Family reunification for refugees

What are the requirements for family reunification?

If you would like to bring your family to Germany, certain requirements apply - depending on your Residence status.

-If you are a person entitled to asylum or a recognized refugee are recognized, you usually have a Right to family reunification. This means that your closest family members may join you under certain conditions.

-If your asylum procedure is still ongoing or you only need a Tolerance family reunification is not possible.

-If you have subsidiary protection or a Residence permit due to a ban on deportation have, apply special rules. In these cases, family reunification is only permitted in exceptional cases - for example, for humanitarian reasons.

On this page you will find out, What is important for refugees when it comes to family reunification.

For people from other countries who are not entitled to protection (so-called Third-country nationals), other requirements apply. You can find out more on our topic page "Family reunification".

Family reunification: your rights and options

Can I apply for family reunification?

Whether you can bring your family to Germany depends on your residence status. In principle, you need at least one Residence permit. Different regulations apply depending on the protection status:

1. they are recognizedrefugee, resettlement refugee or person entitled to asylumr:

Then you have the Right to family reunification. Your family can join you under simplified conditions ("privileged family reunification").

2. you have subsidiary protection:

You have no legal claim for family reunification. However, your family can still submit an application. Requirements:

• It must Humanitarian reasons exist (e.g. long separation, seriously ill children)
• Maximum 1,000 people per month are allowed to enter
• Knowledge of German, secure livelihood, family ties have a positive effect

3. you have a residence permit due to a ban on deportation:

An application is only in exceptional cases possible, e.g:

• The separation is unreasonable
• There is a health or family emergency
• The stay in Germany is expected to last longer than one year

Which family members may I bring with me?

You may generally catch up with the following persons:

• Your spouse or partner (over 18 years of age at the time of marriage)
• Your underage, unmarried children

If you are a minor and unmarried:

• Your parents or other adults with custody rights
• Minor siblings only with secure livelihood and living space

In rare cases of hardship, family reunification is also possible for other relatives (in accordance with Section 36 (2) or Section 22 AufenthG). This requires a extraordinary emergency and extensive evidence.

What are the requirements for family reunification?

The requirements depend on your residence status:

Privileged family reunification (for refugees & persons entitled to asylum):

• No proof of income or living space necessary
• Important: Application must within 3 months of recognition be placed

Persons entitled to subsidiary protection:

• Humanitarian reasons must be available
• German language skills, livelihood, health and risk to relatives play a role
• Marriage must closed before the escape be

Persons with a ban on deportation:

• Secure livelihood: No benefits from the state
• Sufficient living space (e.g. 12 m² per person aged 6 and over)
• Health insurance must be in place
• Spouses need German language skills at A1 level (with exceptions)

How and where is the application submitted?

1. Your family must Visa application at the German diplomatic mission abroad (e.g. embassy in the country of origin or residence).
2. You must comply with the Foreigners' Registration Office in Germany that you wish to apply for family reunification. This is done by timely notification (e.g. by fax or via the Federal Foreign Office's web form).

Important: The notification must be submitted within three months after your recognition in order to benefit from the simplified conditions.

After the application has been submitted, the immigration authority checks the requirements and issues an opinion. The procedure can be last from several months to over a year

Relief for persons with German citizenship or a permanent residence permit

• Spouses must No income proof of a basic knowledge of German (A1) is required
• Children must No language skills bring along
• In the case of parents joining a German child No proof of livelihood necessary
• Persons with Settlement permit usually have to provide proof of livelihood and accommodation

What documents does my family need at the embassy?

• Appointment confirmation from the embassy
• Copy of the timely notification
• Visa applications for all family members
• Extract from the family register (if available)
• Birth and marriage certificates
• Copy of your residence permit
• Copy of your BAMF decision

Tip: Check the embassy's website beforehand - additional documents may be required.

What should I do if the immigration authority rejects my application?

• The diplomatic mission abroad rejects the application with a reason (e.g. suspicion of a fictitious marriage)

Possibilities:

1. Lodge an objection (remonstration) within one month directly at the embassy
2. Action before the Berlin Administrative Court submit

Seek advice from a lawyer in this regard. If no legal advice is enclosed, you have one year for the complaint.

Advice and support

• You can find advice centers and lawyers via our page "Local information"
• Support from the PRO ASYL legal aid fund is possible if you have no money for legal representation
• Help for your family abroad: Family Assistance Programs (FAP) of the IOM - Addresses can be found on b-umf.de or iom.int

What should you do after your family has entered the country?

1. Registration with the residents' registration office (Citizens' Office)
2. Application for:
   • Residence permit for family reunification (§§27-36a AufenthG) at the foreigners authority or
   • Family asylum (§26 AsylG) at the BAMF

Which option makes more sense depends on the individual case. You can find information on this in the chapter "Family asylum".

Further important steps

• Health insurance: Your family must be registered
• Social benefits: If you receive benefits, you must register your family with the job center or social welfare office
• School: Children of compulsory school age must be registered

I have lost family members - what can I do?

• DRK Tracing Service: www.drk-suchdienst.de
• Refunite: Online platform to search for missing family members
• Trace the Face: Photo-based search for relatives worldwide