Subsidiary protection , Date: 2019.11.14, format: Article, area: Asylum and refugee protection

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Subsidiary protection applies when neither refugee protection nor an entitlement to asylum can be granted and serious harm is threatened in the country of origin.

People are entitled to subsidiary protection who put forward substantial grounds for the presumption that they are at risk of serious harm in their country of origin and that they cannot take up the protection of their country of origin or do not wish to take it up because of that threat. Serious harm can originate from both governmental and non-governmental players.

The following are regarded as constituting serious harm:

  • the imposition or enforcement of the death penalty,
  • torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, or
  • a serious individual threat to the life or integrity of a civilian as a result of arbitrary force within an international or domestic armed conflict.

Reasons for not qualifying for protection

An entitlement to protection with regard to the three forms of protection mentioned above – entitlement to asylum, refugee protection and subsidiary protection – cannot be considered if reasons for not qualifying apply. This may be the case if:

  • an individual has committed a war crime, a crime against peace or against humaity,
  • a serious (non-political) criminal offence
  • has breached the goals and principles of the United Nations,
  • is to be regarded as a risk to the security of the Federal Republic of Germany, or
  • constitutes a danger to the public because he/she has been finally sentenced to at least three years' imprisonment (one year under certain preconditions) for a felony (Verbrechen) or a particularly serious misdemeanour (Vergehen).

The legal basis and consequences

  • residence permit for one year
  • if it is extended: by another two years in each case
  • A settlement permit may be issued after five years (the duration of the asylum proceedings is included in this period) if further preconditions are met, such as being able to make a secure living and having adequate knowledge of German.
  • unrestricted access to the labour market – gainful employment permitted
  • no entitlement to privileged family reunification

Section 4 subsection (1) of the Asylum Act