Complete Guide to Germany’s Family Reunion Visa (2025)

Introduction to Germany Family Reunion visa 

Reuniting with family is a cherished goal for many. Germany’s Family Reunion Visa offers a pathway for spouses, children, and dependent relatives of legal residents or citizens to join their loved ones in the country. 

Family reunification in Germany is regulated by the Residence Act (AufenthG) and the EU Freedom of Movement Act (FreizügG/EU), with conditions varying based on whether the sponsor is a German national, an EU citizen, or a third-country national. The process aims to protect the institution of marriage and family, allowing family members to join sponsors for long-term residence, with the right to work in Germany upon approval.

This guide provides a detailed overview of the visa process, from eligibility requirements to application steps.

Key Points for Family reunification (Familienzusammenführung)

• Family reunion visas in Germany vary by sponsor status and family member type, with specific rules for spouses, children, EU citizens, and German nationals.
• Practical experience shows eligibility depends on the sponsor’s residence status, family relationship, and age, with additional language and financial requirements.
• The process involves visa applications for non-EU family members, followed by residence permits, with timelines fees and eligibility to be employed differing by case.
• It seems likely that EU citizens and German nationals have easier processes compared to third-country nationals, with fewer financial proof requirements.

Eligibility 

Family reunion permit eligibility varies by sub-type:

• Family Reunion with a non-EU country national, that, in its turn, can be divided into two main groups of applicants:
  • ‍Family Reunion (Spouse): The sponsor must be a third-country national with a valid residence permit, both spouses must be at least 18, and the marriage must be recognized in Germany.‍
  • Family Reunion (Child): The sponsor must be a third-country national with a valid permit, and the child must be under 18 and unmarried.
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• ‍Family Reunion with an EU Citizen: The sponsor is an EU citizen (non-German) living in Germany, and family members include spouses, children, or dependents under EU law.‍
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• Family Reunion with a German National: The sponsor is a German citizen, with similar family member categories as EU citizens.

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Who is the Family Reunion Visa (Familienzusammenführungmeant) for?

The Family Reunion Visa (Visum zur Familienzusammenführungis) designed for close family members of individuals legally residing in Germany. Eligible applicants include:

• Spouses or registered civil partners.
  
• Minor children (under 18 years of age).
  
• Grandchildren, elderly relatives or dependent parents (in exceptional cases).
  
  

What are the requirements for the Family Reunion Visa?

This visa is available to family members of German citizens, EU Blue Card holders, students, or other legal residents with valid residence titles.

To qualify for the Family Reunion Visa, both the sponsor (family member in Germany) and the applicant must meet specific requirements:

1. Sponsor’s requirements:
   

• Must hold a valid residence title (e.g., , residence visa or permit for employment purpose), EU or German citizenship.
  
• Must demonstrate financial stability through employment contracts, payslips, or bank statements.
  
• Must provide proof of adequate living space for the family.

2. Applicant’s requirements:
   

• Valid passport.
  
• Proof of relationship (e.g., marriage certificate for spouses; birth certificate for children).
  
• Basic German language proficiency (A1 level), unless exempt (e.g., spouse of an EU Blue Card holder).

Special notes on eligibility

• Spouses of highly skilled professionals or EU Blue Card holders may be exempt from the language requirement.
• Civil partnerships must be officially registered and recognized under German law.
• Bringing elderly parents is challenging and typically requires proof of financial dependency and exceptional circumstances

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Application Process 

The process generally involves applying for a visa (if not exempted from the requirement) and then a residence permit:

• For spouses and children of third-country nationals, applications start at the German embassy, requiring passports, relationship proofs, accommodation, financial resources, health insurance, and possibly language skills.
  

• For family members of EU citizens or German nationals, EU citizens join without permits, while third-country nationals need residence permits with fewer financial proof requirements.
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• Language skills (e.g., A1 German) may be needed for spouses, but not typically for children or EU-related cases.

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How to apply for a Family Reunion Visa (Familienzusammenführung)?

The application process involves several steps:

1 - Fill out the national visa application form available on your local German embassy’s website.

2 - Book an appointment at the nearest German embassy or consulate.

3 - Gather all necessary paperwork (see below).

Alternatively, if a national visa online application via Consular Services Portal is available in your country, receive an appointment directly after submitting all the required personal data and copies of the requested documents online.
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4 - Submit documents and answer questions about your relationship and purpose of travel during the in-person interview.

5 - Pay €75 for adults and €37.50 for minors.

6 -Processing times vary but generally take 3–6 months.

7 - Once approved, collect your visa and prepare for travel to Germany.

What are the documents typically required for the Family Reunion Visa?

Applicants must submit the following documents:

• Valid passport.
  
• Two Bio-metric photos
  
• Completed visa application form.
  
• Proof of relationship (e.g., marriage certificate or birth certificate).
  
• Sponsor’s residence permit or citizenship proof.
  
• Sponsor’s employment contract and recent payslips.
  
• Sponsor’s rental agreement showing adequate living space.
  
• Health insurance coverage.
  
• Proof of basic German language skills (if applicable).
  
• Travel health insurance valid in Germany.
  
• Payment receipt for visa fees.
  
  

Applications must be submitted at the German embassy or consulate in your home country. Some embassies outsource services to visa centers like VFS Global or TLS Contact. Check your local embassy's website for details.

Processing times for Family Reunion Visa vary based on individual circumstances:

• Standard applications: 3–6 months.
  
• Applications requiring document verification: Additional 2–3 months.
  
• Spouses of highly skilled workers: Processing may take only a few days if all documents are complete and the application is submitted at the same time with the sponsor.

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Application fee

The cost of a Family Reunion Visa is as follows:

• Adults: €75
  
• Minors: €37.50
  
• Free for family members joining EU citizens.
  
  

Summary for each sub-type

Family Reunion with non-EU national (Spouse)

This sub-type involves a spouse joining a third-country national sponsor in Germany, where the sponsor holds a valid residence permit.

• Eligibility: The sponsor must be a third-country national with a residence permit, both spouses must be at least 18 years old, and the marriage or a registered partnership must be legally recognized in Germany. It is important to consider that the relationship must be genuine, with no sham marriage indications.
• Process: The spouse, if from a visa-required country, applies for a family reunification visa (Familienzusammenführung) at the German embassy or consulate in their home country. The process includes submitting an application, providing documents and attending an interview. After arrival, a residence permit is applied for at the local immigration office.
• Qualifications: The spouse may need to demonstrate basic German language skills at the A1 level, especially for integration purposes, though exemptions exist for certain cases.
• Requirements: Essential documents include a valid passport, marriage certificate, proof of the sponsor’s residence status, proof of adequate accommodation, evidence of sufficient financial resources to support the family without relying on public funds, and health insurance coverage. Language skills proof, if required, should be from recognized institutions like the Goethe-Institute.
• Timeline: Processing times for visa applications can range from several weeks to months, depending on the embassy’s workload and the applicant’s country of origin. Residence permit processing after arrival typically takes a few weeks.
• Fees: Current visa application fees are €75, with residence permit fees at approximately €100. Additional costs may arise for translations or legal consultations.

Family Reunion with non-EU national (Child)

This sub-type covers minor children joining their parent, who is a third-country national with a residence permit in Germany.

• Eligibility: The sponsor must hold a valid residence permit, and the child must be under 18 years old and unmarried. The parent-child relationship must be legally established, with custody rights verified if applicable.
• Process: Similar to spouses, children from visa-required countries apply for a family reunification visa. The application is submitted to the German embassy, with documents proving the relationship and sponsor’s status. Upon arrival, a residence permit is sought.
• Qualifications: Children typically do not need to prove language skills, but may be required to attend school and learn German as part of integration.
• Requirements: Documents include a valid passport, birth certificate, proof of parent-child relationship, sponsor’s residence status, proof of accommodation, financial resources, and health insurance. No language proof is generally required for minors.
• Timeline: Processing times mirror those for spouses, varying by embassy and country, with residence permit processing post-arrival taking weeks.
• Fees: Similar to spouses, residence permit fees at €100, plus potential additional costs. Visa fees for minors are €37.50, that is half of the fee for adults.

Family Reunion with an EU Citizen

This sub-type involves family members joining an EU citizen (non-German) living in Germany, leveraging EU freedom of movement rights.

• Eligibility: The sponsor must be an EU citizen residing in Germany, and family members include spouses, children under 21 or dependent, and dependent relatives in the ascending line.
• Process: If the family member is an EU citizen, no special permit is needed; they can join freely. For third-country nationals, either  a residence visa or a residence permit is applied for at the responsible authorities, with documents proving the relationship and sponsor’s EU status. In some cases no visa is required for entry, especially for privileged third-country nationals (e.g., US, UK citizens).
• Qualifications: No language skills are typically required, focusing on the sponsor’s ability to provide for the family under EU law.
• Requirements: For third-country nationals, documents include a valid passport, proof of relationship (e.g., marriage certificate, birth certificate), proof of sponsor’s EU citizenship and residence, health insurance, and sometimes proof of financial resources, though less stringent than for third-country sponsors. EU citizens joining need no additional documents beyond ID.
• Timeline: Generally faster, the process for EU citizens is without any visa delays.
• Fees: No visa fees for EU citizens; for third-country nationals, residence permit fees are around €100, with no visa fees if exempt.

Family Reunion with a German National

This sub-type involves family members joining a German citizen, with processes similar to EU citizens but potentially with national law nuances.

• Eligibility: The sponsor must be a German citizen, with family members including spouses, children, and other dependents. Third-country nationals must meet German law criteria, often aligned with EU rights given Germany’s EU membership.
• Process: Similar to EU citizens, EU family members join freely, while third-country nationals apply for a residence visa if not residing in the EU yet or a residence permit directly. Applications for the last one are made at the local immigration office, with documents proving the relationship and sponsor’s German citizenship.
• Qualifications: Language skills may be required for third-country national spouses (e.g., A1 level for long-term permits), but not typically for children or EU family members.
• Requirements: Documents include a valid passport, proof of relationship, proof of sponsor’s German citizenship, health insurance, and financial resources, though less stringent than for third-country sponsors. German law may offer additional flexibility, such as no space restrictions for accommodation.
• Timeline: Processing times are similar to EU citizen cases, typically weeks for residence permits, with faster visa processing for privileged nationals.‍
• Fees: Residence permit fees for third-country nationals are around €100, with no visa fees for EU family members or privileged nationals.
  
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Comparative Analysis

To facilitate understanding, the following table compares the four sub-types across key aspects:

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This table highlights the varying complexities, with EU and German national sponsors generally offering easier processes and fewer financial burdens compared to third-country national sponsors.

Family Reunification Timeline for Family Members joining Sponsor living in Germany

The family reunification process in Germany involves several steps and varies depending on factors such as the applicant's nationality, the type of visa, and the processing times at the German embassy. Below is a detailed breakdown of the timeline and factors affecting the process.

General Timeline for Spouse and Child Visa Application

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Main Factors Affecting Processing Time

Several factors can influence how long the family reunification process takes:

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Tips to Expedite the Process

1. Start gathering documents Early
2. Double-check all application forms
3. Take Professional Guidance from immigration lawyers for complex cases
4. Monitor Embassy Updates on appointment availability and processing times.
5. Apply together: experience shows, if a non-EU sponsor is a skilled worker, relocates with his family, then family members’ application will be treated with preference by the authorities in contrast to stand alone family members’ application.
6. Use fast-track option: if the employer of the sponsor has started a fast-track pre-approval process with the responsible immigration office in Germany, make sure they have added family members as well. Visas will be issued simultaneously to the whole family then.
   
   

Conclusion

Family reunion visas in Germany offer a pathway for family unity, with tailored processes for different scenarios. Understanding the specific requirements for each sub-type ensures a smoother application process, with EU and German national sponsors providing more favorable conditions. This guide serves as a comprehensive resource for navigating these complexities, with the comparative table aiding in decision-making.

Common questions around Family reunification process