The number of relatives allowed to enter Germany will be strictly limited
According to the adopted law, as reported by Deutsche Welle, from August 1, 2018, no more than one thousand people per month will be able to enter Germany under family reunification.
Humanitarian factors will be decisive. Permits will be granted primarily to long-separated spouses, minor children, the seriously ill, disabled persons, and relatives whose life or freedom is under threat.
The selection of candidates for reunification will be carried out by the Federal Office of Administration (Bundesverwaltungsamt). In the first five months of the new law, any unused monthly quota of candidates for family reunification may be carried over to the next month.
Alternative bills from the Free Democrats and the Left did not gain a majority of votes. The Free Democrats proposed, with rare exceptions, postponing family reunification for refugees with subsidiary protection for another two years.
At the same time, the Left proposed immediately lifting all restrictions on family reunification for such migrants.