Family Reunification — Familiennachzug

Who Can Sponsor Family?

A person in Germany with:
- Niederlassungserlaubnis (permanent residence)
- Aufenthaltserlaubnis (temporary but stable residence)
- EU Blue Card
- Refugee status

Who Can Be Sponsored?

• Spouse/Partner (registered partnership)
• Children (up to 18 years old, some up to 21)
• Parents (rarely, mainly with refugee status)

Requirements for Spouse

Person in Germany must have:

• Legal residence
• Sufficient income
• Adequately sized apartment
• Health insurance for the family

Spouse must:

• Speak German at A1 level (certificate required)
• Have valid passport
• Not pose security threat

Exceptions to A1 requirement:

• Spouse from EU
• EU Blue Card holder's family
• Highly qualified professionals
• Health issues preventing language learning

How to Apply

Step 1: Spouse Abroad

Submits application at German embassy (family reunification visa)

Step 2: Documents

• Passports
• Marriage certificate (apostille + certified translation)
• A1 language certificate
• Income verification (from Germany)
• Rental agreement (from Germany)
• Health insurance

Step 3: Visa

Embassy issues visa → travel to Germany

Step 4: Ausländerbehörde

In Germany → exchange visa for Aufenthaltserlaubnis

Processing Time

• Visa approval: 2-6 months (sometimes longer!)
• Varies by embassy and country

Costs

• Visa: ~€75
• Aufenthaltserlaubnis: ~€100-150
• Translations, apostille: ~€100-200
• A1 certificate: ~€150-200

Important Notes

• Start gathering documents EARLY
• A1 can be taken abroad (Goethe-Institut)
• Do not attempt to enter as tourist and stay — it's illegal and damages future applications

Editorial hamboorg.city · As of: April 2026 · Carefully prepared, regularly updated. Content is informational and does not replace legal advice.