German Parliament Approves Suspension of Family Reunification for Subsidiary Protection Holders
In a vote on Friday, the German Bundestag approved a bill to suspend family reunification for subsidiary protection holders. The bill, which was supported by the governing coalition and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), was passed with 444 votes in favor and 135 against, with no abstentions.
Under the proposed law, the reunification of family members of people threatened by war or persecution will be suspended for two years, with exceptions for “hard cases” where family reunification will still be possible. The bill also aims to reintroduce the goal of limiting migration in the Residence Act, in addition to the existing “steering” of migration.
As of March 31, 2025, there were 388,074 people with subsidiary protection in Germany, according to the Foreigners’ Registration Office. Currently, these individuals can, in principle, apply for family reunification, provided they meet the legal requirements and if there are still family members in the country of origin and a family reunification there would be unreasonable, within the framework of the 1,000-visa monthly quota.
Criticism of the proposal came from the Left Party, which argued that the right to family life is a fundamental and human right that also applies to people in flight. The suspension of family reunification would close “one of the few remaining legal routes for refugees” to come to Germany, leaving those affected with no choice but to take dangerous and illegal routes to be reunited with their loved ones.
The Left Party also expressed concern about the impact of the proposed law on unaccompanied minor refugees with subsidiary protection status, who are already a vulnerable group. The party warned that the suspension of family reunification would not only cause great suffering for the affected families but also have fatal societal and integration policy implications, as it would hinder the integration of already settled protection holders and create additional burdens for them, including difficulties in learning the language and finding employment.