Family Reunification Visa for Germany: Requirements, Documents, and A1

Family reunification in Germany allows spouses, minor children, and, in certain cases, parents to move to a close relative who is legally residing in Germany. Most often, this involves a national D visa, which is obtained at a German consulate prior to entry and, upon arrival, is converted to an Aufenthaltserlaubnis at the Ausländerbehörde.

The rules depend on who the person is moving in with: a German citizen, a citizen of another EU country, a holder of a Niederlassungserlaubnis, Daueraufenthalt-EU, EU Blue Card, work residence permit, refugee status, or another residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel). Therefore, there is no universal list of documents for all cases: the basic requirements are set by the Aufenthaltsgesetz, and a practical checklist is published by the specific German diplomatic mission in the country where the application is filed.

Who is generally eligible to apply for family reunification

The following relatives most often submit applications:

• a spouse or registered partner;
• an unmarried minor child;
• a parent of a minor German citizen, if the move is necessary to exercise parental custody;
• In certain humanitarian or exceptional cases—other family members.

To reunite with a third-country national in Germany, the host party must generally hold a valid residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel), such as a Niederlassungserlaubnis, Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt-EU, EU Blue Card, ICT Card, Mobile ICT Card, or an appropriate Aufenthaltserlaubnis. For certain types of residence permits, the law sets additional conditions regarding the duration of stay, the purpose of the stay, or the prospect of continued residence in Germany.

Basic Requirements

In most cases, officials review not just a single document, but the family’s overall situation. The following conditions are typically important:

• The family relationship must be genuine and not fictitious;
• Spouses must generally be at least 18 years old;
• the family plans to live together in Germany and share a household;
• The host party is registered and has housing in Germany;
• You have sufficient means of support and health insurance, unless an exception applies in your specific case;
• A spouse moving to Germany is often required to have German language proficiency at the A1 level;
• Marriage, birth, and guardianship documents must be recognized for the German procedure: this usually requires a translation, an apostille, or legalization, if required by the issuing country.

If the host is receiving Bürgergeld or Sozialhilfe, this can complicate the application, especially when reuniting with a foreign national. However, exceptions and special rules apply in cases involving German citizens, refugees, persons under protection, or holders of certain work statuses. In cases of uncertainty, rather than relying on general information found online, you should consult the consulate’s checklist and the provisions of the Aufenthaltsgesetz (Residence Act) that apply to your specific circumstances.

Housing: How Many Square Meters Are Needed

The law refers to “ausreichendem Wohnraum”—sufficient living space. It is best not to treat a uniform federal formula—such as “exactly 12 m² per person”—as a guaranteed rule in all cases. In practice, the Ausländerbehörde considers the lease agreement, living space, number of rooms, family composition, and local standards.

Old guidelines, such as 10 m² for a small child and 12 m² for a person over six years of age, may still be cited in consultations and local practice, but the final decision rests with the specific agency. Therefore, it is safer to inquire in advance about the requirements from the Ausländerbehörde in the city where the family is moving, especially if the apartment is small or the lease is temporary.

German Language Level A1 for Spouses

For Ehegattennachzug—that is, a spouse’s relocation—you are usually required to demonstrate a basic knowledge of German at the A1 level. This is most often confirmed by a certificate from a recognized exam, such as the Goethe-Zertifikat, telc, ÖSD, or TestDaF, provided that the specific consulate accepts that format.

There are exceptions to the A1 requirement. For example, a language certificate may not be required for family reunification with a holder of an EU Blue Card, an ICT Card, Mobiler-ICT-Karte, certain qualified professionals, researchers, or self-employed individuals under § 21 AufenthG, as well as in cases of illness, disability, an obviously low need for integration, or the inability to reasonably acquire the language before entry. There are other exceptions as well, so they must be checked based on the specific residence permit issued by the host country.

For children, the language requirement is handled differently. When minors move to join their parents, officials typically consider age, guardianship, family ties, and living conditions, rather than the standard A1 level required for a spouse.

Special Rules for the EU Blue Card

Following the reform of the rules for skilled migration, families of EU Blue Card holders now benefit from more flexible conditions. In particular, if the family was already living together in another EU country and family members were issued an Aufenthaltstitel there, the process of moving to Germany may be simplified. For family residence permits for EU Blue Card holders, the law also provides for exemptions from the requirements regarding financial resources and housing in certain situations.

This does not mean that you do not need to prepare the necessary documents. The consulate or the Ausländerbehörde will still verify your passport, family relationship, valid permits, insurance, and other formal requirements.

Documents Required for a National D Visa

The exact list depends on the country of application, the applicant’s citizenship, the host’s status, and the family composition. Typically, the following documents are required:

• a completed application form for a national visa;
• the applicant’s valid passport;
• photographs meeting the consulate’s requirements;
• a marriage or birth certificate;
• translation, apostille, or legalization of documents, if required;
• a copy of the passport or Aufenthaltstitel of the relative in Germany;
• A Meldebescheinigung from the host party;
• Proof of housing: Mietvertrag, Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, or other evidence;
• proof of income, if required for a specific basis;
• health insurance covering the period of entry and the start of your stay;
• An A1 certificate for the spouse, unless an applicable exception applies.

A consular fee of 75 euros is usually charged for a national D visa. Spouses, minor children of German citizens, and parents of minor German citizens are exempt from this fee under the Aufenthaltsverordnung.

How the procedure works

1. Determine the basis for your application: who exactly you are moving in with and what is the host’s status in Germany.
2. Open the checklist provided by the German diplomatic mission in the country where you are applying and gather the required documents according to it.
3. Check whether an A1 certificate is required and if there are any exceptions.
4. Schedule an appointment to apply for a national D visa and submit your documents in person if the consulate requires your physical presence.
5. Wait for the Ausländerbehörde in Germany to become involved, if necessary for the case.
6. After entering the country, register at your place of residence and apply for an Aufenthaltserlaubnis.

Processing times vary greatly. They are influenced by the country of application, the consulate’s workload, the need to verify documents, the involvement of the Ausländerbehörde, and the completeness of the application package.

Common Mistakes

• submitting documents based on a checklist from another country;
• assuming that an A1 certificate is or isn’t required without verifying the host’s status;
• using documents that have not been translated or apostilled, even though this is required by the issuing country;
• Do not take into account the expiration dates of passports, certificates, or other documents;
• provide incomplete information about previous marriages, child custody, or a change of last name;
• Buy tickets and cancel contracts before a decision on the visa is made.

What to Check Before Applying

Before making an appointment at the consulate, it’s helpful to put together a brief case profile: the applicant’s citizenship, family relationship, the relative’s status in Germany, city of residence, income, housing situation, whether there are children, and any previous periods of joint residence in the EU. With this profile, it’s easier to understand which exceptions apply and whether you need to contact the Ausländerbehörde in advance.

Brief Conclusion

A family reunification visa for Germany revolves around three key questions: whether the family relationship has been proven, whether the sponsor has the appropriate status in Germany, and whether the requirements regarding housing, income, insurance, and language have been met. For straightforward cases, it is sufficient to carefully compile the application package according to the consulate’s checklist. If you receive social benefits, have a non-standard residence permit, have children from a previous relationship, or have questions regarding the A1 certificate, it is best to seek advice in advance from the Ausländerbehörde or an immigration consultant.

For more details on the related changes, see the article “” about Germany’s new immigration law.