The German government has revealed that family reunification visas for refugees under subsidiary protection have been almost completely suspended.
By mid-December 2025, only two visas had been granted, despite 2,586 hardship cases reported to the International Organization for Migration.
In late July, Germany suspended family reunification for those with subsidiary protection status for an initial two years. This category includes many Syrians. Only in exceptional hardship cases are spouses and minor children allowed to join, or parents in the case of unaccompanied minors.
Opposition parties strongly criticized the move. Left Party MP Clara Bünger said the government was making family reunification virtually impossible, worsening the suffering of thousands of families.
Sources - Agencies
