As a EU citizen, you would like to bring your spouse, your life partner, your minor children, your parents or other relatives to Germany. Or you would like to join your family member in Germany.
If you and your family members have Union citizenship, family reunification is possible without any problems: you are exercising your right to free movement of the EU.
In principle, family reunification and family reunification is only possible within the core family: spouse and minor children, and in the case of minors, the parents. In deviation from this, Union citizens can also join families from other direct ancestors (grandparents) and descendants (grandchildren and great-grandchildren) if the person living in Germany is responsible for the maintenance.
A prerequisite for family reunification is that the maintenance of the migrant or persons is secured (no receipt of state benefits such as unemployment benefit II or social assistance) and enough living space is available. Proof of simple German skills is often required for family reunification of adults.
Third-country nationals must apply for a visa to enter Germany at the responsible German embassy. This can take several months. In Germany, the family members then receive a residence permit and a work permit.
New EU citizens
As a migrant Union citizen, you need the following documents:
- Valid identity card (ID card), passport or passport replacement paper for yourself or all family members;
- Housing certificate (signed by your housing provider);
- Lease agreement.
Registration with the registration office is free of charge.
Immigrating third-country nationals
You need the following documents as a third country national or third country national:
- Visa application form
- Valid passport
- Biometric passport photo
- Valid residence permits abroad
- Marriage certificate
- Language proficiency level A1
- Valid health insurance coverage
- Employment contract of the family member living in Germany
- Last three salary certificates of the family member living in Germany
- Rental contract of the family member living in Germany
- Housing certificate (signed by your housing provider)
- Lease agreement
Registration with the registration office is free of charge.
Documents for download
Entry to the spouse living in Germany
Nachzug zum in Deutschland lebenden Ehepartner
Reunification of the minor child living in Germany
Nachzug zum in Deutschland lebenden minderjährigen Kind
Application for a national visa (German-English)
Antrag auf Erteilung eines nationalen Visums (deutsch-englisch)
Application for a national visa (German-French)
Antrag auf Erteilung eines nationalen Visums (deutsch-französisch)
Further information
Make it in Germany – Ehegattennachzug zu EU-Bürger
BAMF – Spouses joining EU citizens
BAMF – Familiennachzug zu EU-Staatsangehörigen
BAMF … Family reunification with eu nationals
