The prospect of reuniting with family members is a key issue for migrants and refugees. Once you have applied for asylum in Germany, there are laws that regulate whether your family members can join you.
Who is eligible for family reunification?
You can file a request for family reunification if you have been granted one of the following forms of protection in response to your asylum application in Germany: refugee protection, entitlement to asylum or subsidiary protection.
If you have been granted either refugee protection or asylum, it is easier to pursue family reunification. You can apply for it immediately after hearing from the BAMF and you have to make the request within three months.
For people granted subsidiary protection, a status that falls short of full asylum, you have to wait until March 2018 before you can apply for your family members to join you. Exceptions are made only in special hardship cases, according to the BAMF.
If your asylum application is still pending, family reunification is not possible.
Who can come?
According to the BAMF, the following are regarded as family members:
For spouses, a valid marriage must have existed in your country of origin and the appropriate documents have to be presented with the application.
How is it done?
First of all, a request for family reunification has to be filed at the immigrant authority, the “Ausländerbehörde” in Germany. This has to be done within three months after the entitlement to asylum or to protection as has been granted by the BAMF. Now, family members and relatives are entitled to apply for visas and travel to Germany legally for the purpose of family reunification.
The family members whose names were filed have to make an appointment at the German diplomatic representation in the country of origin. This can be either an embassy or consulate. Once there, the necessary documents including passports and documentation of marriage have to be presented. A special visa for purposes of family reunification will be issued if the documents are complete and accurate.
Note that there can be very long waiting times to get an appointment at embassies. In addition, the visa will not be issued immediately and only if the documents presented are complete.
Infomigrants
You can file a request for family reunification if you have been granted one of the following forms of protection in response to your asylum application in Germany: refugee protection, entitlement to asylum or subsidiary protection.
If you have been granted either refugee protection or asylum, it is easier to pursue family reunification. You can apply for it immediately after hearing from the BAMF and you have to make the request within three months.
For people granted subsidiary protection, a status that falls short of full asylum, you have to wait until March 2018 before you can apply for your family members to join you. Exceptions are made only in special hardship cases, according to the BAMF.
If your asylum application is still pending, family reunification is not possible.
Who can come?
According to the BAMF, the following are regarded as family members:
- spouses and registered partners
- minor, unmarried children
- the parents of minor, unmarried children
- minor, unmarried siblings of minors
- other adults who have custody of minor, unmarried persons
For spouses, a valid marriage must have existed in your country of origin and the appropriate documents have to be presented with the application.
How is it done?
First of all, a request for family reunification has to be filed at the immigrant authority, the “Ausländerbehörde” in Germany. This has to be done within three months after the entitlement to asylum or to protection as has been granted by the BAMF. Now, family members and relatives are entitled to apply for visas and travel to Germany legally for the purpose of family reunification.
The family members whose names were filed have to make an appointment at the German diplomatic representation in the country of origin. This can be either an embassy or consulate. Once there, the necessary documents including passports and documentation of marriage have to be presented. A special visa for purposes of family reunification will be issued if the documents are complete and accurate.
Note that there can be very long waiting times to get an appointment at embassies. In addition, the visa will not be issued immediately and only if the documents presented are complete.
Infomigrants