All You Need to Know about Family Reunification Visa in Germany

Citizens of non-EU nations in Germany seeking to reunite with their overseas family members can achieve this through a Family Reunification Germany Visa. The applicable rules rely on the citizenship of the family member seeking to move to Germany. It excludes citizens of Switzerland and EU/EEA member nations.

The spouse/registered partner of the German Resident Visa holder has to file the application for a Spouse Visa at the Consulate/Embassy of Germany in their nation of residence.

If you are a citizen of a non-EU nation and your spouse is a national of an EEA/EU nation, they are entitled to freedom of movement. This means they can reside and work in Germany without any curbs. All they require for arriving in Germany is their National Identity Card.

You can immigrate to Germany from India and reunite with your partner even if they are a national of a non-EU nation.

Requirements for Germany Spouse Visa

The following requirements have to be fulfilled by a non-EU national skilled worker in Germany to reunite with their overseas spouse:

Residence Title

As an employee in Germany, you must possess a Residence Permit, EU Blue Card, or a Settlement Permit

Health Insurance & Money

You must possess adequate resources and health insurance coverage to take care of your family. You will only have to offer evidence of health insurance coverage for yourself and family members. This is if you are a citizen of another EU nation, have an EU Blue Card, and wish to reside in Germany on a long-term basis with your family members.

Lawful Age 

Your spouse has to be a minimum of 18 years old.

Evidence of proficiency in the German language is not needed for family members seeking to join a skilled worker having a lawful Residence Permit in Germany.

Reuniting with a registered Civil Partner

Unmarried partners may also benefit from the Family Reunification Visa in Germany if they fulfill the criteria for spousal reunification. The civil partnership entered into according to overseas laws must correspond with the category of civil partnerships allowed in Germany till 2018.

So this implies that:

The civil partnership has to be registered in the respective nation, it has to be  declared and recorded in official registers or filesThe partnership has to lead to lawful obligations and effects

The above is also applicable to partnerships between two individuals of the same sex.

The Application Process and Requirements

To file an application for the Germany Family Reunification Visa, you will have to usually offer specific documents. These include a passport and a certificate of marriage, civil partnership, or registered partnership. The local German Consulate/Embassy will be able to inform you regarding the required documents.

The processing of your Germany Visa application can take some time. It is recommended that you find out regarding the required documents in advance. In this way, you can arrange the documents beforehand and file your application also well in advance.

After your family arrives in Germany, you will have to enroll them with the Office of the Residents’ Registration. You will have to file an application for the Residence Permit before the expiry of the Visa with the Local Authority for Foreigners.

The Residence Permit application will require submitting the appropriate passports, marriage and birth certificates, tax statements or pay slips, and rental proof. You may also have to offer other documents that can be needed according to the specific situation of your family.  

Once the Residence Permit is approved, your spouse/registered civil partner can work in Germany immediately without any restrictions.

Bringing your kids to Germany

If you or your spouse/partner are authorized to reside in Germany, your kids less than the age of 18 years are also allowed to stay in Germany on a Permanent or Temporary Residence Permit. If your kids are citizens of a non-EU nation, they will usually require a Visa to arrive in Germany.

If you and your spouse have a Temporary Residence Permit in Germany, your kids aged less than 16 years will also be offered a Temporary Residence Permit. This will enable them to reunite with you in Germany (as per section 32 of the Residence Act).

You can apply for a Germany Visa for your kids even if you are a single parent. But you will have to get approval from the other parent who has rights over the custody of the kids.

Your kids will also have to fulfill the following criteria to reunite with you in Germany:

They must not have been married, widowed or divorcedThey have to be aged less than 18 years

If you wish to apply for a Family Reunification Germany Visa or immigrate to Germany from India contact the Top Immigration Consultants in India Nationwide Visas.