Family reunification

Typical requirements and conditions for family reunification are

• The person living in Germany must have a secure residence status or be a German citizen.

• Sufficient living space must be available for the person joining them and their livelihood must be secured.

• Adults and children over the age of 16 must generally provide proof of German language skills .

The exact requirements and conditions for family reunification vary depending on the nationality of the person to whom family reunification is to take place.

If the family members joining them come from a country that requires a visa, a visa for family reunification must be applied for at the German diplomatic mission in the home country, which grants long-term residence for the purpose of family reunification. Experience has shown that the processing time varies greatly from country to country and can take several months. Family reunification can be granted as part of an accelerated procedure for skilled workers can be made possible more quickly.

ATTENTION: Children can only be reunited if both parents agree to this or if sole custody can be proven.

People who come to Germany as part of family reunification are permitted to work.

Foreign spouses or registered partners and underage children can join a person with German citizenship who has their main place of residence in Germany.

The spouse or partner must be able to communicate in German in a simple manner (level A1).

The immigration authority can also check whether the livelihood of all parties involved is assured.

Other relatives, e.g. parents or grandparents of the foreign spouse, can only be allowed to join the spouse on a case-by-case basis. The hurdle is very high. It must be an exceptional case of hardship. The family member living abroad must no longer be able to lead an independent life there, but must be dependent on the provision of family living assistance and this assistance can only be provided in a reasonable manner in Germany. In addition, the family member must be able to earn a living in Germany.

Family members of EU nationals and persons from Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland who have their main place of residence in Germany can move to Germany with them. The nationality of the family members themselves is irrelevant. Knowledge of German is also not required.

Children up to the age of 21 can move to Germany without any further requirements; this also applies to grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Children and grandchildren over the age of 21 as well as parents and grandparents can join the family if they are able to support themselves.

So-called close relatives, such as distant relatives or foster children, can also be granted residence under certain circumstances (more information on this here).

Family members of EU nationals or nationals of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are entitled to a residence card. This certifies the right to (re-)entry and residence as well as gainful employment. It can be applied for at the immigration office and is generally valid for 5 years. Swiss nationals can obtain a residence permit with the special entry Residence Permit-CH .

NOTE: The more generous rules on family reunification under European law also apply to family members of German citizens if they have made use of the EU right to freedom of movement. This is the case if the German has lived and worked in another EU country or in Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland or Switzerland for a longer period of time and then returned to Germany.

Third-country nationals who hold a residence permit for the purpose of education or employment may bring family members to join them.

For spouses or partners, both must have reached the age of 18. In addition, the person joining them must be able to communicate in German in a simple manner (level A1) and their livelihood must be secured.

No further requirements need to be met for children up to the age of 16. If the underage children are older than 16, the entry must be at the same time as the entry of the parents. Otherwise, proof of German language skills at level C1 is required or it must be possible to assume simple integration.

Other relatives, e.g. parents or grandparents, can only be allowed to join you in individual cases. The hurdle is very high. It must be an exceptional case of hardship. The family member living abroad must no longer be able to lead an independent life there, but must be dependent on the provision of family living assistance and this assistance can only be provided in a reasonable manner in Germany. In addition, their livelihood must be secured in Germany.

For skilled workers and holders of an EU Blue Card there are a few simplifications. In the case of spouses or partners, proof of basic language skills and sufficient living space can be waived. In addition, underage children over the age of 16 can join their parents without any further requirements, even if they are not entering the country at the same time as their parents. Parents or parents-in-law can also join their children if they are able to support themselves. However, this is only possible if the residence permit of the child or child-in-law to be joined was issued on March 1, 2024 or later.