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Updated: September 17, 2026 · Family reunification

"Family reunification in Germany: bringing your spouse, children and parents"

A move to Germany often starts with one family member: someone gets a job, enrols at a university or begins vocational training. The next question follows quickly: when and on what terms can the rest of the family join.

Family reunification, or Familiennachzug, lets you obtain residence in Germany on the basis of family ties. There is no single set of requirements, though. What decides the case is the citizenship and residence basis of the sponsor in Germany, the degree of kinship, the age of the children and the family's circumstances.

Start with the sponsor's status

Begin by checking the status of the person you are joining. Reunification with a German citizen, with a citizen of another EU country and with a foreign national holding a German residence permit follows different rules. When joining a German spouse, for example, securing the subsistence level is usually not a mandatory condition. For the family of an EU citizen exercising free movement in Germany, a separate legal regime applies. This is why someone else's success story only helps when the basic circumstances match. Guidance from the German Federal Foreign Office.

Spouses: marriage, age and timing

Spousal reunification normally requires a legally valid marriage, and both spouses must be 18 or older. For some residence titles it matters whether the marriage already existed when the permit was issued. There is no general rule that you must first live in Germany for two years: the conditions depend on the specific status. § 30 AufenthG.

Simply living together without registering the relationship usually does not create a basis for spousal reunification. Legally recognised registered partnerships that meet the relevant requirements are treated separately. Make it in Germany.

German language: who needs A1 and who does not

Not everyone has to prove German. The general requirement for spousal reunification is basic German at A1 level. However, spouses of EU Blue Card holders, of skilled workers holding permits under §§ 18a and 18b and of several other permit categories are exempt from proving language skills before entry. Further exemptions exist, including ones related to health or special circumstances. § 2 Abs. 9, § 30 AufenthG.

It is important here to separate working in Germany from the specific residence basis. Not every work-related status carries the same benefits. For § 19c Abs. 1, for instance, the category of employment matters, and the rules for skilled workers cannot simply be transferred to vocational training (Ausbildung). Check the full paragraph and subsection of the residence title. § 30 AufenthG.

Income, housing and insurance

Income, housing and insurance are assessed separately. When joining a foreign national, you normally have to secure the family's living costs, health insurance and adequate living space. But for spouses and minor children of EU Blue Card holders, of permit holders under §§ 18a and 18b and of some other statuses, the adequate housing requirement is waived. The requirement to secure the family's subsistence generally remains. § 29 AufenthG.

There is no universal salary figure that guarantees approval for every family: the calculation depends on the size of the family, the cost of living and which income counts. Receiving certain benefits, Kindergeld for example, does not in itself mean the subsistence condition is breached: the law explicitly excludes a number of public payments from the calculation. Visa handbook of the Federal Foreign Office, § 2 Abs. 3 AufenthG.

Children: age and custody

For children, age and parental rights matter most. Under the general rules on joining foreign parents, the move covers minor, unmarried children. From the age of 16, additional language or integration conditions may apply in some situations. The claim that "everyone over 16 needs C1" is wrong, though: moving together with the parents is taken into account, and children of Blue Card holders and of several skilled worker permits are exempt.

If a child joins only one parent while custody is shared, the other parent's consent to the child living in Germany is usually required, or a corresponding decision by the competent authority. Check the custody documents early. § 32 AufenthG.

Parents: a separate route under § 36

Bringing parents over is possible too, but under separate rules. A specific option exists for foreign nationals who were first issued an EU Blue Card, or another status from the list in § 36 Abs. 3, on or after 1 March 2024. Under certain conditions it also extends to the spouse's parents, if the spouse permanently resides in Germany.

Such a move requires securing the parents' living costs, including adequate health insurance. It is an option to obtain a permit if the conditions are met, not an automatic right to approval. Where the special basis does not apply, reunification with the parents of an adult foreign national is normally considered only in cases of exceptional hardship. § 36 AufenthG.

When checking the date of the first permit, remember that the initial entry visa also counts as a residence title. Relying only on the date printed on the plastic card can be a mistake. Explanation by a German mission abroad.

Applying at the same time as the main applicant

The family does not always have to wait for the main applicant to move first. Where the conditions are met, family visa applications can be filed at the same time as the skilled worker's application. It is worth checking this option while the work-related move is still being prepared. It does not, however, guarantee that all applications will be decided simultaneously. Information on joint applications.

Documents and how they are checked

For citizens of Central Asian countries the standard route is a national visa for family reunification through the competent German mission. Depending on the case, the package includes:

• passports and visa application forms;
• marriage and birth certificates;
• proof of the relative's citizenship or status in Germany;
• proof of income, insurance and accommodation, where required;
• a language certificate, unless an exemption applies;
• custody documents and the other parent's consent.

Always check the list against the current information sheet of the mission handling your application. Procedure.

Requirements for foreign documents differ as well. Do not assume that a translation plus an apostille is enough everywhere. The German embassy in Tashkent, for example, states that Uzbek civil status documents are as a rule subject to a separate verification procedure. Plan time and costs accordingly. Information sheet of the German embassy in Uzbekistan. Which documents need a sworn translator is covered in a separate article.

Humanitarian statuses

Special conditions apply to people with humanitarian statuses. For recognised refugees and persons granted asylum, an application filed within three months of the final recognition allows an exemption from the income and housing requirements, provided the other conditions of the law are met. Check that deadline as soon as you receive the decision. § 29 Abs. 2 AufenthG.

Subsidiary protection (subsidiärer Schutz) is regulated differently. As of publication, ordinary family reunification with holders of this status is suspended until 23 July 2027 inclusive. Exceptional humanitarian mechanisms remain in place. The restriction does not automatically extend to all refugees or to all foreign nationals in Germany. Statement by the Federal Foreign Office.

After arrival

Once in Germany, the family has to register their address and apply for a residence permit in good time, before the entry visa expires. A spouse who receives a residence permit through family reunification is allowed to work in Germany. Official information.

Where to start

To prepare your own case, gather the basics first: the citizenship of every family member, the exact status of the sponsor in Germany, the date of marriage, the ages of the children and the custody documents. On that basis you can work out which requirements apply, check the exemptions and build a document list for your specific family.

What applies in your case is exactly what we go through in a consultation: we check the sponsor's status down to the paragraph and subsection of the permit, then calculate the income and housing requirements. The scope and prices of our support are on the family reunification page, and if the main applicant is still choosing a visa, look at the EU Blue Card: its holders benefit from several exemptions at once.

FAQ

Does my spouse have to prove German at A1 level?

Not always. It is the general requirement, but spouses of EU Blue Card holders, of skilled workers under §§ 18a and 18b and of several other permits are exempt from proving language skills before entry. Further exemptions exist, including ones linked to health and special circumstances.

Is it true that you must live in Germany for two years first?

No, there is no general two-year rule. The conditions depend on the sponsor's specific residence basis, and for some statuses it matters whether the marriage already existed when the permit was issued.

What salary do I need to bring my family over?

There is no universal figure. The calculation depends on the size of the family, the cost of living and which income counts. The law explicitly excludes certain public payments, Kindergeld among them, so receiving them does not by itself breach the subsistence condition.

Can I bring my parents?

Yes, but under separate rules. A specific option exists for those first issued an EU Blue Card, or another status listed in § 36 Abs. 3, on or after 1 March 2024, and it requires securing the parents' living costs together with health insurance. Otherwise, reunification with the parents of an adult foreign national is treated as a case of exceptional hardship.

Does the main applicant have to move first?

No. Where the conditions are met, family visa applications can be filed at the same time as the skilled worker's application. That does not guarantee all applications will be decided at once.

Can I bring my family if I hold subsidiary protection?

As of publication, ordinary reunification with holders of subsidiärer Schutz is suspended until 23 July 2027 inclusive, and only exceptional humanitarian mechanisms remain. The restriction does not apply to recognised refugees or to foreign nationals with other statuses.