Title:
Asylum for Minors in Germany
Introduction
Germany is an important destination for many refugee children and adolescents, especially those who arrive without any accompanying parent or legal guardian. This text sheds light on their rights, the specific asylum procedures that apply to them, and how their particular needs are addressed.
Initial care and preliminary examination
When unaccompanied minors enter Germany, they are placed under the care of the Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt), which is responsible for providing protection and basic care.
Initial care includes:
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providing suitable accommodation,
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clothing,
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and basic healthcare.
During this phase, a preliminary examination is carried out to assess the minor’s physical and psychological condition and to determine their age as accurately as possible. This may include:
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a physical examination,
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and, if necessary, X-ray examinations or other medical tests.
The Youth Welfare Office also examines whether it is appropriate to relocate the child to another region or whether family reunification with relatives already living in Germany is possible.
Relocation and subsequent care
A uniform distribution system is used to ensure that unaccompanied minors are provided with suitable accommodation and care.
Generally, they are redistributed within about 14 days and transferred to the Youth Welfare Office responsible for the new region or federal state.
This responsible Youth Welfare Office then takes over the long-term care of the minors, which may be provided:
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through foster families,
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or through specialised facilities and residential groups
that are specifically designed to meet the needs of unaccompanied minor refugees.
Appointment of a guardian
Unaccompanied minors must be assigned a legal guardian (Betreuer). The family court is responsible for appointing this guardian.
The guardianship remains in place until the minor reaches the age of majority.
A key point here is that:
The age of majority is determined according to the law of the child’s country of origin, not according to German law.
If the person is still considered a minor under the law of their home country, the guardianship continues.
Submitting the asylum application
Once the minor has arrived in Germany, the asylum application must be submitted by the guardian.
Legally, the minor is considered incapable of acting on their own in such proceedings. This means that the guardian or the responsible Youth Welfare Office must file the application on their behalf.
The application should contain all important information, including:
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name,
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date of birth,
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nationality,
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language skills,
as well as any other relevant details needed to assess the need for protection.
Special safeguards and advantages for minors
Unaccompanied minors receive special treatment and protection in Germany. This includes in particular:
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A guardian is appointed and must be present at all hearings and key procedural steps.
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In addition, the minor is allowed to bring a supervising person (for example a carer or social worker) to assist them in answering important questions during the asylum procedure.
The specific circumstances that led to their flight are also taken into account in the assessment of their claim, such as:
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domestic violence,
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forced marriage,
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human trafficking,
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or other forms of exploitation and danger.
These factors are important in deciding which form of protection may be granted.
Summary
Unaccompanied minors in Germany benefit from special protection and legal guarantees that make their asylum procedure safer and more child-appropriate. They are entitled to receive the necessary care and support, which helps them to stabilise and improves their chances of integrating into German society in the long term.
The editorial team of our website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors cannot be completely ruled out and some details may be incomplete. Please regard the information in this text as an initial guide and always contact the competent authorities or specialised counselling centres for reliable and up-to-date information.
