Where can I get free advice on residence, work and everyday life in Berlin?

Migration Counselling (Migrationsberatung für erwachsene Zugewanderte, MBE for short): If you're new to Germany and at least 28 years old, you can get help with many questions in your first years. For example German courses, childcare and school, finding a home, work, health and documents.

The counselling is free and confidential. There are two ways: book an appointment at a counselling centre near you (you can find centres on BAMF-NAvI), or write online on the mbeon platform. Online, you usually get an answer within 48 hours. The mbeon site is in German, English, Arabic, Russian, Ukrainian and Persian; if you want advice in Turkish, ask at an MBE centre in person.

If you're under 28, the Youth Migration Services (Jugendmigrationsdienste, JMD) help. For questions about the asylum process there are special refugee counselling centres; MBE will refer you there.

Berlin Willkommenszentrum (Welcome Centre): Part of the office of Berlin's Commissioner for Integration and Migration. It offers newcomers and anyone with a migration background free, multilingual advice on residence, work, social benefits and immigration law. For the address and opening hours, see the "Willkommenszentrum" section on berlin.de/lb/intmig.