Germany: Migrants Struggle to Support Parents Abroad, Study Finds

Millions of people living in Germany regularly support parents who live abroad – but doing so often comes with significant financial, emotional and professional strain, according to a new study by the German Centre for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM).

The research sheds light on what scholars call “transnational family relationships” – family ties that extend across national borders. In today’s Germany, these arrangements are increasingly common, especially among people with migration history.

According to the study, around 40% of people surveyed in Germany have relatives living abroad, and the phenomenon is particularly widespread among people with a migration background. Researchers estimate that between 3.7 and 5.6 million residents aged 20 to 49 in Germany have at least one parent living outside the country.

For many Africans living in Germany, this reality is familiar. Maintaining close ties with parents and extended family back home – emotionally and financially – is a central aspect of diaspora life.

Financial and Emotional Pressure

The study shows that adult children support parents abroad in many ways: through regular phone contact, financial transfers, organising travel or helping manage administrative matters from afar.

However, the burden is significantly heavier compared with families whose parents live in Germany.

About 32% of respondents with parents abroad said the financial costs of supporting them are a major strain, compared with just 8% among those whose parents live in Germany. Travel costs, remittances and emergency visits often place considerable pressure on migrants already balancing work and family responsibilities in Germany.

Researchers say feelings of guilt, stress and time pressure are also common, particularly when adult children worry that they may not be able to reach their parents quickly in an emergency. Studies on cross-border family care show that such emotional strain is often intensified by distance and immigration-related restrictions on travel or mobility.

Distance Makes Care More Difficult

Geographical distance is one of the biggest challenges. While 86% of respondents with parents in Germany can reach them within three hours, only 10% of those with parents abroad can do so.

For many migrants, visiting parents requires seven hours or more of travel, often involving expensive international flights and complicated travel arrangements.

This distance means that much of the support must be coordinated remotely – from arranging care for ageing parents to sending financial assistance.

Barriers Many Families Do Not Face

Transnational families also encounter bureaucratic hurdles that families living in the same country rarely face.

Visa rules, residence permits and employment obligations can complicate travel plans. For example, migrants who hold temporary residence permits may worry that extended stays abroad could affect their legal status in Germany. At the same time, elderly parents may face visa barriers when trying to visit their children in Europe.

Workplace conditions can also worsen the situation. The study found that employees with parents abroad have slightly less access to flexible working arrangements than those whose parents live in Germany.

A Growing Policy Issue

Researchers say these realities have important implications for social and family policy in Germany.

As a country shaped by immigration, Germany must increasingly recognise that family responsibilities often extend beyond national borders. Yet many existing support systems – including care leave or family assistance programmes – are designed primarily for families living within Germany.

For millions of migrants, including members of the African diaspora, supporting parents across continents remains an everyday responsibility – one that highlights the growing importance of transnational family life in modern Germany.

Vivian Asamoah