Main Authorities

There are several central offices in Bamberg for the reception of asylum seekers and for the concerns of migrants. Here you can find information about the role of the main offices and authorities, and about where you can turn to.

ANKER Facility (AEO)

In Bavaria, asylum seekers who have just arrived to Germany are assigned to various “ANKER centers” according to certain principles. One of them is the “ANKER Facility in Upper Franconia” (short: “AEO”) in the east of Bamberg. There, asylum seekers will be housed and provided with the most basic necessities. “ANKER” is an abbreviation for “Arrival, Registration and Repatriation”. People are registered in the AEO, and they can live and eat there until it is decided whether they are allowed to stay in Germany or not.

ANKER Facility of the Government of Oberfranken (AEO)

Erlenweg 4
96050 Bamberg
0951 / 1 32 94 – 0
poststelle@reg-ofr.bayern.de
http://www.reg-ofr.de/aeo

All relevant authorities also operate a branch at AEO:

Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (“Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge”, BAMF): responsible for the implementation of asylum procedures, the personal hearing about the reasons of the flight (often called “interview”) and the recognition or rejection of asylum seekers
Central Immigration Authority (“Zentrale Ausländerbehörde”, ZAB) of the Government of Oberfranken: responsible for residence permits, work permits, allocation of accommodation, and allocation of residence
Bavarian State Office for Asylum and Repatriation (“Bayerisches Landesamt für Asyl und Rückführungen”): organizes the repatriation of rejected asylum seekers; offers advice for people who want to return to their home country voluntarily
Office for Social Affairs (“Amt für soziale Angelegenheiten”) of the City of Bamberg: responsible for financial aid
Public Health Office (“Gesundheitsamt”): responsible for medical examinations, medical service, etc.
Administrative Court (“Verwaltungsgericht”) in Bayreuth: accepts applications for court proceedings in asylum matters, as well as appeals against asylum decisions
“Jobcenter” and Federal Employment Agency “(Agentur für Arbeit”): responsible for financial aid after asylum has been granted
Police: responsible for security and order

Distribution & Accommodation

As asylum procedures in Germany usually take a long time and there is not enough space in the AEO, many asylum seekers after a while are allocated to various community accommodations (“GU”, short for “Gemeinschaftsunterkunft”). These are often located in smaller towns, not in the city of Bamberg, but still in the administrative district (“Regierungsbezirk”) of Oberfranken.

The government of Oberfranken is responsible for the distribution to the communal accommodations in the district. It is also the side to turn to for requests to move out of a specific accommodation:

Government of Oberfranken – Accommodation and Integration of Refugees

Wilhelm-Busch-Straße 2
95447 Bayreuth
0921 / 6 04 – 0
https://www.regierung.oberfranken.bayern.de/aufgaben/192162/192167/index.html

The following office is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in the district (“Landkreis”) of Bamberg:

Landratsamt Bamberg - Coordination of Asylum Affairs

Ludwigstraße 23
96052 Bamberg
0951 / 8 50
asyl@lra-ba.bayern.de
https://www.landkreis-bamberg.de/Auslaenderwesen

After the decision that a person is allowed to stay in Germany, they must move out of the AEO or the community accommodation as soon as possible and search for an apartment of their own.

If you need help on this topic, please go to the section on “Housing”.

Central Immigration Authority of Oberfranken

The Central Immigration Authority (“Zentrale Ausländerbehörde”, short “ZAB”) of the Government of Oberfranken is responsible for all asylum seekers in the district whose asylum procedure has not yet been completed. It is also responsible for all foreigners living in Oberfranken with a mere toleration (“Duldung”).

The ZAB headquarters is in Bayreuth, but there is also an office in the AEO in Bamberg:

Central Immigration Authority (ZAB) Oberfranken

Wittelsbacherring 3
95444 Bayreuth
0921 / 6 04 21 12
zab@reg-ofr.bayern.de
https://www.regierung.oberfranken.bayern.de/

Central Immigration Authority (ZAB) Oberfranken, Bamberg Office

Erlenweg 4
96050 Bamberg
0951 / 13 29 40
zab.bamberg@reg-ofr.bayern.de
https://www.regierung.oberfranken.bayern.de/

Immigration Office for the City and District of Bamberg

If a person is recognized as a refugee, the ZAB hands over responsibility to the Immigration Office (called “Amt für Ausländerwesen”) of the city or district in which the person lives. This office is then responsible for things such as residence permits, work and training permits, travel documents, naturalization etc.

All necessary applications can be found on the websites of these offices:

Amt für Ausländerwesen, City of Bamberg

Rathaus am ZOB
Promenadestraße 2a
96047 Bamberg
0951 / 87 12 83
auslaenderamt@stadt.bamberg.de
https://www.stadt.bamberg.de/Auslaenderwesen/

Amt für Ausländerwesen, District of Bamberg

Ludwigstraße 23
96052 Bamberg
0951 / 8 53 14
abh@lra-ba.bayern.de
https://www.landkreis-bamberg.de/Ausländerwesen

Migrants Advisory Council

Another relevant institution in Bamberg is the Migrants Adisory Council (“Migrantinnen- und Migrantenbeirat”, short “MIB”). This body is democratically elected by people with a migratory background with the aim of representing their interests. The council sees itself as an intermediary between the foreign residents and the city administration.

Migrantinnen- und Migrantenbeirat der Stadt Bamberg

Heinrichsdamm 1
96047 Bamberg
0951 / 87 – 18 74
mib@stadt.bamberg.de
http://www.mib.stadt.bamberg.de