The Federal Republic of Germany has suspended the “Family Reunification Visa” for two years for certain residence permit holders.
On July 11, Germany’s upper house of Parliament, the Bundesrat, approved a two-year suspension of family reunification rights for refugees with subsidiary protection. The lower parliament house, Bundestag, has already passed this regulation on 27 June 2026.
Family reunification in Germany has long been a cornerstone of the country’s humanitarian values. It allows refugees to reconnect with their loved ones after enduring trauma, displacement, and loss. But recent developments are challenging that principle, especially for those granted subsidiary protection.
This is not the first time Germany has limited family reunification for this group. A similar suspension was in place from March 2016 to July 2018. Even after that period, only 1,000 reunifications per month were allowed, under a strict humanitarian quota.
To understand the impact of this decision, it’s important to know what subsidiary protection means. Refugees with this status aren’t granted full asylum. Instead, they are protected from return to their home countries due to ongoing war, torture, or inhumane treatment—even if they aren’t personally persecuted.
Due to these new regulations, most Syrian refugees in Germany, along with individuals from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia, and Yemen, fall under this category.