Spouse reunification, non-EU
If someone from a non-EU country lives in Germany and wants to bring their spouse from that same non-EU country to Germany, they will as a rule have to apply for spouse reunification.
Spouse reunification must first be applied for at the German mission in the spouse's home country. Various documents have to be presented for this, such as a marriage certificate, evidence of a shared address in the home country and adequate health insurance.
The German embassy or consulate examines the application and decides whether to issue a visa for spouse reunification. As a rule both spouses have to be present in person when the application is made.
After entering Germany, the spouse from the non-EU country has to register with the relevant residents' registration office within 90 days and, where applicable, apply for a residence permit.
It is important to note that the conditions and requirements for spouse reunification can vary according to the country of origin and to individual circumstances. It is therefore advisable to find out about the necessary steps and documents early on and, where appropriate, to seek support from specialist advice centres or lawyers.
Your family will feel most at home if everyone speaks a little German. We show you how that can be done in the section “Learning German”.
Life partners can make use of the opportunity for family reunification if they meet the conditions (§ 27 (2) AufenthG).