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Evaluation of the residence obligation in accordance with section 12a of the Residence Act ,
Source: BAMF (cover image: AdobeStock | lesniewski)
On behalf of the Research Centre of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF-FZ), empirica ag, in cooperation with the European University Viadrina Frankfurt/Oder, evaluated the effect of the residence obligation in accordance with section 12a of the Residence on the sustainable integration of the persons covered by the regulation into the living conditions of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The evaluation took place between June 2021 and December 2022 and looks at the effects of the residence obligation as of 1 June 2021. The focus was on the effects in the areas of employment, housing, social integration and protection against violence.
The data available for the analysis are limited in their informative value. Taking this into account, the authors come to the conclusion in their evaluation of various partial effects of the residence obligation that, in sum, it probably does not produce the intended effects. Moreover, it creates a high bureaucratic burden for foreigners' authorities. Although there is a clear spatial effect, since relocations between the federal states have been greatly reduced, overall there is only relatively little mobility among all beneficiaries of protection and, according to the report's assessment, relocations that potentially promote integration are too strongly hindered. In addition, the effects of the residence obligation in the individual areas of integration are ambivalent and not sustainably positive, e.g. with regard to labour force participation. At the same time, however, it was possible to identify relieving effects for municipalities particularly affected by influxes.
The research consortium therefore recommends an adjustment of the residence obligation with regard to a restriction to local immigration bans according to Section 12a (4) Residence Act, which would also significantly relieve the foreigners' authorities. In addition, early matching procedures could contribute to a more efficient distribution of people seeking protection. Finally, a model project on retention factors for beneficiaries of protection in rural areas is also suggested.