Did you apply for asylum or receive international protection before 12 June 2026?

On 12 June 2026, new rules on international protection came into force. Special transitional arrangements apply in certain areas to people who had already applied for asylum or been granted international protection before that date.

On this page, you can find information about the rules that apply to you. You can learn which documents are still valid, when you can get a residence permit, and how to extend your residence permit if you have subsidiary protection.

Cards and Documents

Since 12 June 2026, no new green (green procedure card), blue (for people with asylum status), or grey (for people with subsidiary protection) cards or documents are issued.

If you apply for asylum now, you will receive a new white procedure card after you formally lodge your asylum application.

If you already have a grey card for people with subsidiary protection, it stays valid until the expiry date.

If you already have a blue card for people with asylum status (now refugee status), it remains valid. It is now treated as a permanent residence permit for international protection.

If you are granted refugee status or subsidiary protection, you will now receive a residence permit for international protection.

Extending your subsidiary protection

Because of the new law, you can no longer apply for an extension of your temporary residence permit for people with subsidiary protection (in accordance with § 8 Abs. 4 AsylG). Since 12 June 2026, no extension decisions are issued anymore.

Instead, you can apply for a residence permit for international protection.

To receive this residence permit, you need an in-person appointment with the responsible authority. When you apply online, you can also book an appointment for your personal visit to the authority.

Apply online now

New residence permit under Articles 2 or 3 of the ECHR

An illustration of a girl remembering the time she ran away from a building on fire with people with guns posed in front of it. There is a boy next to her remembering the time he was handcuffed on the floor. On the floor next to him is a picket sign and in the background is his face behind bars. Next to the girl and boy is an asylum official behind a computer. He is gesturing to them kindly.

Since 12 June 2026, you can receive subsidiary protection only if the serious harm you face comes from a specific actor.

If you would face serious harm in your country, but the harm cannot be attributed to a specific actor, you will receive a new residence permit under Articles 2 or 3 of the ECHR (in accordance with § 54a AsylG).

This also applies if you applied for international protection before 12 June 2026.

This residence permit is valid for 12 months. After that, you can apply to extend it. You must submit an application and pay a fee for the extension:

  • Under 16 years: 39 euros

  • 16 years and over: 91 euros