This is confirmed by a recent study by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). It is based on a survey of around 50,000 migrants between the ages of 18 and 65.
A quarter of migrants are thinking about moving away - three percent have concrete plans
According to the study, which was conducted between December 2024 and April 2025, around 57% of respondents would like to stay in Germany permanently. If you extrapolate this to the total number of people with a migration background in Germany, this corresponds to around 5.7 million people.
Twelve percent (around 1.2 million) stated that they had only planned a temporary stay from the outset. A further 30 percent - around 3 million - are undecided.
Particularly noteworthy: 26% of those surveyed - an estimated 2.6 million people - have specifically considered leaving the country in the past year. Three percent (around 300,000 people) are already actively pursuing this step.
The study also showed:
- Men express the desire to emigrate more often than women
- Refugees and migrants who come to Germany as part of the family reunification to Germany tend to want to stay
- EU citizens and people with permanent residence status are more likely to think about leaving the country
- Highly qualified migrants and those with a good command of German and English are more likely to want to leave Germany
- Employed people - especially those with high incomes - are more likely to consider staying in Germany only temporarily
So far, only around a fifth of migrants wishing to leave have taken concrete steps to emigrate. Of these, around a fifth show a desire to return to Germany in the long term. A third, on the other hand, have ruled out returning, while around half are still undecided.
Why do migrants want to emigrate from Germany?
There are many reasons why migrants want to leave Germany. First and foremost, political dissatisfaction and personal or family reasons are cited. But dealing with what is often perceived as burdensome bureaucracy and high taxes are also among them.
Refugees also cite experiences of discrimination as an important reason for wanting to leave Germany.
"Migration intentions do not arise by chance," said IAB researcher Katia Gallegos-Torres at the presentation of the study. "They reflect an interplay of individual life situations, social participation and social framework conditions."
This means that where there is a lack of a sense of belonging and a genuine feeling of welcome, people are more likely to decide to move away.
Why is family reunification in Germany currently so difficult?
According to the study, many respondents cited family reasons as an important factor for their return to their home country. This is probably also due to the currently very difficult conditions for family reunification in Germany.
The new federal government (CDU/CSU and SPD) plans to suspend family reunification for people in need of subsidiary protection for two years. However, there are also numerous conditions that must be met by holders of a residence permit, including
- Valid Residence permit that entitles you to family reunification
- Proof of sufficient living space (if required)
- Proof of livelihood for yourself and family members (if required)
- Sufficient health insurance cover for themselves and their dependents
- Marriage certificate for trailing spouse
- A1 language skills of the family member joining you (if required)
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Well-integrated migrants want to leave Germany particularly often
Particularly alarming: according to the study, migrants who are well integrated, highly qualified and economically successful are more likely to think about leaving the country.
Migrants with recognized qualifications and good language skills - especially from sectors such as IT, finance or technical services - are particularly likely to express their intention to move away. The rate is also above average in healthcare and social services as well as logistics and production.
Leaving Germany - which countries are those wishing to leave drawn to?
While many migrants are thinking about returning to their home country - for example to Poland, Romania, Turkey or the Ukraine - others are considering moving to a third country. Here, Switzerland, the USA and Spain are on the list of preferred countries for the migrants surveyed.
The reasons vary considerably: those who want to return to their home country often cite family ties as the decisive factor. When it comes to moving on, the focus is primarily on career prospects and better economic conditions.
Conclusion: Rethinking migration - creating perspectives
For the research team led by Yuliya Kosyakova, Head of the IAB Migration Research Department, the study clearly shows that a rethink of migration policy is needed in Germany. "It is not enough to promote immigration [of skilled workers, editor's note]. Germany must also invest in long-term prospects for staying," says Kosyakova.
These include the removal of structural hurdles, faster administrative processes and active promotion of social integration.
The results of the study make it clear that people living in Germany not only need work, but also recognition, participation and prospects.
