DE country scene

Minor Child of an Asylum-Entitled Person or Recognised Refugee — Timely Application

GermanyFamily

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Which family relationships qualify?

A minor unmarried child of a foreign national qualifies where both parents, or the parent with sole custody, hold a residence permit under section 25(1) or 25(2) first sentence of the Residence Act (asylum entitlement or refugee status).

See recorded sources

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

The sponsor is a person entitled to asylum, a recognised refugee (or other protection holder listed); the eligible legal basis appears on the sponsor's electronic residence title as section 23(4), 24(1), 25(1), 25(2), 26(3) or, in certain cases, 26(4) of the Residence Act.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • BAMF page is dated 01/03/2024; the route itself concerns asylum-entitled persons and recognised refugees only.

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

Family reunification is refused where it is established that the family relationship was created solely to enable entry and residence in Germany, and the official source does not list the documents used to prove the relationship. Where parents share custody, the residence permit to join only one parent should be granted if the other parent consents or a binding decision of a competent body exists.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Captured sources do not list the documents (e.g. birth certificates, custody papers) required to prove the relationship.
  • https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/BJNR195010004.html
    Ein Familiennachzug wird nicht zugelassen, wenn 1. feststeht, dass die Ehe oder das Verwandtschaftsverhältnis ausschließlich zu dem Zweck geschlossen oder begründet wurde, dem Nachziehenden die Einreise in das und den Aufenthalt im Bundesgebiet zu ermöglichen
  • https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/BJNR195010004.html
    Bei gemeinsamem Sorgerecht soll eine Aufenthaltserlaubnis nach den Absätzen 1 und 2 auch zum Nachzug zu nur einem sorgeberechtigten Elternteil erteilt werden, wenn der andere Elternteil sein Einverständnis mit dem Aufenthalt des Kindes im Bundesgebiet erklärt hat oder eine entsprechende rechtsverbindliche Entscheidung einer zuständigen Stelle vorliegt.

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

The secured-livelihood and sufficient-living-space requirements must be waived if the family reunification application is filed within three months of the final recognition of asylum entitlement or refugee status and family life cannot be established in a non-EU state with which the family has special ties. After the three months, reunification remains possible but the sponsor must show efforts to find work and own accommodation.

See recorded sources

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

The application must be made no later than three months after the asylum procedure is completed (if recognition follows a court judgment, the period starts after the new positive BAMF decision); the deadline is also met by a timely application from the parent in Germany. The permit may be issued at most for the validity of the sponsor's permit and initially for at least one year. On reaching majority the child's permit becomes an independent right of residence. The official source does not describe the visa or consular application steps for the child.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Captured sources do not describe the visa/consular application steps for the child.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

Your story.
Your next step.

Explore pathways in Germany →