- The family reunion visa also allows third-country nationals to bring close family members to Germany.
- Spouses, registered partners, and their children are the primary beneficiaries of family reunification and are entitled to a family reunion visa.
- A family reunion visa is a German national visa that entitles the holder to a residence permit.
- The requirements for granting a visa include that the relative already living in Germany can secure the livelihood of the new family members entering the country, can provide sufficient living space, and that visa applicants have basic German language skills.
- Some facilitations apply to family members of German citizens, EU citizens, and recognized refugees.
Family reunification visa — Visa Obligations & Eligibility
The German constitution protects marriage and family, and close relatives of persons living in Germany have a right to join them under certain conditions. This applies to the relatives of German citizens, citizens of the European Union, and third-country nationals with a German residence permit.
Visa obligations
Family members who are citizens of an EU country or another Schengen state (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland) do not require a visa or residence permit to join their families in Germany, as they enjoy complete freedom of movement within the Schengen area.
Citizens of 14 countries, including Great Britain, Israel, Canada, and the USA, can enter Germany visa-free for over 90 days. This also applies if they come to Germany to join their family. However, they must apply for a residence permit at the immigration office in their place of residence. Typically, it is granted without complications.
Citizens of all other countries require a family reunion visa to join their families in Germany. A family reunion visa is a German national visa that entitles the holder to a residence permit.
Germany visas are either short-term Schengen visas (C visas) for stays of up to 90 days or national visas (D visas). Permanent entry to Germany for family reunification from countries requiring a visa is generally only possible with a national visa.
Visa eligibility
The right to join relatives in Germany primarily applies to spouses, registered partners, minor children, and parents of minor children.
Other family members can only receive this visa under hardship provisions.
Requirements for a family reunion visa
A family reunion visa is subject to certain requirements referring to the status of the reference partner in Germany.
Family reunification with third-country nationals
Third-country nationals who wish to bring their family to Germany must have a secure residence status. This can be a residence permit (including a temporary one), a settlement permit, or an EU long-term residence permit.
They must fully support all family members from their resources and have sufficient living space.
Spouses and registered partners entering the country must prove that they have a basic knowledge of German at the A1 level to be granted a visa.
No language certificate is required in the following cases:
- Subsequent immigration to join highly qualified individuals (university graduates/holders of an EU Blue Card, researchers) and self-employed people
- Immigrants with high integration abilities (e.g., university degree)
- In certain hardship cases, if language acquisition is unreasonable due to external circumstances or not possible due to illness or disability
Children aged 16 and over also require a language certificate.
Family reunification with Germans and EU citizens
If you join a German national, your reference partner does not need to prove a sufficient income. The same applies to citizens of an EU member state or another Schengen country if they work as employees or are self-employed. However, you must demonstrate basic German language skills to obtain a visa.
Joining a recognized refugee
Refugees recognized under the Geneva Convention do not have to prove sufficient income, and family members do not need language certificates to obtain a visa.
These facilitations do not apply to refugees who do not enjoy individual protection but only subsidiary protection.
Independent right of residence
If you come to Germany with a family reunion visa, your residence permit initially depends on your partner. You have unrestricted access to the German labor market and all available education options during this time.
Spouses and registered partners are entitled to an independent right of residence after 3 years. In the event of separation before the end of this period, an independent residence permit is possible in cases of hardship (e.g., domestic violence) or if custody of a joint child is granted.
They can obtain a permanent settlement permit after 5 years. It can be granted after 3 years if the reference partner already has a settlement or EU long-term residence permit. The basic requirement for obtaining a settlement permit is that you can support yourself from your resources.
Children aged 18 generally receive an independent residence permit. After 5 years, minors can also get a settlement permit.
If the reference partner receives German citizenship, spouses, registered partners, and children can apply for naturalization under certain conditions instead of obtaining a settlement permit.
Visa application process and required documents
You apply for a family reunion visa at the German embassy in your home country. In some countries, the German missions also work with external visa application centers to accept visa applications — check the embassy’s website to see if this applies to your country.
Visa application process
The visa application process involves the following steps:
- Schedule an appointment in person at the German embassy (usually possible online).
- Gather the visa documents.
- At the appointment at the embassy, pay the visa fee, submit the necessary documents and biometric data (fingerprints), and conduct a visa interview about your background
A family reunion visa for spouses (or fiancées in the case of applications for a visa to marry) will only be issued if the German authorities do not doubt that the couple plans to live together in Germany. You may be invited by the German embassy for an additional interview, in which a questionnaire will be used to discuss your relationship with your partner. Your partner, already living in Germany, will undergo a similar interview at the immigration office in their residence.
Required Documents
You submit the original documents for your visa application to the German embassy and two photocopies. If the papers are not written in English or German, you will need a translation by a sworn translator, who the embassy approves.
Before you get the visa documents, you should contact the German embassy in your home country to ask about the required documents for a family reunion visa and any necessary notarizations. The requirements may vary depending on the country and individual circumstances. Most embassies provide checklists and lists of the translators they accept. You can also find information on the embassy’s website.
For a German family reunification visa, you will typically need the following documents:
- Application form for a German national visa
- Valid passport (not older than 10 years and valid for at least another 12 months)
- Copies of the data pages of your passport
- 2 biometric passport photos (according to the requirements for visa photos)
- Travel health insurance for Germany and the Schengen area
- Invitation letter from a family member living in Germany
- Proof of financial means: As a rule, this is financial proof from the family member already living in Germany. If you have sufficient means to support yourself in Germany, you should enclose the relevant documents with your visa application.
- Proof of sufficient living space for the relative already living in Germany
- If applicable: Proof of German language skills — at least at A1 level
- Subsequent immigration to German or EU citizens: copies of their ID card or passport
- Subsequent immigration to third-country nationals: copies of their passport and residence permit
Spouses/registered partners
- Marriage certificate or partnership registration translated into German, with notarizations from the authorities of the issuing country and the German Embassy
Children
- Birth certificate
- If only one parent lives in Germany: Proof of sole custody
Other family members
- Proof of family relationship (possibly with certified documents)
- Hardship case justification
Travel health insurance is sufficient for the visa application. However, when you apply for your residence permit, you will need permanent German health insurance with a public or private company. Under certain conditions, you can be co-insured by your partner’s public health insurance.
Processing time and visa fee
The processing time for a German national visa and, consequently, for a family reunion visa varies depending on the country and personal circumstances of the visa applicant, between a few weeks and several months. On average, it takes 3 months to issue a visa.
The fee for issuing a visa for family reunification is €75 for adults and €37.50 for minors.
Conclusion
The German Family Reunion Visa provides a structured legal pathway for third-country nationals to reunite with their close family members in Germany. While spouses, registered partners, and minor children typically have the right to join their relatives, the process is subject to strict requirements. These include proof of secure residence status, sufficient financial means, adequate living space, and, in most cases, basic German language skills.
Special provisions apply to family members of German citizens, EU nationals, highly qualified professionals, and recognized refugees, simplifying their reunification process. However, the visa application can be complex and time-consuming, often requiring several months for approval. Understanding the eligibility criteria and gathering the correct documents is crucial for a successful application.
Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ
If proof of income is required, the minimum income needed for a visa depends on the number of family members living in Germany and the number of people entering the country. In 2024, a single person required a net income of €1,480 if a visa was to be approved for a relative. For two people joining, the minimum income required was €1,620.
The local immigration authorities decide what is considered adequate living space. However, the common guideline is that 12 square meters of living space must be available for each person living in the apartment.
In principle, yes. To do so, you must prove your intention to marry, for example, by presenting a confirmation of the planned marriage from a German registry office. The registry office checks both partners’ documents in advance (including the papers required for a marriage in the countries of origin). Otherwise, the same conditions apply to a family reunion visa.
Getting this visa may be difficult if you are in an unregistered relationship. The German authorities rarely apply a hardship clause for this. Alternatively, you can get a marriage visa or another long-term visa, such as a work or student visa or a visa to seek employment. However, for each of these, you must fulfill specific requirements.
