As dynamic as the situation in Ukraine is, as dynamic are the needs for help where refugees arrive.

If you can provide an apartment for refugees from Ukraine, please contact the Main-Kinzig-Kreis via this online form .

If you would like to use your good language skills in Ukrainian or Russian to translate for Ukrainian people when needed, please contact the Main-Kinzig-Kreis via this address: helfer@mkk.de

If you have donations in kind to hand in, please pay attention to the appeals of the German Red Cross Hanau and the German Red Cross Gelnhausen-Schlüchtern, through which the collections in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis are conducted. The collection point of the DRK Hanau is open in Hanau (Am Hauptbahnhof 14d) from Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 8 pm.

If you want to donate money you can find information here: >>Help for the people in Ukraine | tagesschau.de

If you can offer further help, please contact the Main-Kinzig-Kreis via this address: helfer@mkk.de

If you would like to provide paid employment in your company or are interested in a direct meeting, please get in touch via this online form or via the email address arbeit@mkk.de.

The war in Ukraine is forcing more and more people to flee. They are also seeking accommodation in our region. In the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, a contact point has been created to provide, procure and arrange private housing for Ukrainians who have fled. Anyone who has vacant accommodation in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis and would like to make it available in the medium term - i.e. for three months or more - for persons who have fled Ukraine is welcome to register with the Main-Kinzig-Kreis using an online form. To the registration form for accommodations.

What is being sought?

• Flats
• House / Houses
• Holiday flats
• Hotels or flats

The Main-Kinzig-Kreis kindly asks for your understanding that at the moment only housing that is available in the medium term ( for three months or more) can be offered to the refugees. The refugees need time to arrive, to get their bearings and to find some peace after terrible experiences. Therefore, the Main-Kinzig-Kreis cannot expect them to move again after a very short period of time, along with all the uncertainties that would go with it. For the same reason, only flats or separate housing units can be arranged at the moment. Temporary shared accommodation in the same household cannot be considered at the moment.

Ukrainian refugees who are covered by the Social Code II (Kommunales Center für Arbeit - Jobcenter, KCA) or the Social Code XII (Amt für soziale Förderung und Teilhabe, Sozialamt) since 1 June must prove their need for rent (costs of accommodation: basic rent + additional costs) to the KCA or Sozialamt by submitting a copy or scans of the rental contract. In general, offices pay the rent to the beneficiaries, who then transfer it to their landlords themselves. With the consent of the benefit claimant, the offices may make rent payments directly to landlords. Due to the unusually high number of applications and proofs, a delay in processing is unfortunately unavoidable. We ask for your understanding and assure you that we strive for quick and agreeable solutions in all cases.

Please note: From 1 June 2022, some legal changes have come into effect for the care and support of Ukrainian displaced persons. However, the reliability of the care and support does not change. If you have any questions about the necessary registration steps, accommodation, health insurance and other issues, you are welcome to contact the Main-Kinzig-Kreis at the following e-mail address: ukraine@mkk.de. You will also receive more detailed information in the accommodation centres and by postal mail concerning the steps to be taken after you have been accommodated. The Main-Kinzig-Kreis has also set up an information hotline at 06051-8518000.

If a person or a group of persons on their way from Ukraine towards the Main-Kinzig-Kreis does not yet know definitively where they may find private and permanent accommodation, they have to contact the Hessian Initial Reception Centre, regardless of the size of the group: Ankunftszentrum Gießen, Lilienthalstraße 2, 35394 Gießen (for more information click here: Aktuelles zur Aufnahme von Flüchtlingen aus der Ukraine | Regierungspräsidium Gießen (hessen.de))

If you need social benefits or have any questions about them, you can contact us via e-mail at ukraine@mkk.de or via the Help for Ukraine phone number 06051-8518000 or you can indicate this when you initially register at the Foreigners' Authority (see Initial Registration at the Foreigners' Authority / Residence Permit).

General information on entry, residence, health, work and much more can be found on germany4ukraine (in German, Ukrainian, Russian and English).

The Consulate General in Frankfurt can be reached by phone at 069 29720920 and by e-mail at gc_def@mfa.gov.ua.

A picture dictionary for free download, recommended by Duden-Verlag, can be found here: Bilderwörterbuch in Ukrainisch von Carlotta Klee und der TüftelAkademie (tueftelakademie.de)

For a short transitional period, displaced persons from Ukraine are accommodated in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis in large accommodations. School gymnasiums are used for this purpose. As long as the people stay there, they are legally entitled to benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act (Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz). Since the stay in these so-called emergency shelters is only temporary, people are not registered with the local registration offices. No fictional certificates (temporary residence permits/Fiktionsbescheinigungen) are issued and no bank account can be opened. Thus, access to benefits according to the provisions of Social Codes II or XII is excluded - at least as long as people are living in these emergency shelters. From 1 June 2022, all people living in emergency shelters will at least be able to receive a regular pocket money of 80 euros per person.

Entitlement to these benefits, i.e. under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act, ends when the displaced persons from Ukraine can be placed in other, permanent accommodation or housing.

Please note: Residents of emergency shelters cannot choose the place of residence or flat to which they are placed. This applies as long as they are claiming assistance for living expenses. At the time of moving into permanent housing, the displaced persons receive a fictional certificate (temporary residence permit/Fiktionsbescheinigung) that legitimises the stay for another 6 months. They also receive more detailed information on how to apply for benefits according to the provisions of the Social Code.

you or your child(ren) have a biometric Ukrainian national passport that has already expired or will soon expire?

• Biometric national passports are renewed by the Ukrainian Consulate General, Vilbeler Str. 29, 60313 Frankfurt am Main.

you only hold a Ukrainian national passport?

• Your personal details will be confirmed by the Ukrainian Consulate General, Vilbeler Str. 29, 60313 Frankfurt am Main.
• Alternatively, you can submit a certified translation of this domestic passport.

your child/children are only in possession of a Ukrainian birth certificate?

• The registration of your child/children in your own biometric passport will be done by the Ukrainian Consulate General, Vilbeler Str. 29, 60313 Frankfurt am Main.
• In addition, you are requested to submit a certified translation of the birth certificate, the aforementioned entry in your own biometric passport being considered a priority

you have fled to Germany after marriage before the official entries have been completed?

• Please submit a certified translation of the marriage certificate - especially if you have different surnames, so that we can correctly identify the affiliation in the marital union.

The following applies to initial registration: People who have fled from Ukraine to the Main-Kinzig-Kreis and have moved into permanent accommodation first have to register at the town hall of their new place of residence. After registering at the relevant residents' registration office, they automatically receive an appointment at the Foreigners' Registration Office. A separate request for an appointment is not necessary.

To prepare for the appointment, please complete the registration form:
>> To the initial registration

Important: Those who come from Ukraine and cannot move directly into a private flat for a longer period of time should not initially register with the Main-Kinzig Kreis. These persons must go to the Hessian Initial Reception Centre Gießen as the central point of contact (Ankunftszentrum Gießen, Lilienthalstraße 2, 35394 Gießen; more information here: Aktuelles zur Aufnahme von Flüchtlingen aus der Ukraine | Regierungspräsidium Gießen (hessen.de) )

If you are a Ukrainian refugee in Germany and need assistance for your livelihood, you can apply for it using an >> online form. You can also use this link to upload documents for an application that has already been submitted.

A German bank account is required in order to transfer funds. The Main-Kinzig-Kreis therefore recommends opening a bank account and furthtermore getting insured with a health insurance company.

The reason for this is a legal change that will come into effect throughout Germany. Ukrainian refugees who already receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers‘ Benefits Act (Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz) before 1 June 2022 will automatically be contacted and informed about further steps that need to be taken.

Application for further benefits for persons over 65 years of age in accordance with SGB XII (form in German and Ukrainian)

Upon presentation of a valid biometric ID or a residence permit with photo and the registration certificate of the municipality in which the person permanently resides, it is possible to open an account at a bank of choice. These bank details must be communicated to the Municipal Centre for Labour - Job Centre (KCA - Job Center) or the Office for Social Promotion and Participation (Amt für soziale Förderung und Teilhabe) so that benefit claims can be paid out in a timely manner.

People receiving benefits according to Book II of the Social Code (at the Municipal Centre for Employment - Job Centre) or Book XII of the Social Code (Office for Social Promotion and Participation) are usually covered by health insurance in Germany. As soon as they have applied for benefits in accordance with SGB II or SGB XII, they are contacted and any uncertainties regarding health insurance coverage are clarified. Contributions to health insurance are paid by the Municipal Centre for Labour - Job Centre or the Office for Social Promotion and Participation.

Refugees from Ukraine can exchange up to 10,000 hryvnia into euros in Germany at participating German banks and savings banks. The currency exchange can be done in several partial sums and is to be free of charge. Banknotes of 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 Hryvnia of the currently valid banknote series of the National Bank of Ukraine will be accepted. The exchange into euro will be carried out at the exchange rate announced on the Bundesbank's website (www.bundesbank.de/wechselkurseuah )

The exchange is recorded in an online application provided by the European Central Bank to ensure that the individual maximum exchange amount is not exceeded. The identity of each adult refugee wishing to participate in the exchange is recorded and verified. The documents that are also accepted for the opening of a basic bank account by refugees from the Ukraine are accepted (see FAQ list "Bank account/Health insurance"). For the time being, the exchange is possible for three months.

Further information can be obtained from all banks and savings banks participating in the exchange programme.

On 1 June 2022, the responsibility for ensuring the livelihood of Ukrainian refugees from the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act will change to the Municipal Centre for Employment (Kommunales Center für Arbeit – Social Code II) or the Office for Social Promotion and Participation (Social Office/Amt für soziale Förderung und Teilhabe – Social Code XII). As a rule, those who have not yet reached German retirement age come under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Centre for Employment. This applies to the majority of Ukrainian refugees. For those who have reached the appropriate age, the Office for Social Promotion and Participation is in charge.

Application: Anyone who registers as a Ukrainian refugee in Germany after 1 June 2022 has to apply directly for benefits if they have no financial means of their own. For this purpose, there is a joint online application by the Municipal Centre for Employment (KCA) and the Office for Social Promotion and Participation especially for people from Ukraine who are affected, i.e. regardless of age and individual backgrounds. The people themselves do not have to specify which legal group they belong to - it is sufficient to simply submit an application. The competent institution will then take care of it automatically. Ukrainian refugees who are already receiving benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act before 1 June 2022 will be contacted by the office responsible for them and will be informed about all the further steps they need to take.

Health Insurance & Bank Account: In order for the KCA and the Office for Social Promotion and Participation to grant benefits to Ukrainian refugees, it is strongly recommended that persons affected open a German bank account. If the Municipal Centre for Labour is responsible, persons need to choose a statutory health insurance provider so that they can benefit from full medical care without financial risks. The choice of health insurance is completely free; upon request, the KCA Job Centre will hand out lists of possible health insurance companies. If the Office for Social Promotion and Participation is responsible, people can be registered automatically with a health insurance provider.

Counselling: The Municipal Centre for Employment (KCA) provides mobile counselling teams in the shared accommodation for Ukrainian refugees. These teams offer on-site group information as well as individual counselling. In this context, an initial assessment also takes place, in which KCA employees find out what vocational and other skills each person has, as well as what wishes, ideas and interests they have.

Measures / support: The Municipal Centre for Employment (KCA) is currently developing orientation programmes and training courses especially for Ukrainian refugees, in cooperation with the Association for Work, Qualification and Training (AQA), also owned by the district. You can find out more in a consultation with your contact person at the KCA.

Taking up employment: as a matter of principle, Ukrainian refugees have unrestricted access to the German labour market. They can, for example, start an apprenticeship or take up employment subject to social insurance contributions without any special requirements. The KCA Job Centre advises and finds suitable jobs in the region. Companies wishing to fill vacancies specifically with Ukrainian refugees can contact Erika Kollmann by email at AMIP-Ukraine@kca-mkk.deund by phone at 06051 974141910.

Further support services: For Ukrainian refugees, there are a variety of additional, specialised support services available, which are coordinated by the Municipal Centre for Employment (KCA) and the Office for Social Promotion and Participation. These services include, for example, trauma therapy, addiction counselling, childcare counselling, nursing counselling and much more.

Establishing contact: The first point of contact for all Ukrainian refugees newly arrived in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis remains the coordination office Ukrainehilfe MKK at the Foreigners' Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde). It can be reached via the hotline 06051 8518000 and by email at ukraine@mkk.de (general enquiries).

Documents, applications or enquiries about a person's individual situation should preferably be sent by e-mail. The Municipal Centre for Employment - Job Centre ( KCA-Job Center)can be reached by mail at KCA.Ukraine@kca-mkk.de. The Office for Social Promotion and Participation (Amt für soziale Förderung und Teilhabe) can be reached at Ukraine-65Plus@mkk.de.

In general, the following must be considered when moving to a new address:

• When moving within the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, it is essential to ensure that the necessary re-registration is carried out so that the current address is always known to the Foreigners' Registration Office.
• When moving out of the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, it is essential to ensure the required registration at the new place of residence so that existing files can be sent to the new foreigners authority in a timely manner.
• If you are moving outside the state of Hesse, you have to submit an informal application to the Foreigners' Registration Office before the planned move.
• If you are moving to the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, it is essential to communicate the change of residence with the foreigners authority of the previous place of residence prior to the planned move. Any applications that may be required must be submitted there.

The Consulate General in Frankfurt can be reached by phone at 069 29720920 or by email at gc_def@mfa.gov.ua.

From 1 June 2022, Ukrainian refugees will need to be covered by health insurance in order to continue receiving care and support. Further information is available during registration or automatically by postal mail for all those who are already registered.

The Main-Kinzig-Kreis can provide further assistance if questions arise regarding medical care, preferably by sending an email to ukraine@mkk.de. Short-term advice can be obtained by telephone via 116 117. In urgent cases, dial the emergency number 112.

In larger central accommodations, medical consultations and initial consultations are held for the people on site. Appointments and further information are available directly at the accommodations.

>> Information on health in several languages

People who are living with HIV or are undergoing opioid substitution therapy may find more information (in German, Ukrainian and Russian) on the website of Deutsche Aidshilfe: Україна: допомога біженцям | Deutsche Aidshilfe

>>Vaccination calendar in ukranian (PDF)

The Main-Kinzig-Kreis has created a standard procedure for refugees to be tested for the Corona virus after their arrival, provided they are received and accommodated by the district. They can get vaccinated against Corona in the initial accommodation, as well as in doctor's surgeries and vaccination centres. On >>Impfung - Dein Pflaster there are the necessary vaccination documents with information on vaccination in Ukrainian. The addresses and opening hours of the vaccination centres can also be found there.

The vaccines CoronaVac from Sinovac, Covilo from Sinopharm, and Covaxin from Bharat Biotech International Ltd. as well as Sputnik V from Gamelaya are not licensed in the EU. For people who have been fully immunised against the coronavirus with one of these vaccines (twice or with a booster vaccination already), the German Standing Commission on Vaccination (Stiko) recommends a single vaccination with an mRNA vaccine at an interval of at least three months after the last vaccination. The mRNA vaccines licensed in the EU are Comirnaty by Biontech (also for children five years and older) and Spikevax by Moderna (Stiko recommendation: 30 years and older).

For people who have only received one dose of one of the above-mentioned vaccines not licensed in the EU, the Stiko recommends a new vaccination series with basic vaccination and booster vaccination. This also applies to persons who have received another vaccine not licensed in the EU.

What do I have to consider when entering Germany with a dog, cat or ferret?
Dogs, cats and ferrets are only allowed to enter Germany if they have been vaccinated against rabies and this has been confirmed by a blood test (titer determination) and thus a valid vaccination protection exists. In order to be able to clearly identify the animals, they must be marked with a corresponding microchip under the skin, which can be read with a scanner. The chip number has to be entered in the vaccination certificate.

For the time being, the conditions for entry from the Ukraine have been eased, so that at present it is not necessary to determine the titer of animals that have been verifiably vaccinated.

Nevertheless, please register your animal with the Office of Veterinary Affairs and Consumer Protection (Veterinary Office).: >> registration form .

My dog, cat, ferret has not been vaccinated or I cannot prove valid vaccination protection (no microchip, no vaccination certificate) - what do I have to do?
The animal must be reported to and registered with the Office of Veterinary Affairs and Consumer Protection (Veterinary Office). There are relevant papers to be filled out for this purpose: >>registration form . The Veterinary Office will make sure that the animal is uniquely marked with a microchip, arrange for the issuing of a pet passport in which the microchip number is entered, and arrange for the rabies vaccination so that the animal and its owner are protected. For the time being, this will not result in any costs for you.

My animal has been chipped and vaccinated on entry/arrival - what happens next?
Rabies is a fatal disease which can affect both animals and humans. It is not curable. The incubation period (time from infection to outbreak of the disease) can be very long (up to three months). The symptoms can be very weak until shortly before the animal dies, so that the owners of the animals do not realise anything about it, but are in great danger.

Unfortunately, Ukraine is not yet free of rabies like Germany. Therefore, it can never be entirely excluded that pets have been infected with rabies in Ukraine.

A vaccination is only fully effective after 21 days. Therefore, animals that have entered the country without verifiable vaccination protection and were only vaccinated upon entry must be quarantined for 21 days.

How does quarantine work for my pet?
When accommodated in a group accommodation, your animal can usually be accommodated in the very same compartment with you or in a nearby quarantine container. In rare cases (e.g. if keeping animals in the accommodation is not allowed and/or no container is available), your animal has to be accommodated in a shelter or boarding kennel for the duration of the quarantine. In any case, you will receive your animal back after 21 days. You can be clearly identified as the owner by the chip and chip number in the pet passport. During the stay in the quarantine facility, the animal will be cared for, fed and, if necessary, treated by a veterinarian.

To register your child or children for school, please contact the Admissions and Counseling Center of the State Education Authorities (Staatliches Schulamt), phone 06181 9062 343, or email Abz.ssa.hanau@kultus.hessen.de.

The State Education Authorities offer further information on support for immigrant families and refugees.

The Hessian State Government is helping to ensure that Ukrainian children and juveniles who have fled receive learning offerings at school as quickly as possible .

To register your child or children to attend kindergarten, please contact the relevant municipal or city administration of your current residence. Here you will find information on the cities and municipalities in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis .

Measles vaccination: Children attending kindergarten or school have to provide proof that they have been fully vaccinated against measles. Alternatively, they have to prove by a medical certificate that they have already had the disease.

Ukrainian children under 6 years of age whose vaccine protection is unclear or whose vaccination cannot be proven by a vaccination certificate ought to be vaccinated against measles at least once. Only then can they go to a child-care institution.

For the time being, school-age Ukrainian children are allowed to go to school without a proven measles vaccination, but the vaccination should be given as soon as possible.

Further information on measles and the measles vaccination is provided by the Federal Centre for Health Education in Ukrainian

In principle, private travel costs are already covered by the payment of the monthly standard benefits. However, expenses can be reimbursed additionally in the following cases:

• Those who receive basic benefits for jobseekers under SGB II can be reimbursed for occasion-related travel expenses. Travel expenses can be covered by the Municipal Centre for Employment (KCA) of the Main-Kinzig-Kreis if the KCA has arranged this appointment, for example for a meeting with the case manager or participation in a measure.
• Travel expenses can also be reimbursed for compulsory appointments at the Foreigners' Registration Office of the Main-Kinzig-Kreis.
• Those who attend a language course (integration courses, courses for job-related language support) of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) can have their travel expenses reimbursed by the BAMF after submitting an appropriate application. This usually happens in the form of a travel allowance.
  Applications can also be submitted to the BAMF via the responsible course provider.
• Pupils can have the expenses for transport to school reimbursed under certain conditions. Applications can be downloaded online from the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV). They are forwarded via the schools to the Kreisverkehrsgesellschaft Main-Kinzig (KVG) for processing. Pupils then receive an RMV annual ticket.
• If the pupils do not receive a ticket from the KVG, they can apply for the travel expenses to be covered by the Hessian benefits for education and participation of children. Approval is subject to certain conditions and applies to children from families who receive certain social benefits or who have only a low income.
• If the child has a severe disability with the mark "G" or "aG", the pension offices decide on the prerequisites for benefits for public transport and issue entitlements for this. In order to be able to apply for severe disabilities, medical documents are required. Most doctors' surgeries have the necessary applications available.
• ÖPNV itself offers special promotions and discounts for certain groups of people. The RMV provides information about these online, at information desks or directly at ticket machines.
• If a person has to attend an interview with the legal authorities or the police, these authorities decide whether travel expenses will be reimbursed or not.
• If extraordinary travel costs arise because someone is participating in a drug substitution programme, for example, the respective assistance system decides on a individual basis and always prior to the start of the trip whether expenses will be reimbursed. A subsequent application with purchased tickets is not possible.

In recent months, many people from Ukraine have found refuge in Germany. Some of them have travelled here in their own cars. Below is some advice on this:

Insurance cover: In view of the plight of the refugees from Ukraine, German liability car insurers (Kfz-Haftpflichtversicherer) have decided to cover damage caused in Germany by any uninsured car registered in Ukraine until 31 May 2022. The Deutsche Büro Grüne Karte (German Green Card Bureau) will take care of the necessary settlements. For the time after 31 May 2022, German liability car insurers have agreed to offer owners of vehicles registered in Ukraine the possibility of taking out temporary insurance cover. This cover will be granted for a maximum of one year in accordance with the Foreign Motor Insurance Act (Auslandspflichtversicherungsgesetz). The specific terms of the contract are subject to freedom of contract and the decision of the respective insurer in accordance with the legal provisions. The Main-Kinzig-Kreis therefore recommends contacting an insurance agency of one's choice immediately after 1 June in order to secure insurance cover.

Registration of vehicles in Germany: According to the provisions of the Vehicle Registration Ordinance (Fahrzeugzulassungsverordnung), foreign vehicles have to be registered in Germany if they have their regular place of operation here. Due to the special situation of Ukrainian refugees, the Federal Ministry of Transport has recommended that the vehicles be exempted from this obligation for an initial period of 1 year. After that, they will have to be poperly registered in Germany. Prior voluntary registration is of course possible.

As the vehicles in question do not usually have a European type approval, a corresponding expert opinion from an officially authorised expert is required in order to obtain the operating licence. This then has to be sent to the bundeling authority (Bündelungsbehörde) in Fulda in order to obtain the operating permit. Only then can approval be granted by the local authorities. The Main-Kinzig-Kreis recommends contacting zulassung@mkk.de in advance or in case of questions regarding the procedure in order to check the required documents.

Information for holders of Ukrainian driving licences: With a valid Ukrainian driving licence you may drive motor vehicles in Germany in the vehicle classes for which your driving licence has been issued. It is not necessary to have a translation with you. Once you have established your residence in Germany (as a rule, the date of entry is to be assumed in this case), this entitlement is valid for another 6 months. After that, a German driving licence is required. A prerequisite for the German driving licence is then passing a theoretical and practical driving test. A driving school registration is required for this. For further questions and information on the necessary requirements (e.g. first aid course, eye test, etc.), please contact the driving licence office fuehrerschein@mkk.de.