From today, refugees arriving from Ukraine in the German capital face a newly centralised registration system intended to end the long queues and ad-hoc processing that have characterised Berlin’s response since early 2022. Under guidelines published on the city portal Berlin.de and summarised by information site Visit Ukraine, every newcomer must first report to the Ankunftszentrum (arrival centre) on Oranienburger Straße 285.
There, officials issue basic documents, check medical status and – crucially – allocate a timed appointment for the follow-on registration at the former Tegel Airport site. The Tegel centre will now admit applicants strictly by appointment on weekdays from 08:00; walk-ins will be turned away. Authorities say the change allows security interviews, biometric capture and housing allocation to be handled within three hours per case, compared with day-long waits earlier this year.
![Berlin tightens refugee intake procedures: Ukrainians must pre-book Tegel appointments under new 1 December rules]()
The policy also clarifies that neither the arrival centre nor LAF temporary shelters accept pets, urging families with animals to find private accommodation. After formal registration, refugees must apply separately for social assistance and the §24 temporary-protection residence permit – steps that can be completed online via the Landesamt für Einwanderung portal.
Behind the procedural tweak lies a broader strategic shift. Daily Ukrainian arrivals in Berlin have dropped from 1,200 at the height of 2023 to around 60, enabling the Senate to dismantle large-scale tent cities and move towards decentralised housing. Closing Tegel entirely by late 2026 remains the goal, freeing the site for a new residential district.
For global-mobility teams relocating Ukrainian staff to Germany the message is clear: insist employees schedule the arrival-centre visit immediately on entry and factor in the no-pets rule when arranging temporary housing. Missing the appointment window now means starting the process over – a delay that could jeopardise social-benefit eligibility.
There, officials issue basic documents, check medical status and – crucially – allocate a timed appointment for the follow-on registration at the former Tegel Airport site. The Tegel centre will now admit applicants strictly by appointment on weekdays from 08:00; walk-ins will be turned away. Authorities say the change allows security interviews, biometric capture and housing allocation to be handled within three hours per case, compared with day-long waits earlier this year.
The policy also clarifies that neither the arrival centre nor LAF temporary shelters accept pets, urging families with animals to find private accommodation. After formal registration, refugees must apply separately for social assistance and the §24 temporary-protection residence permit – steps that can be completed online via the Landesamt für Einwanderung portal.
Behind the procedural tweak lies a broader strategic shift. Daily Ukrainian arrivals in Berlin have dropped from 1,200 at the height of 2023 to around 60, enabling the Senate to dismantle large-scale tent cities and move towards decentralised housing. Closing Tegel entirely by late 2026 remains the goal, freeing the site for a new residential district.
For global-mobility teams relocating Ukrainian staff to Germany the message is clear: insist employees schedule the arrival-centre visit immediately on entry and factor in the no-pets rule when arranging temporary housing. Missing the appointment window now means starting the process over – a delay that could jeopardise social-benefit eligibility.
