Germany continues to experience a sharp rise in immigration through family reunification, with more than half a million foreigners having entered the country via this route since 2020. This year, the number is expected to exceed 100,000, with Syrians and Turks making up the largest share.
According to the Federal Foreign Office, around 57,000 visas for family reunification were issued in the first half of this year alone. Most of these visas were granted to Syrian (9,000), Turkish (8,500), and Indian (5,000) individuals.
In response to the growing numbers, the Bundestag recently approved a partial suspension of family reunification rights for certain groups of foreign nationals. Specifically, the suspension affects relatives of individuals with subsidiary protection status, and the restriction will remain in place for two years.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) defended the regulation in parliament, stating that while Germany remains open to the world, there are limits to what its social systems can handle.
