Family Reunification in Germany: Who Can Move and What Conditions Apply

Family reunification in Germany is a national visa and then an Aufenthaltstitel for close relatives of a person who is already living in Germany or moving there on a lawful basis. Most often this concerns a spouse, a registered partner, minor children, and the parents of a minor child.

The rules depend on the status of the sponsoring person: German citizenship, a temporary residence permit, permanent residence, a Blaue Karte EU, refugee status, or another Aufenthaltstitel all lead to different conditions and exceptions. That is why, before applying, it is important to check not only the family relationship but also the specific section of the Aufenthaltsgesetz.

Who you can reunite with

The main Familiennachzug scenarios are:

• a spouse joining a person who lives in Germany on an appropriate legal basis;
• a minor unmarried child joining one or both parents;
• a parent joining a minor child if the child is a German citizen or has separate protected status;
• parents of qualified specialists in certain cases if the sponsoring person has an appropriate Aufenthaltstitel;
• other relatives only in exceptional situations where a refusal would lead to außergewöhnliche Härte, meaning extraordinary hardship.

In practice, “other relatives” is the most difficult route. Simply wanting to live near parents, adult children, a brother, or a sister is usually not enough. You need to show why help from the relative is necessary specifically in Germany and why the situation cannot be resolved otherwise.

Reunification with a spouse

For Ehegattennachzug, several basic conditions are usually checked:

• both spouses are at least 18 years old;
• the marriage is valid and was not entered into solely for the visa;
• the sponsoring person has an appropriate Aufenthaltstitel, German citizenship, or another status that allows reunification;
• the family has sufficient housing;
• Lebensunterhalt is secured without dependence on social benefits, unless there is an exception for the specific case;
• the arriving spouse has basic German language skills, usually A1 level, unless an exemption applies.

The A1 requirement does not always apply. For example, exceptions are possible for spouses of certain qualified workers, holders of a Blaue Karte EU, researchers, some humanitarian statuses, citizens of countries with the right to long-term visa-free entry, and cases where learning the language before entry is impossible or clearly unreasonable to require.

If both spouses move at the same time, the application for family reunification is often submitted together with the sponsoring person’s main visa. But the package of documents and the legal grounds are still reviewed separately.

Reunification of children with parents

A minor unmarried child can move to Germany to join one or both parents if the Familiennachzug conditions are met. The key age limit is under 18.

For children under 16, a language requirement is usually not a central condition. For children aged 16 to 17, the review is stricter: under the law, German language ability at C1 level may be required, or proof that the child will be able to integrate into German living conditions thanks to education and personal circumstances.

If the child is moving to only one parent, the consent of the other parent who has custody, or a court or official decision replacing such consent, is often required.

Parents of minor children

A separate important case is the reunification of a parent with a minor child in Germany. This may be relevant if the child is a German citizen or has protected status, and the parent is needed for care and actual family life.

For a child not yet born, the situation is possible but requires especially careful preparation: the consulate and the Ausländerbehörde usually look at the child’s citizenship, acknowledgment of paternity, the consent of the second parent, the stage of pregnancy, and proof of the future family life.

Income and housing

In most cases, the sponsoring person has to show that the family will be able to live without claiming Bürgergeld or Sozialhilfe. Sufficient living space is also checked.

But this rule is not the same for everyone. For German citizens, recognized refugees, parents of German minor children, and some humanitarian statuses, relaxations or different legal logic may apply. That is why the phrase “income is always mandatory” cannot be treated as universal.

Usually the following are prepared:

• an employment contract and recent payslips;
• proof of rent or ownership;
• a certificate showing the size of the housing and the number of rooms;
• the sponsoring person’s Aufenthaltstitel or passport;
• documents on marriage, birth, custody, and the consent of the second parent;
• a language certificate, if required.

Other relatives

Parents of adult children, adult children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and other relatives are not part of the standard Familiennachzug circle. German law provides only narrow exceptions for them.

The main criterion is außergewöhnliche Härte. This usually means severe dependence on care, illness, disability, or another situation where family assistance is truly necessary and cannot reasonably be arranged outside Germany. Financial costs, loneliness, or the wish to live closer by themselves usually do not make a case sufficient.

How the application is submitted

If the relative is outside Germany, the route usually starts with a national category D visa at the German embassy or consulate in the place of residence. After entry, an Aufenthaltserlaubnis is issued by the Ausländerbehörde.

The general procedure is:

1. Determine the legal basis: spouse, child, parent of a minor child, or an exceptional case.
2. Check the sponsoring person’s status in Germany.
3. Collect documents proving kinship, housing, income, and language skills.
4. Book an appointment at the consulate or through the official visa portal if it is used in the specific country.
5. Wait for coordination with the Ausländerbehörde in Germany.
6. After entry, register at the address and apply for an Aufenthaltserlaubnis.

Processing times depend heavily on the country of application, the consulate, the completeness of the documents, and the response speed of the Ausländerbehörde.

What is important to check in advance

• Whether the sponsoring person’s status is sufficient for Familiennachzug.
• Whether A1 or C1 has to be proven in your exact situation.
• Whether the second parent’s consent is required for the child’s move.
• Whether the income and housing meet the requirements of the local Ausländerbehörde.
• Whether the case falls under humanitarian rules with separate exceptions.
• Whether an apostille, legalization, or sworn translation of documents is needed.

In brief

The most typical family reunification cases in Germany are spouses and minor children. Parents and other relatives can move only on special grounds, and for adult relatives außergewöhnliche Härte is usually required. Because of the large number of exceptions, it is safer to check the requirements for the specific Aufenthaltstitel and place of application rather than relying on a general document list.