In June, standing outside Germany’s parliament, Ahmad Shikh Ali fought back tears as he held up a blurry photo of his three-year-old son. After fleeing Aleppo more than two years earlier, Shikh Ali had done everything possible to secure a safe future for his son: moving to Hanover, finding full-time work, and navigating endless paperwork to bring his wife and son to join him.
He was nearly reunited with his family, with only two cases ahead of his in the queue. But then, in June, Germany’s lower house of parliament passed a bill suspending family reunifications for migrants like him for at least two years.
“Since I learned of this decision, I can’t sleep, I can’t get on with my life,” Shikh Ali told reporters, breaking down in tears. “My son was crawling when I left him; he is walking now.”
This is just one example of how lives have been reshaped in recent months, as several EU governments move to restrict family reunification. While campaigners see these measures as part of a broader political effort to appear tough on migration, they argue that targeting family reunification is misguided.
“It really doesn’t make sense,” said Federica Toscano of Save the Children Europe. “Politicians claim they want migration to be more manageable, fair, and organized—yet family reunification is one of the most planned, legally secure, and integration-friendly ways to welcome people seeking protection.”
In March, Austria became the first EU country to temporarily suspend family reunification for refugees, citing overburdened social services. Politicians in Germany, Portugal, Finland, and Belgium soon followed suit.
Several governments have tried to justify these measures by invoking a sense of emergency, even though they conflict with the right to family life protected by treaties like the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. “Family unity is a value in our society,” Toscano noted. “But when it comes to foreign families, it suddenly seems less important.”
A recent study by Save the Children in Finland found that the average reunification process takes six and a half years, with some families waiting up to a decade in limbo.
These restrictions ignore the fact that the number of people arriving through family reunification remains relatively small. In Austria, for example, around 18,000 people arrived through these programs in 2023 and 2024, about 13,000 of whom were children. Many endured “long, painful” years separated from a parent, Toscano said. “The longer the process takes, the more trauma these children experience.”
The measures could also backfire by strengthening the criminal networks the EU claims to oppose, according to Thomas Willekens of Refugee Action Flanders. With few other options, people may “decide to take irregular routes and perhaps use human smugglers,” he said.
He also pointed out a contradiction: “It’s striking that political parties who emphasize the importance of family life and families as the core of society are leading the charge to limit that right for certain groups.”
In Germany, more than 380,000 people—mostly Syrians—are expected to be affected by the suspension of family reunification for migrants with subsidiary protection status. This status grants legal residency to those who don’t qualify as refugees but could face serious harm if returned to their home country.
Berlin first suspended family reunification for this group in 2016, partially reinstating it in 2018 with a monthly cap of 1,000 visas.Enter your email address to sign up for our newsletter. Privacy Notice: Our newsletters may include information about charities, online advertisements, and content sponsored by external organizations. For additional details, please review our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha for website security, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
The harmful impacts of family separation are well known, ranging from poor mental health to deep feelings of loneliness. Wiebke Judith from the German refugee rights group Pro Asyl explained, “It’s incredibly difficult for people who arrive here and are constantly worried about their children or spouses to focus on learning German, finding work, or handling daily tasks. This mental strain often leads to depression and frustration.”
The ordeal affects all family members. Judith added, “It tears families apart—not being able to see or be with each other, combined with the frustration of long waits. Being so dependent on authorities just to reunite with loved ones can truly break people.”
In Austria, where the center-right People’s Party (ÖVP) has maintained a strict migration policy, the government has already closed other safe and legal options for asylum seekers, according to Aimée Stuflesser of Amnesty International Austria.
“Without family reunification, people are forced to take riskier, irregular routes that endanger their safety and lives. We view this as a life-threatening situation,” Stuflesser warned.
She emphasized that women and children would likely face greater dangers due to these measures. “Women are especially vulnerable on irregular routes, facing risks like exploitation, abuse, and trafficking,” she noted.
“Migration won’t end. People want to be with their families and often can’t remain in their home countries. This will only push more individuals to risk their lives to stay together.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the impact of Europes stricter immigration policies on families designed to be clear and empathetic
General Beginner Questions
1 What is this topic about
Its about how new stricter immigration laws in many European countries are making it extremely difficult for immigrant families to live together often forcing them to live in separate countries
2 Why are European countries making their immigration policies stricter
Governments often cite reasons like managing population growth protecting national security prioritizing job opportunities for their own citizens and responding to political pressure from voters concerned about high levels of immigration
3 How exactly do these policies separate families
They do this by raising the requirements for family reunification This can include requiring much higher incomes specific housing sizes difficult language tests and long waiting periods If one family member doesnt meet these new rules they can be denied entry or deported leaving the rest of the family behind
4 What is family reunification
Its a legal process that allows immigrants who are legally settled in a country to bring their immediate family members to join them and live together
Impact Emotional Toll
5 Why does this cause people to say I cant sleep I cant move on
The constant stress uncertainty and grief of being separated from your loved ones is overwhelming It creates severe anxiety about the future makes it impossible to focus on daily life or build a stable home and leads to deep depression and loneliness
6 What are the effects on children in these separated families
Children can suffer from emotional trauma depression and anxiety Their education can be disrupted and they miss out on the stable twoparent upbringing crucial for their development They often live in a state of constant longing and confusion
7 Does this only affect new immigrants
No It also affects longterm residents and even citizens For example a naturalized citizen from outside Europe may still face incredibly strict and expensive requirements to bring a foreign spouse to live with them in their new home country
Specifics Examples
8 Can you give a realworld example of how a policy causes separation
A common example is the income requirement A country might demand that a person earning a minimumwage job must prove they earn well above the average income to sponsor their spouse
