- The German spouse visa is a family reunification visa designed specifically for third-country nationals who wish to live with their spouse or registered partner in Germany.
- As a German national visa it allows you to establish a life in Germany and obtain a German residence permit.
- The visa requirements usually include proof of basic German language skills (A1 level, simple everyday language). However, under certain conditions, this can be waived.
- If one partner is a third-country national with a German residence title, she or he must also prove sufficient financial means to support you without state assistance.
- In the first 3 years, your German residence permit depends on your partner and the continuation of the marriage or registered civil partnership, except in hardship cases.
- Subsequently, you can obtain an independent right of residence.
Germany spouse visa – visa obligations & visa requirements
The protection of marriage and family has constitutional status in Germany, which provides the fundamental basis for a spouse visa. Details of the issuance of visas and residence permits are regulated by the immigration law of the Federal Republic of Germany, which is partly based on European Union legislation.
Spouse visas are German national visas (D visas). The Federal Foreign Office determines the criteria for issuance. This special family reunification visa is available to spouses and registered partners of individuals living in Germany, and it entitles you to receive a German residence permit.
Typically, a German spouse visa is issued for 3 months. However, depending on the country and personal circumstances, a visa for up to 6 months may be issued. During this time, you must apply for a residence permit at the German immigration office.
In addition to national visas, German embassies also issue short-term Schengen visas (C visas) for stays of up to 90 days. Their issuance is uniformly regulated in all Schengen countries. Such a visa does not constitute a residence permit for the subsequent immigration of a spouse.
Visa eligibility
You can apply for spousal reunification if your partner in Germany meets one of the following requirements:
- German citizenship
- Citizenship of an EU member state or another Schengen country (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein)
- Third-country national with a residence title for Germany (residence permit, EU Blue Card for graduates, settlement permit, EU long-term residence permit). A temporary residence permit for your partner does not preclude the issuance of a spouse visa. However, partners must be able to support themselves independently and without claiming state benefits.
- Recognized refugee under the Geneva Convention. In this case, proof of a secure livelihood and language skills are not required for the visa to be issued.
General visa obligation
A German spouse visa is required by spouses and registered partners from a country whose citizens need a visa to enter Germany.
Citizens of the member states of the EU, the 4 other Schengen countries, and some other countries are exempt from visa requirements and can travel to Germany without a visa for more than 90 days.
The 14 non-Schengen countries whose citizens do not require an entry visa for long-term stays in Germany include, among others, the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea. If you are a citizen of one of these countries, you can directly apply for a spousal reunification residence permit.
Visa requirements for third-country nationals with an EU residence permit
Third-country nationals with an EU residence permit enjoy freedom of travel throughout the Schengen area. Still, they usually require a residence permit for more than 90 days in another Schengen country.
Whether you need a spouse visa for Germany as a third-country national with an EU residence permit depends on your partner’s status:
- If your partner is a German citizen, you will need a visa. You can apply for this in your home country or the EU/Schengen country for which you have a residence permit.
- Partners of third-country nationals with a German residence permit and recognized refugees also require a visa for spousal reunification to Germany.
- If your partner in Germany is a citizen of an EU or Schengen country, you do not need a visa with an EU residence permit. Still, you can obtain a residence permit directly based on your marriage/registered partnership.
Exemptions for the language certificate
Proof of German language skills at the A1 level is not required in the following cases:
- The partner living in Germany is not a German citizen and is either self-employed or works as a highly qualified specialist (e.g., residence through EU Blue Card, scientist, IT specialist). The same regulation applies to recognized refugees.
- The partner living in Germany has a permanent settlement permit or an EU long-term residence permit.
- Language courses are unavailable in the immigrating partner’s home country (according to the Federal Foreign Office, this problem currently affects 81 countries worldwide), or attendance is unreasonable for personal reasons.
- The immigrating partner has verifiable other integration achievements — for example, a university degree or good English skills.
Rights and residence status through spouse immigration.
As soon as you have received a German residence permit through spouse immigration, a world of opportunities opens up for you. You have extensive rights, including the freedom to work, conduct vocational training, or enroll at a university in Germany without restrictions or additional visa requirements.
However, your residence permit is tied to the existence of the marriage or civil partnership for the first 3 years. After that, you can obtain an independent right of residence provided that you can secure your livelihood from your means. In cases of hardship – for example, the death of your partner or separation for serious reasons such as domestic violence – an independent residence permit is possible earlier.
After 5 years, you are entitled to permanent residence in Germany through a settlement permit, provided that you can support yourself. If your partner is a German citizen or has a settlement permit, you can apply for one after 3 years.
You can acquire German citizenship after 3 years if you marry a German partner, and otherwise after 5 years. To achieve this, you must have a command of the German language at least B2 level and pass a written naturalization test.
Visa application and visa documents
You submit your visa application at the German Embassy in your home country or in the country in which you reside. German consulates or visa centers are responsible for visa matters in some countries.
Visa application process
The application for a spouse visa involves the following steps:
- Arrange a personal appointment at the German Embassy or the visa center.
- Compile the required documents.
- At the appointment at the Embassy: submit the documents and biometric data (fingerprints), document check, complete a visa interview
A German spouse visa will only be granted if the embassy or the immigration office in Germany does not doubt that the marital relationship will continue in Germany and that the relationship is voluntary. So, you may receive an invitation from the embassy to a second interview, in which the embassy will ask how well you know your partner and what your relationship is like. At the same time, your partner will receive an invitation from the German immigration office, where they will answer the same questions.
Required Documents
Your visa application will only be successful if you submit all documents in full and in the correct form. If documents are missing, the application will be delayed or rejected.
You’ll need to submit the original of your visa documents along with 2 photocopies in German or English. Documents in other languages must be translated into one of these languages by a sworn translator recognized by the embassy.
The websites of the German missions abroad provide information on which documents and, if applicable, certifications are required for a spousal visa, as well as lists of translators recognized by the embassies.
The following documents are generally required for the visa application —, however, the embassy may request further documents:
Your documents
- Visa application form for a German national visa
- Valid passport (valid for at least another 12 months, not older than 10 years)
- 2 biometric passport photos
- Certified marriage certificate or civil partnership declaration
- If applicable: German language certificate A1 or higher
- Schengen Travel health insurance (coverage of at least €30,000 for the entire period of validity of the visa)
- Proof of payment of the visa fee
Documents of your partner (only copies)
- Passport (for Germans also identity card)
- If applicable: valid residence permit or certificate of naturalization
- Proof of residence (lease, proof of ownership, registration certificate)
- Employment contract or proof of self-employment (e.g., tax assessment notices or commercial register excerpt)
- Bank statements from the last 3 months
The Travel health insurance for the visa application must cover acute treatments in the entire Schengen area. However, when you apply for your residence permit, you will need German comprehensive health insurance, which you can take out with a public or private insurer. If your partner in Germany is covered by public health insurance, you can be covered by his insurance without having to pay contributions as long as you have little or no income.
Processing time and visa fee
After submitting your visa application, you must expect a processing time of several weeks, sometimes months, depending on the country and individual requirements. The occasionally long processing times result from the fact that the embassy also consults authorities in Germany before issuing the visa.
The fee for a national German visa is €75.
Conclusion
The German spouse visa is a vital legal pathway for third-country nationals who wish to join their partner in Germany. While the process involves fulfilling specific requirements—such as proving language skills and financial stability—certain groups, including highly qualified professionals and refugees, are exempt.
The application requires thorough documentation and a detailed interview process and can take several months. Once granted, the visa leads to a residence permit that initially depends on the continuation of the marriage but can later provide an independent right of residence. With time, spouse visa holders can obtain permanent residency or even German citizenship, making it an essential step toward long-term integration in Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ
Yes. Both partners must be at least 18 years old. Applications from younger individuals will not be accepted, even if marriages can be contracted earlier in the respective country. The partner living in Germany should also have a minimum knowledge of German – the embassy may also require documents for this.
Yes. There are no time limits between marriage and visa application. What is important for the visa to be granted is that you and your partner meet the requirements and present all the necessary documents.
Yes, applying for a visa to get married in Germany is also possible. For this, you need the same documents as for a spouse visa and a confirmation from the German registry office that the marriage will be registered and all the necessary documents are available. After the marriage, you apply for a residence permit directly.
The German Embassy will inform you of the reasons for the rejection in writing and will indicate legal steps that you can take against it. There are two options for this. You can appeal against the decision within 4 weeks, but please explain your appeal. If the rejection is not only due to missing papers, the support of a lawyer in Germany can be helpful. Alternatively, you can file a lawsuit against the refusal at the Berlin Administrative Court immediately after the visa application is rejected or after an appeal is rejected.
If the embassy has not allowed you to submit the documents for the old application, you should submit any missing documents together with a new visa application.
This is impossible except in cases of proven hardship recognized by the embassy. However, there are some alternatives. You can try to get a visa to get married, a work or student visa, or a job-seeker visa for Germany.
