Family reunification to subsidiary-protection holders suspended for two years
Effective date: 24 July 2025 · Source: Auswärtiges Amt ↗
A law in force since 24 July 2025 suspends family reunification to people with subsidiary protection until 23 July 2027. Only exceptional humanitarian cases are approved during this period.
What changed
The previous monthly quota of 1,000 reunification approvals for subsidiary-protection sponsors was ended. Waitlist registrations and pending applications keep their procedural status and resume after the suspension, subject to further legislation.
Who is affected
- People with subsidiary protection status and their families
What to do
This does NOT affect families of workers, students, Blue Card holders or recognised refugees (Flüchtlingseigenschaft) — those routes are unchanged. If you hold subsidiary protection, keep your waitlist registration active and document any hardship grounds.
Affected guides
Last verified: 21 July 2026