Arriving and Staying in Germany: Facilitating Integration by Assigning Place of Residence?

Policy Brief l November 2016

Since the Integration Act went into force in August 2016, a domicile requirement has applied for refugees who have been granted protected status and are dependent on social benefits. This requirement aims to prevent refugees from moving to other federal states (Länder) and to encourage integration. At the same time, the Länder may also assign where refugees live within the state itself. But uniform distribution alone is no guarantee that integration will be successful. Using the state of Brandenburg as an example, the Policy Brief looks at how the domicile requirement can be implemented so that it is expedient in integration policy terms and provides policy recommendations for the Länder and municipalities.