Tenfold Surge in Ukrainian Refugees Seeking Protection in Germany Following Policy Shift
Germany sees a tenfold increase in Ukrainian refugees seeking protection after exit ban lifted, with ongoing challenges in refugee poverty and integration.
- • Weekly Ukrainian protection requests in Germany rose from 100 to about 1,000 after lifting exit restrictions for men aged 18-22.
- • Total registered Ukrainian refugees in Germany reached approximately 1.29 million by October 2025.
- • Under Paragraph 24 of the Residence Act, Ukrainians receive residence permits granting immediate work and social benefits.
- • About 450,000 Ukrainians deregistered as residents by end of September 2025.
- • DIW study finds 63.7% of refugees in Germany at risk of poverty, highlighting integration challenges.
Key details
Germany has witnessed a dramatic increase in Ukrainian refugees seeking protection, with weekly applications jumping from approximately 100 to around 1,000 per week in recent months. This surge follows the German government's lifting of the exit ban for able-bodied Ukrainian men aged 18 to 22 at the end of August 2025, which allowed young Ukrainians abroad greater freedom to travel and seek refuge in Germany without the previous restrictions.
The Federal Ministry of the Interior reported that this policy change led to a tenfold rise in protection requests from this age group. Overall registrations for Ukrainian protection seekers increased from 7,961 in May 2025 to 18,755 by September 2025. By October 4, 2025, more than 1.29 million Ukrainians had sought refuge in Germany since the onset of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, according to the Central Register of Foreigners. However, approximately 450,000 Ukrainians had deregistered as residents by the end of September, indicating some movement or departure from Germany.
Ukrainian refugees receive special treatment under Paragraph 24 of the Residence Act, which grants them residence permits that include immediate access to the labor market and social benefits, differentiating them from refugees from other countries such as Syria or Afghanistan.
However, despite this supportive framework, a separate study highlights ongoing socio-economic challenges faced by refugees in Germany. According to the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), nearly two-thirds (63.7%) of refugees in Germany are at risk of poverty, although this represents an improvement from nearly 70% in 2020. Challenges such as language barriers, recognition of professional qualifications, and racial discrimination continue to impact integration. DIW economist Markus Grabka emphasized the importance of employment in protecting against poverty, noting the critical link between labor market integration and improved economic outcomes.
The recent policy relaxation seems to have encouraged an increased inflow of Ukrainian protection seekers, but the path to full economic integration remains complex amidst broader income inequality and inflation-induced challenges in Germany.