Family reunification in Germany in 2026

Family reunification allows close family members to live together in Germany, but there is no single checklist for everyone. The rules depend on the relationship, the age of a child, the nationality and residence title of the person already in Germany, and sometimes income, housing and German-language evidence. This guide explains the 2026 process from the first eligibility check to the residence permit after arrival.

Which law applies?

Family reunification is principally governed by Section 27 and the following sections of the Residence Act. The general conditions for joining a foreign national appear in Section 29. Spouses are addressed in Section 30, children in Section 32, and parents and other family members in Section 36. Separate rules apply when the sponsor is German, an EU or EEA citizen exercising free-movement rights, a recognised refugee, a person with subsidiary protection, or the holder of a particular work or humanitarian title.

That distinction changes the evidence, exemptions and sometimes the legal route. Before collecting documents, read the legal section printed on the sponsor’s residence card and supplementary sheet. A Blue Card, settlement permit and temporary humanitarian permit do not produce identical results.

Who can join family in Germany?

The core group is narrow: spouses, registered partners and minor unmarried children. Parents can qualify in defined situations, particularly a parent joining a minor child, and special rules can benefit parents of certain skilled workers whose qualifying residence title was first issued on or after 1 March 2024. Those newer provisions have their own financial and status conditions.

Adult children, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins do not normally receive a visa merely because a relative lives in Germany. Their route is usually limited to preventing exceptional hardship under Section 36. Ordinary emotional closeness, childcare help or better economic prospects are generally not enough. The authority looks for an unusually serious, individual need that can realistically be met only through family life in Germany.

Spouses and registered partners

For the ordinary spouse route, both spouses generally must be at least 18. The marriage must be legally valid, and the couple must genuinely intend to live together in Germany. A marriage certificate alone does not prevent the mission from asking about the relationship, previous meetings, earlier marriages or conflicting information. Forced marriages and relationships entered solely to obtain residence rights do not qualify.

The joining spouse often must prove basic German at level A1 before entry, usually with an accepted language certificate. There are statutory exceptions. Depending on the case, an exception may apply because learning is impossible or unreasonable due to illness or disability, despite serious efforts no course or test was reasonably available, the need is only short-term, or the sponsor has a residence title for which the law waives prior language proof. Family members of EU citizens under free-movement law follow a different framework.

Do not assume that a professional qualification or English-language job automatically removes A1. Equally, do not abandon an application when an exception may fit: explain it and provide specific evidence. Medical evidence should describe the functional barrier to learning or testing rather than only name a diagnosis.

Children joining parents

A minor unmarried child can generally join a parent or both parents in Germany. You will usually need the child’s birth certificate, passports and proof of parental responsibility. If only one parent moves with the child, provide the other parent’s notarised consent, a binding custody decision, or reliable evidence explaining why consent is legally unnecessary. International child-abduction and custody rules remain relevant; a visa does not override another parent’s rights.

Age matters. Applications for children aged 16 or 17 can involve additional language or integration-related requirements in some situations, especially where the child is not moving together with both parents. Exceptions and more favourable provisions exist, including for children of certain skilled workers and protection beneficiaries. Apply early: reaching the age of majority can change the legal basis even when the family relationship is unchanged.

Livelihood, housing and health insurance

Under the general route for joining a foreign sponsor, the household normally needs secure livelihood and adequate living space. Authorities commonly examine salary, employment stability, rent, household size, maintenance obligations and health-insurance coverage. There is no universal net-income figure: the assessment depends on the household’s recognised needs and local housing costs.

Adequate housing does not mean luxury. The authority checks whether the space is reasonable for the number and ages of occupants under the standards it applies. Submit the rental agreement and, if requested, a landlord confirmation or floor plan showing the usable area.

Important exceptions vary with the sponsor. Family reunification with a German citizen is treated more favourably, and recognised refugees may benefit from eased livelihood and housing conditions if the family applies within the applicable period and other conditions are met. Certain skilled-worker families also receive facilitations. Never assume that an exception to housing also removes health-insurance or identity requirements. Ask the mission or local foreigners authority which exact provision it will apply.

Special warning for subsidiary protection

This suspension concerns subsidiary protection, not every person who received protection in Germany. Recognised refugees and people entitled to asylum have a different status. Check the wording of the BAMF decision and residence card rather than using “refugee” as a general label. If separation creates an acute medical, child-welfare or other humanitarian emergency, obtain individual advice and document the circumstances.

Do you need a visa before entry?

Most third-country nationals must obtain a national D visa before entering Germany for family reunification. A short-stay Schengen visa is not designed for moving permanently and normally cannot simply be converted after arrival. Limited nationality-based and statutory exceptions allow some people to enter without a visa and apply in Germany, but travellers should confirm this before departure.

Use the Federal Foreign Office’s official national visa information and the responsible mission’s website. The Federal Foreign Office also publishes a separate notice on the temporary suspension of regular family reunification for subsidiary protection holders. Availability of online applications and appointment procedures can differ by country and visa category.

Documents commonly required

The mission’s local checklist controls. A typical file includes:

• a completed national visa application and required declarations;
• valid passports, biometric photos and copies of relevant passport pages;
• marriage or registered-partnership certificate, or the child’s full birth certificate;
• divorce judgments, death certificates, adoption records or name-change documents where relevant;
• custody evidence and the remaining parent’s consent for a child application;
• a copy of the sponsor’s passport or identity card, residence title and registration certificate;
• the rental agreement and evidence of adequate accommodation if required;
• employment contract, recent payslips, bank statements or other livelihood evidence if required;
• proof of health-insurance coverage from the intended date of entry;
• an accepted A1 certificate or evidence supporting a statutory exception;
• proof of the genuine relationship if requested, such as visits, communication and shared history; and
• documents proving any special status or exception relied upon.

Foreign civil-status documents may need legalisation or an apostille and a certified German translation. Requirements depend on the issuing country and document. Check before paying: a translation does not cure an unauthenticated or unreliable underlying record. Names, dates and places should match across passports and certificates; explain transliteration differences in writing.

Application process step by step

1. Identify the correct route. Confirm the relationship, sponsor’s nationality and exact residence-title section. Check whether a suspension or special rule applies.
2. Download the mission’s checklist. Use the German mission responsible for the applicant’s habitual residence. Check whether the process starts online or with an appointment.
3. Collect and authenticate documents. Order civil-status records, apostilles, translations and custody evidence early. Language testing can also create delays.
4. File the national visa application. Attend the appointment with originals and copies, provide biometrics and pay the fee unless exempt.
5. Wait for the German authority’s review. The mission normally forwards the case to the foreigners authority at the intended German address. The sponsor may receive a separate request for housing, income or insurance documents.
6. Answer requests consistently. Quote the file number, meet deadlines and tell both authorities about a new passport, address or family-status change.
7. Check the visa before travel. Verify names, validity dates, number of entries and any employment wording immediately.
8. Complete the arrival formalities. Register the address, arrange health insurance and apply for the residence permit before the visa expires.

Fees and processing time

The national visa fee is generally €75 for adults and €37.50 for minors. Family members of German citizens are exempt. Qualifying family members of EU or EEA citizens are also exempt under the applicable free-movement rules. The mission decides whether an exemption applies. Translation, apostille, document courier and later residence-permit costs are separate.

The procedure may take up to three months or longer. It involves both the mission abroad and usually the local foreigners authority in Germany. Appointment availability, verification of civil-status documents, missing papers, security checks and local workload can extend it. Do not buy a non-refundable ticket before the visa is issued. A complete application helps, but no private agent can guarantee a decision date.

After arrival: registration and residence permit

Register the new address at the local registration office within the applicable local period. Obtain full health-insurance coverage and contact the foreigners authority promptly. Apply for the family-reunification residence permit before the national visa expires; keep the appointment confirmation or other proof that you filed on time. Our guides to address registration in Germany and residence permits explain these practical steps.

Many family-reunification titles allow employment. Spouses joining Germans or many foreign residents normally have labour-market access, and family members joining skilled workers commonly can work. However, the legal basis and wording of the document matter. Check whether the visa, electronic residence permit or supplementary sheet says Erwerbstätigkeit gestattet or otherwise authorises work. Do not start employment merely because an application is pending. Ask the foreigners authority to clarify any restriction in writing.

Common mistakes to avoid

Applying for the wrong visa. A visitor visa is not the standard path for a permanent move. Select family reunification and disclose the intended stay.

Relying on a generic checklist. Embassy requirements differ because document verification and local civil-status systems differ. Use the checklist for the responsible mission.

Ignoring custody. A birth certificate may identify parents but does not necessarily prove sole custody or permission to relocate a child.

Claiming an exception without evidence. If A1, livelihood or housing rules do not apply, identify the legal reason and support it with documents.

Letting the entry visa expire. Book the foreigners-authority appointment early and preserve proof of a timely residence-permit application.

Assuming work is automatically allowed. Read the actual annotation before accepting shifts or beginning self-employment.

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for family reunification in Germany?

Spouses and registered partners, minor unmarried children and, in some cases, parents can apply under the family-reunification rules. Other relatives usually qualify only in exceptional-hardship cases. The exact conditions depend on the sponsor’s nationality and residence status.

Does a spouse need A1 German before applying?

A joining spouse usually has to show basic German at level A1 before entry. The Residence Act contains exceptions, including some cases involving disability, inability or unreasonable difficulty in learning, and certain sponsors or residence titles. The mission abroad decides whether an exception is proven.

How long does a family reunion visa take?

The procedure may take up to three months and can take longer. The German mission normally sends the application to the local foreigners authority in Germany for consent, so workload, document checks and missing evidence affect the time.

How much does a German family reunion visa cost?

The national visa fee is generally €75 for an adult and €37.50 for a minor. Exemptions include family members of German citizens and qualifying family members of EU or EEA citizens. Residence-permit, translation and certification costs may be separate.

Can children join a parent in Germany?

Minor unmarried children can generally join a parent or parents in Germany. Custody and the consent of a parent who remains abroad must be documented where relevant. Additional integration-related requirements may apply from age 16 in some cases.

Can family members work after arriving in Germany?

Many family-reunification residence titles allow employment, and spouses joining German citizens or many foreign residents normally receive labour-market access. Do not start work merely because an application is pending: check the wording on the visa, residence permit or supplementary sheet and ask the foreigners authority if it is unclear.

Can relatives join a person with subsidiary protection in 2026?

Regular family reunification to people with subsidiary protection is suspended from 24 July 2025 through 23 July 2027. Humanitarian admission in hardship cases under Sections 22 and 23 of the Residence Act remains possible, but it is not an automatic substitute for regular reunification.

What must I do after entering Germany?

Register the address, arrange health insurance and apply to the local foreigners authority for the residence permit before the national visa expires. Keep proof of timely filing and check the permit’s employment wording before starting work.

Official sources

• Federal Foreign Office: national visas
• Federal Foreign Office: suspension of regular reunification for subsidiary protection holders
• Section 27 Residence Act: principle of family reunification
• Section 29 Residence Act: family reunification with foreign nationals
• Section 30 Residence Act: subsequent immigration of spouses
• Section 32 Residence Act: subsequent immigration of children
• Section 36 Residence Act: parents and other family members
• Make it in Germany: family reunification