Government's Decision: Cancellation of Family Reunions and Express Citizenship Program - Government Decision: Family Reunification Program, Expedited Naturalization Process
Government's Election Promises: End to Family Reunification for Subsidiary Protection Refugees, and Scrapping of Fast-Track Citizenship
The newly formed black-red coalition government in Germany has initiated its first tightening measures in the migration sector, with the cabinet approving two draft bills, as announced by the federal government.
The proposals require the approval of the Bundestag and aim to restrict family reunification opportunities for certain refugees and rescind the fast-track citizenship for integrated immigrants after three years.
Affected Group: Subsidiary Protection Refugees
Refugees with subsidiary protection status face a ban on bringing close relatives to Germany for a period of two years, according to the draft bill. This group includes refugees who, even though they do not receive asylum or refugee protection in Germany, are still allowed to stay due to political persecution, torture, or the death penalty in their home countries.
According to the latest figures, there were approximately 388,000 subsidiarily protected individuals in Germany at the end of March. Three-quarters of this group hail from Syria. The possibility of bringing relatives to Germany is limited to spouses, registered partners, and minor children.
Changes to Family Reunification
Hardship cases are excluded from the two-year ban, but the draft bill does not specify who these cases might involve. It is worth noting that the family reunification for refugees without asylum status was previously suspended from March 2016 to July 2018, with this measure to reduce the overload on the reception and integration process.
Of all visas issued for family reunification between 2018 and 2024, around eight percent were for relatives of subsidiary protection holders. This serves as a reminder that the opportunity for family reunification exists not only for refugees but also for other immigrants, such as foreign skilled workers.
Comment on the Decision
Pro Asyl, a refugee organization, expressed shock at the government's plans, stating that it would close legal and safe refugee routes. Tareq Alaows of Pro Asyl pointed out that this policy could cause factual separation, particularly for families still waiting for years to have their applications processed.
Migration and labor market expert Herbert Brücker of the Institute for Employment Research expressed skepticism about the decision, arguing that separation from one's own family is very stressful for refugees and hinders their integration.
Additional Planned Changes: Naturalization
In addition to changes in family reunification, the black-red government also plans to reverse the accelerated naturalization after three years for particularly well-integrated immigrants. This fast-track citizenship path was criticized by the Union in opposition and will now revert to a waiting period of five years.
While the coalition agreement maintains the reduction of the waiting period for normal naturalizations from eight to five years and the permission for dual citizenship, the withdrawal of accelerated naturalization has been met with criticism. Herbert Brücker sees the move as withdrawing incentives for highly qualified people to come to Germany. The acquisition of citizenship generally has a positive effect on the labor market, he added.
On the other hand, the Expert Council for Integration and Migration (SVR) welcomed the step, as it corrects the impression of an overly easy access to German citizenship.
Migration policy; Tightening; Federal government; Syria; Family reunion
- The announced changes in the government's policy-and-legislation involve tightening migration by rescinding the employment policy of fast-track citizenship for integrated immigrants and restricting family policy for subsidiary protection refugees, including those from Syria, for a period of two years.
- The new proposals for policy-and-legislation in the migration sector, as announced by the federal government, extend beyond family policy, also addressing the employment policy of naturalization, where the black-red coalition government plans to reverse accelerated naturalization for particularly well-integrated immigrants, returning the waiting period to five years.
