Spousal Reunification in Germany

Key Takeaways

• A spouse or registered partner of a German citizen or a foreign resident has a legal claim to a residence permit when all conditions are met. A spouse joining a foreign resident whose permit is subsidiary protection has no legal claim on this basis.
• Both partners must be at least 18 years old for spousal reunification in Germany. The authorities may make an exception to avoid particular hardship.
• A joining spouse must prove basic German at A1 level before entering Germany. Most A1 exemptions depend on the status or nationality of the partner already living in Germany, not on the joining spouse’s own situation.
• Unmarried partners who are not in a registered partnership have no claim to spousal reunification, however long the relationship has lasted.
• German authorities refuse spousal reunification for sham marriages and forced marriages. German authorities also refuse a further spouse when the foreign resident is married to several spouses and lives in Germany with one of them.
• Wait times for a family reunification visa appointment range from 2 weeks to over 52 weeks at missions that keep waiting lists (Federal Government, May 2026).

Table of contents

Who qualifies as a spouse or registered partner for family reunification in Germany?

A spouse or registered partner qualifies for family reunification in Germany if the couple meets three basic tests:

• Both partners are at least 18 years old.
• The marriage or registered partnership is legally valid and recognized in Germany.
• The couple plans to live together in Germany as a family.

In this article, the sponsor is the partner who already lives in Germany.

The age-18 rule applies to spouses of foreign residents under Section 30 of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG). The same age-18 rule applies to spouses of German citizens (§ 28 AufenthG).

Marriages concluded abroad while a spouse was under 18 fall outside this article. Article 13(3) of the Introductory Act to the Civil Code (Einführungsgesetz zum Bürgerlichen Gesetzbuche, EGBGB) governs them.

Can the authorities make an exception to the age-18 rule?

Yes, the authorities may make an exception to the age-18 rule at their discretion to avoid a particular hardship (§ 30(2) AufenthG). A couple with a partner under 18 cannot count on it.

The age-18 rule is waived for the spouse of a sponsor who holds a residence permit under § 38a AufenthG. The waiver applies if the couple already lived together as spouses in the sponsor’s other EU country (§ 30(1) sentence 2 AufenthG).

Registered partners and same-sex couples follow the spouse rules for family reunification in Germany

Registered partners (Lebenspartner) join their partner under the spouse rules in §§ 28 to 31 AufenthG (§ 27(2) AufenthG).

Since October 1, 2017, same-sex couples in Germany marry instead of registering a partnership. No new registered partnerships have been created since then.

A same-sex couple that registered before October 1, 2017 counts as registered partners.

Which sponsors can a spouse join through family reunification in Germany?

A spouse can join a sponsor in Germany who is a German citizen or a foreign resident with a qualifying residence permit. The conditions differ for each group.

Spouses of German citizens

A spouse of a German citizen has a legal claim to a residence permit (§ 28(1) AufenthG) if these conditions are met:

• The German citizen’s habitual residence is in Germany.
• Both spouses are at least 18 years old.
• The joining spouse can communicate in simple German (A1 level), or an A1 exemption applies.

A German citizen’s spouse does not need to prove secure income as a general rule (§ 28(1) sentence 3 AufenthG).

Our family reunification requirements guide explains which income, housing, and health insurance tests apply to your sponsor.

Spouses of foreign residents

A spouse can join a foreign resident who meets one of these sponsor conditions (§ 30(1) AufenthG).

Four sponsor statuses qualify on their own:

• The sponsor holds a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) or an EU long-term residence permit.
• The sponsor holds an EU Blue Card, an ICT Card, or a Mobile ICT Card.
• The sponsor is a recognized refugee or asylum grantee, or holds a research permit.
• The sponsor holds a residence permit under § 38a AufenthG for long-term residents of another EU country. The couple already lived together as spouses in that country.

Two routes for a sponsor with a temporary residence permit need extra conditions:

• Two years of residence. The sponsor has held a temporary residence permit for two years. At least one of these must also apply:
  • The permit carries no restriction under § 8(2) AufenthG.
  • The law does not rule out a later settlement permit.
• Marriage before the permit. Both of these apply:
  • The marriage already existed when the sponsor received the permit.
  • The sponsor’s stay is expected to exceed one year.

A spouse of a sponsor with subsidiary protection has no legal claim. The authorities may grant a permit at their discretion under § 36a AufenthG. The § 36a route is suspended until the end of 23 July 2027 (§ 104(14) AufenthG).

A marriage that began after the sponsor received the permit does not always end the spouse’s chances. The authorities may waive the marriage-timing and one-year-stay conditions at their discretion (§ 30(2) sentence 2 AufenthG). The waiver requires a sponsor with a residence permit or a national visa.

Our main guide to family reunification in Germany covers every sponsor status in full.

What German language level does a joining spouse need for family reunification in Germany?

A joining spouse needs basic German at A1 level for family reunification in Germany. A1 means the spouse can communicate in simple German in everyday situations.

The spouse proves A1 with a certificate from a recognized test provider before entering Germany.

NOTE: Your German mission decides which certificates it recognizes. Check its website before you book a test.

If the mission has no doubt at the visa appointment that the spouse has basic German, no separate proof is needed.

Who is exempt from the A1 German requirement for spouses of foreign residents?

A spouse of a foreign resident is exempt from the A1 German requirement in several situations (§ 30(1) sentence 3 AufenthG). Most of these exemptions depend on the sponsor, not on the spouse.

Your sponsor’s status or nationality exempts you from A1 German in these cases. Three apply on their own:

• The sponsor holds an EU Blue Card, an ICT Card, or a Mobile ICT Card.
• The sponsor holds one of the skilled worker and related permits listed in our family reunification requirements guide.
• The sponsor is a citizen of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, or the United States. These countries come from Section 41 of the Residence Ordinance (Aufenthaltsverordnung, AufenthV). Nationals of some other countries may also qualify if they stay visa-free without working (§ 41(2) AufenthV).

Three more also depend on timing or on the sponsor’s earlier permit:

• Protection or settlement permit. The marriage already existed before the sponsor moved their center of life to Germany. The sponsor also holds one of these permits:
  • A resettlement, asylum, or refugee protection permit (§ 23(4), § 25(1) or (2) AufenthG).
  • A settlement permit under § 26(3) AufenthG.
  • A § 26(4) AufenthG settlement permit granted after a residence permit under § 25(2) sentence 2 AufenthG.
• Other EU country. The sponsor holds a residence permit under § 38a AufenthG. The couple already lived together as spouses in the other EU country.
• Earlier skilled worker permit. The sponsor held one of these permits immediately before receiving a settlement permit or an EU long-term residence permit:
  • An EU Blue Card.
  • A permit under § 18a, § 18b, § 18d, § 19c(2), § 19c(4) sentence 1, or § 21 AufenthG.
  • A permit under § 19c(1) AufenthG for one of the roles named in the statute.

The joining spouse’s own situation exempts the spouse from A1 German in these cases:

• The spouse cannot prove basic German because of a physical or mental illness or disability.
• The spouse’s need for integration is clearly minimal under the integration course rules.
• The spouse would not be entitled to an integration course after arrival.
• Individual circumstances make it impossible or unreasonable for the spouse to make any effort to learn basic German before entry. The statute lists no examples, so the authorities decide each case on its facts.

Which A1 exemptions apply to spouses of German citizens?

The A1 exemptions in § 30(1) sentence 3 AufenthG also apply to spouses of German citizens (§ 28(1) sentence 5 AufenthG). The Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, BAMF) names two further exemptions for spouses of German citizens:

• The spouse has unsuccessfully tried to learn German for a year and still lacks basic German.
• The spouse cannot take a German course in the country of origin because of one of these:
  • No German courses are available.
  • German courses are too expensive.
  • The spouse cannot attend a course for other reasons.

A spouse who arrives without German must learn the language in Germany.

Can an unmarried partner join you in Germany through family reunification?

No, an unmarried partner cannot join you through family reunification in Germany, however long your relationship has lasted.

An unmarried couple has two routes to living together in Germany.

1) Marry first, then apply as a spouse

A partner abroad can apply for a marriage visa at the German mission to marry the partner in Germany. The requirements include these documents (Berlin State Office for Immigration):

• Written confirmation of the wedding date from the registry office (Standesamt).
• A certificate of unmarried status.
• The final divorce decree, if there was a previous marriage.

Missions publish their own document lists, so check your mission’s page. The marriage visa also requires simple German.

The couple can also marry abroad first and then apply for the spousal visa.

2) Apply for your own residence permit instead

A partner who does not marry needs a residence permit on their own basis, such as work, study, or the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte). A lawyer can check whether your partner qualifies on their own before you commit to a wedding date.

Who is refused spousal reunification in Germany even when the marriage is valid?

German authorities refuse spousal reunification in these situations, even when the couple meets every other requirement:

• Sham or forced marriage (§ 27(1a) AufenthG):
  • It is established that the marriage was entered into solely for the purpose of entry and stay.
  • Actual indications justify the assumption that one spouse was coerced into the marriage.
• Sponsor with several spouses (§ 30(4) AufenthG):
  • A foreign sponsor is married to several spouses at once and lives with one of them in Germany.
  • The sponsor cannot bring another spouse.
• Security-related grounds against the sponsor (§ 27(3a) AufenthG):
  • The sponsor threatens Germany’s free democratic basic order or security.
  • The sponsor was among the leaders of an irrevocably banned association that broke criminal law or opposed the constitutional order.
  • The sponsor takes part in violence for political or religious goals, or publicly calls for or threatens violence.
  • The sponsor incites hatred against segments of the population.

The authorities may also refuse a permit if the sponsor depends on basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld) or social assistance (§ 27(3) AufenthG). The refusal applies only when the benefits support other family members or household members.

How long does spousal reunification in Germany take?

The wait for a spousal visa appointment ranges from 2 weeks to over 52 weeks at missions that keep waiting lists for family reunification visas (Drucksache 21/5984).

Spousal reunification in Germany happens in two stages: the wait for a visa appointment, then the decision after it.

What decides how long a spousal visa takes after your appointment?

The spousal visa decision after your appointment depends on your mission and on whether the local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) must consent first. No official figure covers all missions, so check your mission’s page for an estimate.

Most spousal visas need the Ausländerbehörde’s consent before the mission issues the visa (§ 31(1) sentence 1 no. 1 AufenthV).

A spouse joining a sponsor who plans other employment (sonstige Beschäftigung) or research under § 18d AufenthG needs no consent as a rule. All four of these conditions must be met (§ 31(1) sentence 2 AufenthV):

• The sponsor’s own visa needs no Ausländerbehörde consent.
• The spouse’s own visa needs no consent for a purpose of its own, such as self-employment.
• The couple files both visa applications around the same time.
• The marriage already exists when the sponsor applies for a visa.

What can you do if your spousal visa takes longer than three months?

If your spousal visa takes longer than three months without a good reason, you can file a failure-to-act lawsuit (Untätigkeitsklage).

However, winning the lawsuit only forces the German mission to decide on the visa. It does not guarantee approval.

What happens to your spousal residence permit after you arrive in Germany?

Your spousal residence permit allows you to work after you arrive in Germany. A joining spouse needs no separate work permit, since every residence permit holder may work unless a law says otherwise (§ 4a AufenthG).

If your sponsor is a foreign resident, your spousal residence permit cannot last longer than your sponsor’s permit (§ 27(4) AufenthG).

The authorities may extend your spousal residence permit even if the livelihood or living-space requirement is no longer met (§ 30(3) AufenthG). The couple must still live together as spouses.

If your sponsor is a German citizen, the spouse is granted a settlement permit as a rule when all of these conditions are met (§ 28(2) AufenthG):

• The spouse has held a residence permit for three years.
• The family relationship with the German citizen continues in Germany.
• There is no interest in expelling the spouse (Ausweisungsinteresse).
• The spouse has sufficient knowledge of German.

Otherwise, the residence permit is extended as long as the family relationship continues.

A spouse’s permit is extended by one year as an independent right in two cases (§ 31(1) AufenthG):

• The couple separates after living together lawfully in Germany for at least three years.
• The sponsor dies while the couple was living together in Germany.

In both cases, the sponsor must have held a residence permit, a settlement permit, or an EU long-term residence permit until the separation or death.

References

• Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG)
• Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV)
• Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF): Subsequent immigration to join German nationals
• Landesamt für Einwanderung Berlin: Visa for a marriage in Germany
• Deutscher Bundestag: Drucksache 21/5984