Family Reunification in Germany — Familiennachzug

Familiennachzug (family reunification) allows you to bring your closest family to Germany. The legal basis is §§27–36 Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG). The procedure is formalized and can take months — the key is early and complete document preparation.

Who can bring family?

A person living in Germany with one of these residence titles:
- Niederlassungserlaubnis (permanent residence)
- Aufenthaltserlaubnis (temporary, but stable) — see types of residence titles
- Blaue Karte EU
- Refugee status or supplementary protection status

Who can be brought?

• Spouse or registered partner — both must be at least 18 years old
• Children up to age 18 (minors, unmarried)
• Parents — exceptionally, mainly for unaccompanied minor refugees

Conditions for spouse

Person in Germany must demonstrate:

• Valid residence title
• Sufficient income to support the family without social benefits (Bürgergeld)
• Sufficiently large apartment — Ausländerbehörde checks the square footage
• Health insurance covering the entire family

Incoming spouse must:

• Demonstrate knowledge of German at A1 level (Goethe or telc certificate)
• Have a valid passport

Exemptions from A1 requirement

A1 certificate is NOT required when:
- Person in Germany holds Blaue Karte EU, is a qualified Fachkraft, scientist, or self-employed
- Spouse is an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen
- Spouse is from a privileged country (USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, and several others) — visa-free entry, language acquired in Germany
- Illness or disability makes language learning impossible

Step-by-step procedure

1. Spouse abroad applies for a national visa (Visum zum Familiennachzug) at the German embassy or consulate
2. Documents: passports, marriage certificate (Apostille + sworn translation), A1 certificate, proof of income and rental contract from Germany, proof of insurance
3. Embassy issues visa → entry to Germany
4. After arrival: registration (Anmeldung), then at Ausländerbehörde exchange visa for Aufenthaltserlaubnis

How long does it take and how much does it cost?

• Processing time: 2–6 months (sometimes longer — depends on embassy and country)
• Visa: approx. €75
• Aufenthaltserlaubnis: approx. €100–120
• Translations + Apostille: approx. €100–200
• A1 course and certificate: approx. €150–250

Permanent residence for family

Spouse of a qualified worker can obtain permanent residence after just 3 years if they work at least 20 hours per week and meet other conditions.

Most common mistakes

• Submitting incomplete documents → requests for supplementary documentation extend the procedure by months
• Attempting to enter as a tourist and stay — this is illegal and seriously complicates future applications
• Lacking A1 despite no exemption → visa denial