Germany issues far fewer family reunification visas for refugees with limited protection
Germany has sharply reduced the number of visas issued for family reunification for refugees with limited protection status. The new policy has significantly lowered approvals, leaving many refugee families separated for extended periods.
Between August and December last year, the federal government approved only 150 visas for family reunification for people holding subsidiary protection status. This figure is far below the previous limit of 1,000 visas per month that had allowed more families to reunite in Germany.
The subsidiary protection status (limited protection for people facing general danger but not individual persecution) applies to many refugees from Syria. Officials say the stricter policy was introduced to reduce pressure on local authorities responsible for housing, supporting, and integrating new arrivals.
At the end of July, Germany temporarily suspended family reunification for refugees with subsidiary protection for two years. Authorities said only exceptional “hardship cases” would still be allowed to bring close relatives such as spouses or children to the country.
Under the new procedure, applications must first be examined by the Internationale Organisatie voor Migratie (IOM – International Organization for Migration). After this initial review, the applications are forwarded to the Duitse ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken (German Foreign Office) for final approval.
The restrictions apply specifically to refugees with subsidiary protection, meaning individuals who cannot prove they are personally targeted in their home countries but still face general threats to their safety. Refugees who qualify under the Geneefse Vluchtelingenconventie (Geneva Refugee Convention – international treaty protecting refugees) are not affected and can still apply for family reunification under previous rules.
The German government argues the temporary measure is necessary to ease the burden on cities and municipalities already struggling with housing shortages and integration challenges.
However, critics say the policy has sparked renewed debate about Germany’s migration policies and humanitarian responsibilities. Opponents argue that limiting reunification leaves families separated for years and creates significant emotional stress for refugees.
Bundestag member يان كوسترينغ from the municipality of Nümbrecht in North Rhine-Westphalia strongly criticized the decision. He said there are many other measures that could help local communities and described the restrictions on family reunification as “inhumane.”