Family Reunification in Germany 2026: Rules and Steps
Germany lets spouses, registered partners and minor children join a family member who lives there, and the conditions depend on who that family member is. Joining a German citizen, a skilled worker, another foreign resident and a recognised refugee are four different cases. This guide sets out each one from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), the federal portal Make it in Germany, the Federal Foreign Office and the Residence Act, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
Spouses, registered partners and minor unmarried children can join a third-country national who holds a valid German residence title. The general rules ask for adequate accommodation, a secure livelihood, spouses aged at least 18 and, as a rule, simple everyday German. Families of skilled workers get an easier route: no proof of German before entry and no proof of living space. The visa costs €75, and nothing for the spouse or minor child of a German citizen. Family members who come this way are entitled to work. Reunification with people who hold subsidiary protection is suspended until 23 July 2027.
Which case are you?
| You are joining | German before entry | Living space and income |
|---|---|---|
| A German citizen | Spouses generally need a basic command of German; exemptions apply | The German must have their main residence in Germany and you must intend to live together as a family |
| A skilled worker or highly qualified person | No proof of simple language skills needed before entry | Proof of sufficient living space is not required |
| Another third-country national with a residence title | As a rule, simple everyday German | Adequate accommodation and a secure livelihood for the family |
| A person entitled to asylum, recognised refugee or resettled refugee | See below | Neither is required if you apply within three months |
The general rules for spouses
The BAMF lists these conditions for joining a third-country national:
- Both spouses must be at least 18 years of age.
- You must, as a rule, be able to communicate in simple everyday German. In many cases the language can be acquired after arrival, for example when joining a skilled worker.
- Adequate accommodation must be available.
- The livelihood of the family must be ensured.
- The person already in Germany must hold a valid residence title.
The same rules apply to same-sex civil partnerships. If you come to Germany for family reunification you are also entitled to take up work.
Children
- Under 16: a minor, unmarried child can join the parents, or the parent entitled to custody, without meeting further conditions.
- From 16, arriving with the parents: no further requirements if the move is connected with the parents' move, which as a rule means within six months.
- From 16, arriving later: the child needs German at level C1, or it must be likely that the child will integrate easily. The BAMF gives examples: attending a German-speaking school abroad for more than a short time, or growing up in another EU or EEA state, in a German-speaking household, or in Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States.
- Born in Germany: the child will generally be granted a residence permit if at least one parent entitled to custody holds a residence title.
Easier rules for families of skilled workers
If you are joining a skilled worker or a highly qualified person, the BAMF and Make it in Germany list these relaxations:
- Spouses do not need to prove simple language skills before entering the country.
- Proof of sufficient living space is not required for spouses and minor unmarried children joining holders of an EU Blue Card or of a residence permit for skilled workers under Sections 18a and 18b of the Residence Act.
- Children over 16 of a skilled worker do not have to meet further requirements, even if they do not arrive at the same time as their parents.
- Spouses of EU Blue Card holders receive immediate and unlimited permission to take up employment.
- The employer's fast-track procedure for skilled workers also covers the worker's spouse and minor unmarried children, provided the family plans to immigrate within six months after the worker has entered Germany.
Parents and parents-in-law
Parents and parents-in-law of skilled workers and highly qualified persons can come to Germany if the worker's residence title was first issued on or after 1 March 2024. Their subsistence, including sufficient health and long-term care insurance, must be covered from their own financial resources. In all other cases, other family members may only come to prevent exceptional hardship.
Joining a German citizen
Foreign spouses or registered partners, minor unmarried children of German nationals and the parents of minor unmarried German nationals can immigrate. The key condition, in the BAMF's words, is that the German has his or her main place of residence in Germany and the family intends to live together as a family unit.
- Language: a spouse is generally required to have a basic command of German. Exemptions apply, for example if you have tried unsuccessfully for a year to learn German, if no courses are available in your country, or if they are too expensive. You are then obliged to learn the language in Germany.
- Parents: a foreign parent of a minor, unmarried German can come if they have the right of custody and wish to exercise it.
- Fees: visa fees are waived for the spouses, registered partners and minor unmarried children of German citizens and for the parents of minor German citizens.
- Permanent residence: a settlement permit is possible after only three years, provided the family community continues to exist in Germany.
Other relatives, such as the parents of adult Germans, aunts, uncles and grandparents, may only be allowed to immigrate to avoid an exceptional hardship, decided case by case.
Families of refugees and people with protection status
The spouse or partner and minor unmarried children of persons entitled to asylum, recognised refugees and resettled refugees can come even if subsistence is not covered and sufficient living space is not available. The requirement is that the application for family reunification is made no later than three months after the asylum procedure has been completed. After that period, reunification is still possible, but the person in Germany must show efforts to find work and their own accommodation.
Subsidiary protection is different. The transitional rules of the Residence Act state that, until the end of 23 July 2027, family reunification under Section 36a is not granted to people holding a residence permit as beneficiaries of subsidiary protection. Sections 22 and 23 of the Act, on admission from abroad and admission by decision of the state or federal authorities, are unaffected. The BAMF's English page, dated 1 March 2024, predates this suspension.
How to apply, step by step
- Check the requirements for your case: the family member's residence title, living space, livelihood and the minimum age of 18 for spouses.
- Apply for the visa online by creating a user account on the Consular Services Portal. If online applications are not yet available in your country, contact the competent German mission.
- Prepare the documents: passport, proof of the family relationship and, if necessary, proof of German language skills and of a secure livelihood. When joining a German spouse, the Federal Foreign Office names an authenticated marriage certificate and the German spouse's passport.
- Attend the appointment at the German mission with all original documents and pay the visa fee of €75 in local currency.
- Wait for approval. The mission forwards the application to the foreigners authority where you want to live in Germany and can only issue the visa once that authority has given its approval.
- Enter Germany and register your address at the residents' registration office. Proof of valid health insurance is needed for the entry visa, and new health insurance must be taken out after entry.
- Apply for the residence permit at the foreigners authority before the entry visa expires. Fees may add up to €100.
When reunification is restricted or ruled out
The BAMF lists residence titles that limit the right of relatives to follow, including titles issued because of a deportation ban, to victims of certain criminal offences, and on the basis of decisions by state or federal authorities. For some titles it is ruled out as a matter of principle, among them the opportunity-based right of residence under Section 104c of the Residence Act. If the family member in Germany holds a humanitarian title, check the legal basis printed on their electronic residence title before applying.
Frequently asked questions
Who can come to Germany through family reunification?
Spouses, registered partners and minor unmarried children as a matter of principle. Parents and parents-in-law of skilled workers can come in certain circumstances, and other relatives only to prevent exceptional hardship.
Does my spouse need German to join me in Germany?
As a rule a spouse must be able to communicate in simple everyday German. Spouses joining a skilled worker or highly qualified person do not need to prove this before entry.
Can my spouse work in Germany on a family reunification permit?
Yes. The BAMF states that people who come to Germany for family reunification are entitled to take up work.
How much does a family reunification visa for Germany cost?
€75 for the national visa, and residence permit fees may add up to €100. Spouses and minor unmarried children of German citizens pay no visa fee.
Can my parents join me in Germany?
If you are a skilled worker or highly qualified person whose residence title was first issued on or after 1 March 2024, your parents and parents-in-law can come, provided their subsistence and health and long-term care insurance are covered from their own resources.
Can children over 16 join their parents in Germany?
Yes, without further conditions if they move as a rule within six months of their parents, or if the parent is a skilled worker. Otherwise they need German at level C1 or a positive outlook for integration.
Is family reunification suspended for subsidiary protection?
Yes. Under the transitional rules of the Residence Act, family reunification to join beneficiaries of subsidiary protection is not granted until the end of 23 July 2027.
Official sources
- Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) — Subsequent immigration to join foreign family members
- BAMF — Subsequent immigration to join German family members
- Make it in Germany (Federal Government) — At a Glance: Visa for family reunification, as of January 2026
- Federal Foreign Office — FAQ: Visa for Germany
- Federal Foreign Office — Visas for Germany (fees)
- Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz), Section 104 — Transitional rules
- Residence Act, Section 36a — Family reunification with beneficiaries of subsidiary protection
- BAMF — The EU Blue Card
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. The law texts are in German; the English wording here is our own summary. The German mission and the foreigners authority decide individual cases. Information, not legal advice.