Family Reunion Visa Germany

Requirements for Applicants

To be eligible for the Family Reunion Visa, you must be related to your German family member in the following ways:

• Spouse or partner
• Minor, unmarried child
• Parent (if the German child is a minor)

There are specific requirements each category of family member must meet for the visa application to be successful.

If you are not an immediate relative of the German national, you can apply for the visa if you can prove that you will experience unavoidable hardship without reuniting with your German relative. The immigration authorities will subject your application to strict scrutiny before approving your visa.

As a distant relative, you can be the family member’s:

• Adult, unmarried child
• Aunt or uncle
• Niece or nephew
• Grandparent
• Sibling
• Cousin, etc.

Requirements for the German Citizen or Resident

The conditions to apply for a Family Reunion Visa will vary depending on if the family member or sponsor you’re joining is:

• A German national
• An EU citizen
• A third-country national with any of the following:
  • A permanent settlement permit
  • A temporary resident permit
  • An EU long-term residence permit
  • An EU Blue Card
• A person with subsidiary protection status in Germany

Additionally, your sponsoring family member must prove that they have the following:

• Sufficient financial means to cover your expenses during your stay
• A place of residence that is sufficient to accommodate all family members joining them
• Health insurance that covers all family members joining them

However, sponsors with subsidiary protection status do not need to meet these conditions if the Family Reunion Visa application was submitted within three months after being granted asylum.

If you are applying for the Family Reunion Visa as the spouse or registered partner of a German national, you must be 18 years and above. You must also have some basic knowledge of the German language up to an A1 level.

However, you may be exempted from the language requirement at the time of application but must learn German when you arrive in the country if:

• You have a university degree.
• You tried to learn German for at least a year and still lack a basic command of the language.
• There are no German courses in your home country, or they are too expensive to take.
• You were unable to take a German course due to a physical or mental disability.

• Your spouse resides in Germany as:
  • An EU Blue Card holder
  • A self-employed individual
  • A person with a researcher status, or
  • A person with a highly qualified status
• Your spouse has subsidiary status, and you were married before they moved to Germany.
• Your spouse is an EU citizen or a long-term resident of an EU member state.

Additionally, your application will be scrutinised by the German immigration authorities to establish that your relationship is genuine and not created for immigration purposes before your visa is granted.

To submit an application for the Family Reunion Visa, you must provide the following documents:

• A fully completed and signed application form includes a declaration pursuant to Section 54 of the Residence Act.
• A passport issued within 10 years, valid for at least three months after the proposed period of stay, and with at least two blank pages.
• A biometric passport photo not older than three months.
• Proof of German language skills, at least level A1.
• Invitation letter from the German family member.
• Passport copy of the German national.
• Copy of their registration in Germany (“Meldebescheinigung”), if applicable.
• Proof of accommodation in Germany, showing that your sponsor has sufficient space to accommodate you.
• Travel health insurance

• Proof of financial means either from you or your sponsor.
• If applying to join a spouse, fiance, or partner:
  • Marriage certificate
  • Proof of filing a notice of intended marriage with the Registrar’s Office in Germany
• If applying to join a parent:
  • Birth certificate
  • Proof of adoption, if applicable
  • Letter of consent from the non-German parent
  • Proof of right of care and custody of the parent residing in Germany
  • Death certificate of the other parent, if applicable

Depending on the country you are applying from, you may be required to submit additional documents.

Also, as part of the requirements, all documents must be in German or English. If your documents are in a third language, you must provide translated and attested copies from a translator recognised by the German embassy or consulate in your country.

To apply for the Family Reunion Visa, follow these steps:

1. Determine Eligibility: Before applying, it’s crucial to confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria based on your relationship with your German family member.
2. Prepare the Required Documents: If you meet the requirements, gather all the essential documents you’ll need for your application. Since the documents may differ depending on the country of application, check the website of the German embassy or consulate of your home country for a checklist of all necessary documents.
   Ensure that all documents are prepared and arranged according to the checklist.
3. Book an Appointment: Visit the embassy or consulate to schedule an appointment. Depending on your location, you may be able to book an appointment online.
4. Attend Your Appointment: Attend your appointment on the scheduled day and present your completed application form and the required documents.

You will be required to pay the visa fee, and the consular officer will go through your documents and ask you questions regarding your background and application.
If you are required to submit additional documents, you should do so within the given timeframe.

5. Wait for Processing: The embassy or consulate will take some time to review your application. Your original passport will be with them during this period, and if you withdraw it, your application will be cancelled, and you will have to make a new application.
   Therefore, planning properly is advisable if you must travel abroad during that time.
6. Receive Visa Decision: Once your visa application is processed, you will be notified of the decision and given instructions on how to pick your passport. If your application is successful, you will receive a residence permit in the form of a national visa valid for 90 days, granting you entry into Germany.