German Family and Partner Visa

You don’t have to experience the joys of Germany vicariously through your partner who lives in the country. There is a German Family and Partner Visa, or Family Reunification Visa, that enables you and your minor children to join your partner in Germany.

Essentially, spouses and minor children can get a family reunification visa to join German nationals, EU nationals, and foreign nationals with valid work or residency visas. The person they’re joining must be living in Germany or intending to move to Germany. Once you’ve received your residence permit, you are allowed to work in the country with no restrictions.

Note: Germany recognises same-sex marriages or life partnerships and has done so since 2001. Same-sex partners qualify for the German family and partner visa (or family reunification permit). There is no need for partners to apply for different types of work or residence visas.

Same-sex partners can also get married in Germany with the same provisions as heterosexual couples. Again, there is no need for independent visas or permits.

Only minor children are covered by the German family reunification (or partner and family) visa. Children over 18 must apply to live in Germany independently.

Contact IBN Immigration Solutions, and we’ll assign a consultant who will help you with applications for the family visa and independent visas for adult children, if necessary.

Note:You and your partner must be married to qualify for the spousal visa. If you aren’t married, you must prove that you have booked an appointment to get married in Germany within three months of arrival.

Spouses may have to prove their proficiency in German with level A1 skills. However, there are exemptions that depend on the primary visa holder’s nationality and type of visa.

If you have a university degree and desired professional or specialised skills, you are also exempt from the language requirement for a spousal visa.

Your immigration consultant will tell you which requirements and forms apply to your specific set of circumstances. They will help you acquire the documentation necessary for you to complete your application or applications, as well as help you complete the forms correctly so that there are no delays while processing your German family and partner visa.

Application costs for relative visas vary on a case-by-case basis. For example, the cost to immigrate with one child is significantly less than applying to immigrate with four children and a dog. You may also have an adult child who is still dependent on you, in which case you have to add the costs of an independent application to your total.

Your immigration consultant will go through all the details of your application or applications, including miscellaneous fees so that you aren’t caught unawares by hidden expenses.

• Your immigration consultant is indispensable when it comes to completing the application process. Not only will they help you procure the documents you need to apply for a family relative visa, but they will also help you get different types of personal documents, including unabridged marriage and birth certificates with an apostille from DIRCO (Department of International Relations and Cooperation).
• When you’ve met all of the requirements and have all of your documents and supporting documents, your immigration consultant will compile an application pack, which they will send for an in-house quality check.
• When your application pack has passed the quality check, you must submit it through the German embassy or consulate general in your home country or country of residence.
• Once your application has been approved, you will receive a three-month visa, during which you must move to Germany.
• When you’re settled in Germany, you must register at your local town hall. A colleague from one of our partners in Germany will accompany you to ensure you fully understand the process.
• Upon registration, your immigration consultant will arrange an appointment for you to apply for your final residence permit at the local foreigner’s authority. One of our German partners will accompany you.
• You should receive your residence permit at the appointment. You will receive your electronic residence cards within the following four weeks.