Important: The Green Party's motion is currently only a political demand. It is not a legally binding resolution. The motion will first be debated in the Bundestag, but it will require a majority of votes from members of parliament in order to be implemented.
Request: Change to secure Residence permit
A key point of the motion is the demand to review and improve the residence status of many Syrians in Germany. The Greens criticize the fact that, despite having lived in Germany for years, many people still only have temporary or uncertain Residence permit . In their motion, they therefore call for permanent and reliable residency prospects.
According to the Central Register of Foreigners, around 948,000 Syrian nationals were living in Germany at the end of September 2025. Approximately 667,000 people had a temporary residence permit. Around 10,500 Syrians were considered subject to deportation. Of these, around 9,600 had a Tolerance permit.
Frequent Residence permit Syrians in Germany:
- Refugee protection (Section 3 of the Asylum Act) → Residence permit pursuant to Section 25 (2) of the Residence Act
- Subsidiary protection (Section 4 (1) of the Asylum Act) → Residence permit pursuant to Section 25 (2) of the Residence Act
- Residence permits on humanitarian grounds pursuant to Section 25 (3) or Section 23 (1) of the Residence Act (AufenthG)
Since these Residence permit are Residence permit and usually have to be renewed every two to three years, the Greens are calling for a simplified process known as "track change." This means that Syrians should be able to Residence permit more easily from asylum or protection status to other Residence permit , for example for work, training, or study.
In doing so, greater consideration should be given to different life situations. Particular mention is made of women, children, students, trainees, older people, and people with disabilities or serious illnesses. These groups should also be given the prospect of residence even if they do not fully meet all the requirements.
Demand: Reinstate and expedite family reunification
Another important issue is family reunification. The Greens are calling for the procedures to be made faster and for family reunification with beneficiaries of subsidiary protection to be made possible again as a matter of course.
The reason: Family reunification with beneficiaries of subsidiary protection in Germany is currently suspended completely for two years (until July 2027). This means that the previous regulation, under which up to 1,000 visas could be issued per month for close family members, no longer applies.
Since then, family reunification has only been permitted in a few exceptional cases, for example for urgent humanitarian reasons under Section 22 of the Residence Act or for reasons of special political interest under Section 23 of the Residence Act. According to estimates, this affects around 381,000 people in Germany, most of them from Syria.
The Greens are calling for family reunification to become the norm again rather than the exception. They see it as an important humanitarian measure and a prerequisite for successful integration.
Demand: Suspend deportations to Syria
The Greens are also in favor of suspending deportations to Syria. According to the motion, this should apply until the security situation in the country has improved permanently and reliably. The basis for this should be the assessments of the Foreign Office and the Foreign Minister.
Specifically, they are calling for a halt to deportations in accordance with Section 60a of the Residence Act. This refers to a halt to deportations or a Tolerance permit humanitarian or security grounds.
For Syrians in Germany, this would mean that even after the fall of the Assad regime, they would not have to fear deportation as long as the security situation in the country has not improved permanently and reliably.
Demands: Travel to Syria without losing residence permits
Travel to Syria is a particularly sensitive issue. Many Syrians want to visit relatives, settle property issues, or see the situation in the country for themselves. At the same time, there is concern that such a trip could jeopardize their protection status.
The Greens are therefore calling for clear and reliable rules for Syrian citizens with protection status or other residence permits to leave and re-enter the country. These trips should be possible in the form of so-called "go-and-see" visits, as proposed by the EU Commission. A stay in Syria should not automatically lead to the Residence permit Germany expiring or being called into question.
The German government has so far rejected such trips. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has recently emphasized several times that traveling to the country of origin is not compatible with protection status. In his view, anyone who travels to the country where they were persecuted sends the signal that there is no longer any danger there—and therefore no reason for protection in Germany.
According to Dobrindt, information on the current situation in Syria can also be obtained from family members or online. Anyone who travels there nonetheless must expect to lose their protection.
Demand: Protection for particularly vulnerable groups in the asylum process
In view of the continuing uncertain situation in Syria, the Greens are calling for asylum procedures for certain groups to be continued and for protection status to be granted. These include Syrian nationals who belong to ethnic or religious minorities, are part of the LGBTQ community, or are considered particularly vulnerable for other reasons.
At the same time, the Green Party is in favor of suspending revocation proceedings. This means that protection status that has already been granted should not be reviewed or revoked as long as the situation in Syria remains uncertain.
Demand: Faster procedures through better equipped authorities
In their motion, the Green Party points out that long processing times at immigration authorities and naturalization offices are a major problem for many of those affected. Waiting times of months or years cause uncertainty and make integration, work, and family life more difficult.
That is why they are calling for greater support for the immigration authorities, for example through more staff and better structures. The aim is to ensure that decisions on Residence permit, extensions, or naturalization take less time in the future.
What happens now?
The motion will be debated for the first time in the Bundestag on Friday (December 19) and then forwarded to the Interior Committee. However, it is currently considered unlikely that the Green Party's motion will gain a majority.
This is mainly because the current federal government, made up of the CDU/CSU and SPD, is pursuing a much stricter course in migration policy. The demands of the Green Party stand in contrast to this.
The Green Party's proposal should therefore be understood primarily as a political counter-model to current migration policy. However, it is unlikely to be implemented.
What those affected can do now
Even though the current political debate tends to favor tightening residence laws, the legal situation will not change overnight. Nevertheless, it is important to be prepared.
Important: Regardless of this, the following still applies: Every asylum application and every application for the issuance or extension of a residence permit mustalways beexamined by the Foreigners' office on a case-by-case basis.
Those affected should therefore pay attention to the following:
- Check your residence status: Those affected should clarify what type of Residence permit they Residence permit have, when it expires, and whether any deadlines are approaching. Even with a Tolerance permit , there Tolerance permit often ways to improve your status, for example through education, work, or special right of residence regulations.
- Seek advice early on: Early advice from specialist immigration lawyers or advice centers can help you assess risks and identify possible courses of action—especially in the event of rejections, revocation proceedings, or uncertainty about possible deportations.
- Collect documents and keep them up to date: Important documents include employment or training contracts, school and university certificates, rental agreements, medical certificates, and language and integration certificates. Complete documentation often improves the chances of your application being successful.
- Meet deadlines: Applications, extensions, and appeals must be submitted by the deadline. Residence permit be extended several months before they expire, if possible.
- Act immediately if threatened with deportation: If you receive a letter to this effect, you should seek legal assistance immediately to have any urgent applications or grounds for protection examined.
- Document the risk and stay informed: Anyone who fears danger upon returning to Syria should collect relevant evidence. It is also advisable to keep track of current political and legal developments and to make use of counseling services.
