure. The process can take a long time.²⁴
You can file a lawsuit and withdraw it later. That’s why it often makes sense to file a lawsuit, even if you are not sure. If you miss the deadline, you can generally no longer file a lawsuit.

4. Perhaps file a lawsuit against the decision

You have 7 or 14 days²⁵, after receiving the decision, to file a lawsuit in court.²⁶
For the lawsuit it is best to search for a lawyer. Start searching for a lawyer immediately. If you need help finding one, contact a counseling center.
If you cannot find a lawyer, you can personally go to the court²⁷ or send a message by letter or fax.²⁸Anyways it is best if you quickly search for a lawyer to justify your lawsuit.²⁹
The lawsuit in court often takes between 6 and 18 months. Sometimes it takes several years, especially if the case goes to a higher court.

5. Get your new residence permit

If you have received a positive decision, you will receive a new residence permit. It may take several weeks until your appointment at the immigration office.³⁰
Once you have received your residence permit, you are allowed to work without approval from the immigration office and move out of the reception facility.³¹

This page was realized with the support of the Postcode Lottery and lawyer Nora Ebeling (Last updated October 2024).
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Fußnoten

1
Dublin decisions are issued when another European country might be responsible for the asylum request. If the decision states “Ablehnung als unzulässig.” (rejected as inadmissible), it might be a Dublin decision, to which this guide does not apply.
2
Example
3
The decision is also known as a “Bescheid” (official notice). Find more information on the asylum process here.
4
Letters sent by “formal delivery” usually come in a yellow envelope. The letter will include the word “Bescheid” (official notice).
5
This must happen within a short period (see step 4).
6
The decision might state: “Flüchtlingseigenschaft wird zuerkannt, Asylanerkennung wird abgelehnt” (Refugee status is granted, asylum status is denied) or “Flüchtlingseigenschaft wird zuerkannt, Asylberechtigung wird anerkannt” (Refugee status is granted, asylum status is recognized.)
7
Flüchtlingseigenschaft (more information) and Asylberechtigung (more information) are two statuses with different legal reference, but they offer the same rights and opportunities. In most cases, there is no difference for you.
8
Due to their ethnicity, religion, nationality, political beliefs, or membership in a particular social group.
9
Perhaps no income is necessary.
10
The decision might state: “Flüchtlingseigenschaft wird nicht zuerkannt, Asylanerkennung wird abgelehnt, subsidiärer Schutz wird zuerkannt” (Refugee status is not granted, asylum status is denied, subsidiary protection is granted.)
11
Subsidiärer Schutz is often given to people from Syria (more information).
12
It is a discretionary decision. The number of visas issued is limited per month.
13
The decision might state: “Flüchtlingseigenschaft wird nicht zuerkannt, Asylanerkennung wird abgelehnt, subsidiärer Schutz wird nicht zuerkannt, Abschiebungsverbote nach §60 liegen vor” (Refugee status is not granted, asylum status is denied, subsidiary protection is not granted, but a prohibition of deportation according to §60 applies.)
14
Abschiebungsverbot is often given to people from Afghanistan (more information).
15
Income is mostly required.
16
The decision might state: “Flüchtlingseigenschaft wird nicht zuerkannt, Asylanerkennung wird abgelehnt, subsidiärer Schutz wird nicht zuerkannt, Abschiebungsverbote nach §60 liegen nicht vor.” (Refugee status is not granted, asylum status is denied, subsidiary protection is not granted, and no prohibition of deportation according to §60 apply.) It might also state: “Ablehnung als offensichtlich unbegründet” (Rejected as manifestly unfounded). If the decision says “Ablehnung als unzulässig” (Rejected as inadmissible), it might be a Dublin decision, and this guide does not apply to that case.
17
More information.
18
A rejection as manifestly unfounded means that, even if you filed the lawsuit on time, you can only prevent deportation with an urgent court application.
19
For example, within 30 days.
20
Reasons include dangers in your home country, serious illness, lack of travel documents, or family unity. You may also receive a toleration if you are in vocational training or have been working for a long time. With a toleration (Duldung) your deportation will not be carried out for a certain period. More information.
21
Consult a lawyer to discuss the chances of success.
22
Refugee status would make family reunification easier.
23
This might be relevant for older people. Refugee status would make it easier for you to obtain a permanent residence permit.
24
In the case of a “manifestly unfounded” rejection, your chances in court are reduced. Contact a lawyer about this.
25
The exact deadline is stated in the “Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung” at the end of the decision notice.
26
The date you received the decision is on the yellow envelope. Therefore, keep the envelope. The decision notice will also state which court you can file your lawsuit at.
27
Go to the legal application office (Rechtsantragsstelle) of the court (Verwaltungsgericht). Bring someone who speaks German with you.
28
The message must reach the court before the deadline. See here for more information and templates.
29
The court needs the substantiated lawsuit no later than 30 days after the decision notice was delivered. It might be enough to refer to what you said in the asylum process for now.
30
You can send a message by email, fax, or letter to the immigration office to ask when you will receive the residence permit.
31
You usually still have to stay in the same district. This requirement automatically ends if you can financially support yourself with a job in another district. In other cases, you need to apply for a lift of the residency requirement (Aufhebung der Wohnsitzauflage) at the immigration office before moving. To be sure you can move, you can apply in all cases.