Spouse reunification from abroad

Description

Visa procedure

Before your foreign spouse/registered partner can travel to Germany, they require a visa for family reunification (spousal reunification). If the marriage/registration of the civil partnership is planned in Germany, a corresponding visa is required. This can be applied for at the German mission abroad (embassy or consulate) in your home country. As soon as we have received the visa application from the responsible diplomatic mission abroad, you must submit further documents to us, depending on the reason for the family reunion. Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, Brazil and El Salvador do not require a visa.

After entering the country

You must first register your place of residence at the Citizens Office. There you will receive a registration certificate. This certificate is often requested by other authorities or institutions as proof that you are registered in Munich.

Application for a residence permit

Before your visa/residence permit expires, you must apply for a residence permit. If you can enter the country without a visa, you must apply for a residence permit at the Foreigners Office within 90 days of entering the country.
Please submit the application form and the required documents online or by post. After your application has been checked, you will receive an appointment from us for a personal interview.

Prerequisites

If you are entering Germany for the purpose of marriage/registering a civil partnership/reuniting with your family (reunification of spouses), you must observe the following:

• Both spouses/partners must be 18 years old.
• The spouse/partner joining you must be able to communicate in a simple manner in German (A1) before entering the country.

For any exceptions, please contact the German diplomatic mission abroad. Information can be found at the Federal Foreign Office.

Required documents

Visa procedure for a planned marriage/ civil partnership:

• Certificate from the registry office that all necessary documents are available and that the marriage/registered civil partnership can be registered jointly by both parties at the registry office.
• declaration of commitment or other proof that the person travelling to Germany is able to support themselves in Germany.

Visa procedure for the subsequent immigration of the spouse/partner:

• Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate in the original or as a copy (also with apostille or legalisation). If no international/multilingual document is available: German, certified translation by translators sworn in Germany.
• declaration of commitment or other proof that the person entering Germany is able to support themselves in Germany.

Residence permit:

• Fully completed application form
• Valid passport or passport replacement of both spouses/partners
• biometric passport photo(only at the appointment, photo machines can also be found at the Foreigners Office)
• Valid visa for entry (if required)
• Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate in the original or as a copy (also with apostille or legalisation). If no international/multilingual document is available: German, certified translation by translators sworn in Germany
• If applicable, proof of basic German language skills (A1)

Proof of secure livelihood:

for employees:

• Salary statements (certificates of earnings for the last three months)
• Completed confirmation of the employment relationship

for self-employed/freelancers:

• Proof of profit after tax (last income tax assessment, current profit and loss account from tax consultant)
• Proof of health insurance also for the spouse joining the applicant or proof of the amount of health insurance for the spouse joining the applicant
• business registration(if required under trade law)
• Proof of pension insurance or life insurance

Proof of sufficient living space:

Sufficient living space is available if twelve square metres of living space are available for each family member over the age of six and ten square metres for each family member under the age of six and if ancillary rooms such as the kitchen, bathroom and WC can also be used.

• declaration on the domestic community
• For rented flats: Tenancy agreement stating the size of the flat in square metres and account statements showing the amount of rent or
• certificate of occupancyor
• For owner-occupied flats: Purchase contract stating the size of the flat in square metres and, if applicable, proof of instalment payments for loans and monthly housing benefit/house allowance.

No proof of sufficient living space is required if the spouse/partner is in possession of an EU Blue Card, an ICT Card or a Mobile ICT Card or a residence title in accordance with §§ 18a, 18b, 18c Para. 3, §§ 18d, 18f, 19c Para. 1 AufenthG for employment as a senior employee, manager, company specialist, researcher, visiting scholar or teacher, pursuant to Section 19c (2) or (4) sentence 1 or Section 21 AufenthG.

Please note

Further documents may be required in individual cases.

Legal basis

§29 Residence Act