Eligibility Quiz
Requirements
Who Qualifies
You qualify for subsidiary protection if you can demonstrate substantial grounds for the presumption that you face serious harm in your country of origin and that you cannot or do not wish to take up the protection of your country of origin because of that threat.
Serious harm is defined as one of the following:
- Death penalty or torture: The imposition or enforcement of the death penalty, torture, or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Armed conflict: A serious individual threat to your life or integrity as a civilian resulting from arbitrary force in an international or domestic armed conflict
- General dangers in armed conflict: In German practice, subsidiary protection can apply to situations of general dangers to which civilians may be exposed during war, but only if there is a high risk that violence against civilians may cause death or serious injury
Prerequisite: Asylum Application
You can only receive subsidiary protection after submitting an asylum application and going through the full asylum procedure. BAMF will not consider subsidiary protection unless you have first been determined ineligible for refugee status or entitlement to asylum.
Who Does Not Qualify
You are barred from protection if you have:
- Committed a war crime, crime against peace, or crime against humanity
- Committed a serious non-political criminal offence
- Breached the goals and principles of the United Nations
- Been regarded as a risk to the security of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Been finally sentenced to at least three years' imprisonment (or one year under certain preconditions) for a felony (Verbrechen) or particularly serious misdemeanour (Vergehen)
Nationality and Origin
There are no nationality-specific restrictions. Applicants from any country may qualify if they meet the serious harm criteria.
Conditions & Warnings
Family reunification for subsidiary protection beneficiaries is suspended until July 23, 2027. Only 2 hardship visas were granted out of 2,586 applications between July-December 2025.
Traveling to your country of origin will result in revocation of your residence permit and deportation, as it demonstrates you are no longer in danger.
You are subject to a three-year residence requirement in the federal state where you were assigned during asylum proceedings. This can only be lifted if you work 15+ hours/week earning above €723/month or pursue vocational training/studies.
Subsidiary protection is weaker than refugee status. You have no entitlement to family reunification (except during the 2-year suspension window after July 23, 2027, subject to strict quotas). Consider appealing if you believe you qualify for refugee status instead.
If circumstances in your home country improve and the serious harm no longer applies, your protection can be revoked and you may be deported.