Family reunification and marriage-based residence in Germany in 2026

Spouse, children and parents: who needs German at A1, when income and housing are checked, how long the visa takes and how fast a family permit turns into permanent residence and a passport.

Germany does not sell residence permits or grant them for passive income, but family remains one of the most reliable grounds for moving. The rules are set out in the Residence Act: a spouse and minor children can join a German citizen or a foreigner with a valid residence permit, and in some cases so can parents.

Almost everything depends on who sponsors. Requirements are milder for a German citizen: income is usually not checked, and the spouse gets permanent residence after just three years. A foreigner has to show salary and housing. Below: a comparison of the two cases, documents, children and parents, marriage checks, fees and rules for citizens of certain countries.

Marriage to a citizen of Germany and marriage to a foreign resident

The general conditions are the same: the marriage is registered and recognised in Germany, both spouses are at least 18, they intend to live together, and the arriving spouse can communicate in German at A1 level. Language is proven with a certificate from a recognised test centre before the visa application.

Exempt from the language requirement are spouses of EU Blue Card and skilled worker permit holders, spouses with a university degree who are likely to integrate easily, and those who cannot learn the language because of illness or disability. The differences between marriage to a citizen and marriage to a foreigner are in the table.

If you are not yet married, there is a visa for the purpose of marriage: the fiancé or fiancée enters Germany, registers the marriage at the registry office and applies for the family permit without leaving. The family of a citizen of another EU country living in Germany comes under free movement rules: a separate, simpler procedure with no language requirement.

Documents and legalising the marriage

The national visa application is filed at the German embassy in the country where you lawfully live. The embassy forwards the case to the foreigners' office where the sponsor lives, and they decide together. After entry you register your address and receive a plastic residence card.

• passport and two national visa application forms;
• marriage certificate with an apostille and a sworn translation; birth certificates for children;
• a German A1 certificate or a document exempting you from it;
• a copy of the German citizen's passport or the sponsor's residence permit and proof of their registered address;
• a lease or title deed showing the living space;
• for a foreign sponsor, an employment contract and recent pay slips;
• health insurance until you are covered by your spouse's insurance.

Germany recognises a marriage concluded abroad if it is valid under the law of the country of registration. Proxy marriages, without one spouse present in person, and marriages involving minors are examined separately. Certificates issued in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and most other countries are accepted with an apostille.

Children and the other parent's consent

Unmarried children under 18 can join a parent with a residence permit or German citizenship. Under 16, no language is required. From 16 to 18 a child moves without conditions when travelling together with the parents; if the child comes separately and later, fluent German or convincing signs of quick integration are needed, such as schooling in German.

If the parents share custody and only one moves to Germany, the other parent's consent to the child's move is required. Sole custody is proven by a court decision or another document. It is best to file the children's applications together with the spouse's: the family then gets a decision at the same time.

Residence for parents

Germany has no ordinary family permit for parents of adult children. There are three exceptions. The first is a parent of a minor German citizen: they receive a permit to care for the child, and income is not checked. The second is parents and parents-in-law of skilled workers who obtained their first work permit or Blue Card after 1 March 2024: they can be invited if their maintenance and health insurance are secured.

The third is exceptional hardship, when a parent needs care available only in Germany; such cases are decided individually and rarely approved. The most expensive condition for parents is insurance: a private policy for an older person costs noticeably more than for someone working.

How sham marriages are checked

The embassy and the foreigners' office may check whether the marriage is genuine. Triggers include a large age gap, no common language, meeting shortly before the wedding, earlier visa refusals or indications that money was paid for the marriage. The spouses can be interviewed separately and at the same hour: one at the embassy, the other in Germany. The questions are everyday ones: how you met, who was at the wedding, what the flat looks like.

A marriage concluded only for a residence permit gives no right to one. False statements made to obtain a permit are a criminal offence: up to three years in prison or a fine, and the permit is revoked. Checks can also come later: when the card is renewed, the authorities look at whether the spouses live together.

Timelines and fees

A visa decision usually takes up to three months after a complete file is submitted, but in some countries the wait for an embassy appointment is longer than the review itself. After entry the residence card is issued by the foreigners' office, usually within a few weeks.

Spouses of German citizens are exempt from the visa fee. The German exam, apostilles, sworn translations and insurance are paid separately. A manager will calculate the total for your family in the chat.

All other grounds for moving are collected on the page how to get residency in Germany: every route.

Common reasons for refusal

• no German A1 certificate and no ground for exemption;
• a foreign sponsor lacks income or housing of the required size;
• the marriage is found to have been concluded for a permit, or the spouses gave different answers at interview;
• certificates without an apostille, translations not made by a sworn translator, incomplete documents;
• a child over 16 arrives separately and does not speak German;
• earlier visa violations or an entry ban for the Schengen Area.

A refusal can be appealed, but it is faster to apply again with a corrected file. That is why we check documents before the embassy appointment.

Restrictions for certain nationalities

Family reunification is open to citizens of all countries; the place of application and the entry procedure differ.

Russian citizens living in Russia apply for the national visa at the German embassy in Moscow: appointments go through a waiting list, and visa centres accept the documents. Those lawfully living in another country apply at the German embassy there. EU sanctions do not prohibit family permits.

Citizens of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia, Serbia, Turkey and other countries apply where they live. Citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and the UK can enter without a visa and apply for the family permit in Germany.

This topic in other countries

Marriage-based residence and family reunification in other countries:

• Family reunification and marriage-based residence in Kazakhstan in 2026
• Family reunification and marriage-based residence in Georgia in 2026
• Family reunification and marriage-based residence in Serbia in 2026

Residence, taxes and life in this country:

• how to get residency in Germany: every route
• moving to Germany
• permanent residence in Germany
• German citizenship
• taxes in Germany
• Berlin guide

You can compare countries and grounds in the section residence permits: all countries and routes.

FAQ