Family reunification is possible if it serves to establish and maintain family life. As a rule, only the following family members are eligible for reunification:

• the spouse or registered civil partner
• minor unmarried children
• the parent of a minor unmarried child for the purpose of exercising parental care

For spouses/civil partners to join a foreign national living in Germany, the foreign national must generally hold one of the residence permits specified in Section 30 (1) sentence 1 no. 3 of the Residence Act.

Online application procedure

Visas for the following purposes of stay can now be applied for online:

• Spouse reunification (including visas for marriage followed by permanent residence)
• Child reunification
• Parent reunification (to exercise parental care for a minor child)

Apply online now on the Consular Services Portal

The online portal guides you step by step through the documents required for your specific purpose of stay. Your documents will be checked for completeness as part of the online procedure, so that you are optimally prepared for your appointment at the Embassy. After successful preliminary review, you will receive a link to book an appointment. At the appointment, you will present any original documents that may be required, provide your biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) and pay the fee.

Processing time

Due to the regular approval required from the authorities in Germany, you should generally allow 8-12 weeks for your visa application to be processed (calculated from the date of submission of the complete application documents to the diplomatic mission).

During the application process

The visa office will check whether your complete application meets the legal requirements. Once a decision has been made on your application, the visa office will contact you. Please understand that questions about the status of your application will generally not be answered during the processing period. All communication can only take place with the applicant themselves, a legal representative or a person authorised in writing.

Decision on the application

You will be informed as soon as the Embassy has made a decision on your application. Your passport is required for the visa to be issued.
If all the information on your visa label is correct, nothing stands in the way of your trip. Please check this as soon as you have your passport with the visa in your hands. You should notify us of any errors immediately so that we can issue a new visa.