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Family reunification (Familiennachzug): How do you bring your spouse and children to Germany?

To bring your wife, husband, or minor children to Germany, the person abroad applies themselves for a national visa (category D) at the responsible German mission (embassy or consulate general). The requirements usually are: a valid residence permit for the person living in Germany, a recognized marriage or parenthood, sufficient housing, a secured livelihood without state benefits, and, for spousal reunification, usually proof of basic German language skills (level A1). For people with subsidiary protection, family reunification is suspended from July 24, 2025 through July 23, 2027 inclusive – only narrowly limited hardship cases under §§ 22, 23 AufenthG are then possible. Whether all requirements are met in a specific case is decided at the discretion of the responsible immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) or the mission abroad.

As of: 07/26/2026 · Editorial team HalloAmt · General information, not legal advice (see note at the end).

Family reunification means a lot of paperwork – marriage certificate, proof of income, proof of housing, often a language certificate. The HalloAmt assistant explains in over 50 languages which documents you need and where to apply. Start now →

I live in Germany and want to bring my wife to join me – how and where do we apply for the visa?

The application is always submitted by the person who wants to join their family – that is, your wife or husband – abroad, not by you in Germany. She or he applies for a national visa at the responsible German embassy or consulate general. In many countries, you first have to book an appointment online; the waiting time for that alone can be weeks or months.

Typically you will need these documents (the mission abroad may ask for more):

  • valid passport of the person joining their family
  • marriage certificate (often with apostille or legalization and translation)
  • proof of your residence permit in Germany
  • proof of sufficient housing (rental contract, size of the apartment)
  • proof of income (pay slips, employment contract)
  • for spousal reunification, usually the A1 language certificate

The embassy checks the documents and forwards the application to the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) at your place of residence in Germany, which must give its approval. Only after that is the visa issued; after entering Germany, the immigration office converts it into a residence permit for family reunification. Check early on whether foreign documents need to be certified or translated – this is often the biggest time sink.

Does my spouse have to learn German before entering the country? Exceptions to the A1 language certificate

For spousal reunification (Ehegattennachzug), the person joining their family generally has to prove basic German skills at level A1 – already when applying for the visa. Recognized certificates include those from the Goethe-Institut, telc, or TestDaF; the certificate usually may not be older than one year. This also applies to spousal reunification with German citizens (§ 28 in conjunction with § 30 AufenthG), although courts tend to review this more leniently for German spouses.

However, there are important exceptions to the A1 requirement:

  • Privileged nationalities (§ 41 AufenthV): including Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, USA, as well as – depending on the visa purpose – some other countries. Anyone entering for a permanent stay who is not subject to a visa requirement for short stays often does not need to prove A1 in advance.
  • Recognizably low integration need, for example with a university degree and a positive employment prognosis.
  • Illness or disability that makes learning the language impossible or unreasonable.
  • Recognized refugees and people entitled to asylum, as well as people with subsidiary protection, if the marriage already existed before they fled (as far as reunification is legally possible at all – see below).
  • Unreasonableness, for example if there is no accessible language course or exam option in the country of origin (hardship case).

For spousal reunification from Turkey to Germany, an additional exception may arise from the EU–Turkey Association Agreement. Whether an exception applies is decided case by case by the mission abroad or the immigration office. Because so much depends on the specific case here, getting advice early – or, if a rejection is looming, consulting a specialist lawyer for migration law – can be worthwhile.

How much income and how much housing do I need?

There is no fixed amount in euros set out in the law. What is required is that the livelihood of the entire family is secured – that is, without citizen's income (Bürgergeld) or social assistance (Sozialhilfe). To calculate this, the authority usually adds up the standard needs (Regelbedarfe) of all household members plus the actual rent including heating and compares this with your net income. The larger the family and the higher the rent, the more income you need.

Regarding housing: the apartment must be large enough for the family. As a rough guideline, many authorities use about 12 m² per person over six years old and about 10 m² per child up to six years old – but the exact standards are set by the responsible immigration office.

Important distinctions, because things often get mixed up here:

  • Unemployment benefit I (Arbeitslosengeld I) is based on your own contributions and counts as income – it is not a "harmful" receipt of state benefits.
  • Citizen's income (Bürgergeld) and social assistance (Sozialhilfe) count against a secured livelihood and can make reunification harder.
  • For reunification with German citizens (§ 28 AufenthG), a secured livelihood is usually not required – in this case there is generally an entitlement. For recognized refugees, easier rules also apply in the first three months after recognition.

How long does a family reunification visa take?

There is no general answer: from booking an appointment to the issuing of the visa, it often takes several months, and in some countries significantly longer. Reasons include long waiting times for an embassy appointment, review by the immigration office in Germany, and queries about documents.

You can speed up the process by submitting complete and certified documents from the start and having translations made early. Don't wait – book the appointment as soon as the marriage has taken place or the residence permit has been issued.

I have subsidiary protection – do different rules apply to family reunification with me?

Yes, and this is the most important point: Family reunification for people with subsidiary protection is legally suspended – from July 24, 2025 through July 23, 2027 inclusive. Before that, it was limited to a quota of 1,000 visas per month (§ 36a AufenthG); this route is generally closed during the suspension. Before the deadline expires, it will be reviewed whether the suspension is extended; without an extension, the previous legal situation will automatically apply again.

Reunification remains possible only in narrowly limited hardship cases for urgent humanitarian reasons – the exception provisions §§ 22 and 23 AufenthG remain unaffected. Hardship applications are processed through the Family Assistance Programme (FAP) of the International Organization for Migration (IOM): they must be sent, with a justification of why a hardship case exists, exclusively by email to info.fap.hardship@iom.int. From there they are forwarded to the Federal Office of Administration (Bundesverwaltungsamt) and the responsible embassy.

Please don't get your hopes up too much: hardship cases are interpreted narrowly, and an application alone does not create an entitlement. Be sure to get advice before submitting a hardship application – the justification is what matters.

The situation is quite different for recognized refugees (Geneva Convention) and people entitled to asylum: for them, reunification with spouses and minor children is generally possible, and if the application is submitted within three months of recognition, proof of livelihood and housing is usually not required.

Because so much here depends on details – which protection status, when recognized, which family member – and because residence law and administrative practice can change at short notice, the rule is: don't guess, get advice. Contact points include:

  • Migration counseling for adult immigrants (MBE) – free of charge
  • Youth migration service (JMD) – free of charge, for young people
  • Welfare organizations
  • Specialist lawyers for migration law

The responsible immigration office or mission abroad decides on a case-by-case basis.

How do I bring my children to Germany – and up to what age?

Child reunification (Kindernachzug) is regulated in § 32 AufenthG. Basic requirement: the child must be a minor (under 18 years old) and unmarried at the time of application, and the parents with custody (or the parent with sole custody) must hold the appropriate residence permit. What matters is the age on the day the application is submitted – if the 18th birthday is approaching, every day counts, so submit the application in good time.

For children aged 16 and over, additional requirements apply: they must either have sufficient German language skills or a positive integration prognosis – unless they are moving to Germany together with their parents. There is no language requirement for younger children. Easier rules apply for the children of recognized refugees and when the family reunites together. Here too, the responsible immigration office decides case by case, with much left to its discretion.

What is the difference between spousal reunification and family reunification?

"Family reunification" (Familienzusammenführung, or Familiennachzug) is the general term for bringing close family members to Germany. "Spousal reunification" (Ehegattennachzug) is a part of that. Family reunification includes:

  • Spousal reunification (Ehegattennachzug) – reunification with a spouse (§ 30 AufenthG)
  • Child reunification (Kindernachzug) – reunification with minor children (§ 32 AufenthG)
  • Parent reunification (Elternnachzug) – in narrow exceptions, reunification of parents with their minor children living in Germany (§ 36 AufenthG)

In everyday language, the terms are often used interchangeably; legally, spousal reunification is thus a subcategory of family reunification.

Frequently asked questions

Where do you apply for spousal reunification (Ehegattennachzug)?

The visa is applied for by the person joining their spouse, at the German mission (embassy or consulate general) responsible for their place of residence abroad. The immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) at the residence of the person in Germany is also involved and must approve the reunification.

Does my spouse need the A1 language certificate?

For spousal reunification (Ehegattennachzug), basic German skills at level A1 must usually be proven. However, there are several exceptions, for example for certain nationalities, in cases of low integration need, due to illness or disability, and in hardship cases where no language course is accessible.

How much income do I need for spousal reunification (Ehegattennachzug)?

There is no fixed amount. The livelihood of the whole family must be secured without citizen's income (Bürgergeld) or social assistance (Sozialhilfe). The standard needs (Regelbedarfe) of all household members plus the actual rent including heating serve as a benchmark. For reunification with German citizens, a secured livelihood is usually not required.

How long does a family reunification visa take?

This often takes several months, and in some cases significantly longer. The duration depends on the waiting time for an embassy appointment, the involvement of the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde), and how complete your documents are.

Do different rules apply for people with subsidiary protection?

Yes. Family reunification for people with subsidiary protection status is suspended from July 24, 2025 through July 23, 2027 inclusive; only narrowly limited hardship cases under §§ 22, 23 AufenthG are possible. Hardship applications are submitted by email to info.fap.hardship@iom.int through the Family Assistance Programme (FAP) of the IOM. Easier rules, however, apply to recognized refugees and people entitled to asylum. Be sure to get advice.

Up to what age can children join their parents?

In principle, children must be minors (under 18) and unmarried at the time of application. Additional requirements apply to children aged 16 and over, such as German language skills or a positive integration prognosis, unless they enter the country together with their parents.

Next steps

We cannot create a ready-made PDF for residence permit forms themselves – the application goes through the German mission abroad and your immigration office. But for these related topics, HalloAmt can help you directly, step by step and in your language:

  • Registering your address – after entering Germany, your family members must register with the citizens' office (Bürgeramt).
  • Applying for child benefit (Kindergeld) – often possible for children who have joined you; child benefit generally does not count as a harmful receipt of state benefits.
  • Applying for citizen's income (Bürgergeld) – but be careful: receiving citizen's income can affect your own residence permit and the family reunification. Whether this applies to you depends on your residence permit – please get advice beforehand.

The HalloAmt assistant explains in over 50 languages which documents you need and where to apply. Start now →

This is general, carefully researched information (as of 07/26/2026) and does not replace legal or official advice. Decisions on residence law always depend on the specific case and are made at the discretion of the responsible authority. Laws and administrative practice can change at short notice; amounts, deadlines, and responsibilities are provided without guarantee. In individual cases, the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) responsible for your place of residence, or the German mission abroad, makes the decision. For binding information, please contact these offices, a migration counseling service (MBE/JMD), or a lawyer. If a deadline is about to expire or you face a rejection, please contact a specialist lawyer for migration law or a migration counseling service immediately. We cannot guarantee completeness or that this information is up to date.

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