Despite the significant tightening of immigration policies by the CDU/CDU-Social Democratic coalition government in Berlin, more than 100,000 family reunification visas have been issued this year, according to figures recently reported by the Foreign Ministry.
According to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 101,756 visas were issued by the end of November to the five nationalities with the most applications. The most visas were issued to Turks (14,907) and Syrians (13,148), followed by citizens of India (9,286), Kosovo (7,143) and Albania (4,426).
The right to family reunification in Germany generally only applies to the core family, meaning spouses and minor children. There are exceptions for difficult cases and, since a reform in March 2024, also for parents and in-laws of highly qualified professionals and workers who can independently provide for the entire family.
In July, the German government of the CDU/CSU and SPD suspended family reunification for two years for people with limited protection status – as opposed to recognized refugees. Only in “difficult cases” are they still allowed to bring their spouses, minor children and, in the case of unaccompanied minors, their parents to Germany./DW
