Which Foreigners' office is responsible for family reunification?
The responsible Foreigners' office for family reunification is the Foreigners' office in your place of residence. Together with the German embassy in your home country, it is responsible for checking the application for the D visa for family reunification. The embassy will then make the final decision. Once your family member has entered the country, it is also the Foreigners' office in your place of residence where you apply for the Residence permit .
How to apply for family reunification
The application for family reunification is not to the Foreigners' office, but to the German embassy in the country of origin. in the country of origin. Your family member will apply for the visa for family reunification to Germany at the embassy once the application is complete. Once the visa has been approved, they will enter the country and apply for a Residence permit in Germany.
Tasks of the Foreigners' office in family reunification
The Foreigners' office in Germany has with regard to family reunification the following tasks:
- Checking the requirementsJoint verification with the German embassy as to whether the requirements for family reunification are met.
- Recording the application for the residence permit: Start of the application for the respective Residence permit after the entry of your relative.
- Processing of the residence permitThe Foreigners' office then processes the application for the respective Residence permit.
- Issuing the residence permitFinally, the Foreigners' office issues the Residence permit for your family member.
The Foreigners' office therefore plays a role both in the family reunification check and after entry when applying for a residence permit. application for a residence permit and is an important point of contact for you.
Authority | Task |
|---|---|
Foreigners' office | Checking the requirements |
Foreigners' office | Approval or rejection + forwarding to the embassy |
Foreigners' office | If the decision is positive + after entry, the application for a residence permit is recorded, checked and issued |
Embassy in the home country | Examination of the requirements and interview |
Embassy in the home country | Decision on the application for family reunification |
Embassy in the home country | If the decision is positive: issue of the D visa |
Approval by the Foreigners' office
Under the following conditions the Foreigners' office must approve the national visa for family reunification of the person joining them:
- The visa is applied for for a period longer than 90 days.
- The purpose of entry is family reunification and the application for a residence permit.
- You as the applicant are not in possession of § 18d AufenthG (with § 18d AufenthG no consent is required).
The Foreigners' office will ask you these questions
Together with the German embassy in the home country the Foreigners' office will check the requirements for family reunification. For this check, you will be asked questions about family reunification. The interview is conducted by the embassy. The questions concern the following topics:
- Residence permitDo you have a Residence permit that entitles you to family reunification? Which Residence permit do we apply for when entering Germany?
- Housing situationIf proof of residence is required: Is your home big enough? (10 square meters for under 6 year olds and 12 square meters for 6 years and older).
- IncomeCan you support yourself and the family member joining you without state assistance? (if proof of living expenses is required).
- Health insuranceHave you taken out health insurance for the family member joining you?
- Language certificatesDoes your family member have a language certificate? (if this is required).
The Foreigners' office requires these documents for family reunification
The following Documents for family reunification are required by the Foreigners' office and the embassy of your country of origin for processing:
- Completed application form for the national visa
- Authorized Residence permit from you as a person in Germany to apply for the national visa
- An indication of which Residence permit will be applied for after your family member enters the country
- Proof of livelihood (if required)
- Language certificates (if required)
- Birth certificate of you as a person in Germany and of your family member
- German passport (if joining German citizens)
- Marriage certificate (if your spouse is joining you)
- Proof of residence and rental agreement (if required)
We help with questions about family reunification and the Foreigners' office
You want to apply for family reunification at the Foreigners' office , but your Residence permit is blocked for family reunification? Then switch to the Settlement permit or apply for a German passport.
We at Migrando have years of experience in contact with immigration and naturalization authorities and in advising on Naturalization! Let's go your way to successful family reunification together!
FAQ - Frequently asked questions about family reunification and the Foreigners' office
The Foreigners' office will check together with the embassy of your home country whether the requirements for family reunification are met. This includes whether you have the correct Residence permit , as well as the means of subsistence (if required), language skills (if required) and more.
The visa for family reunification is usually issued for 3 months. However, it is also possible to apply for a visa for longer than 3 months.
In order for your family reunification to work, you must prove your relationship with the person joining you and, if necessary, provide evidence of your livelihood, proof of language skills or proof of residence (there are exceptions for some residence permits).
Yes. Family reunification and family reunification are the same thing. Family reunification is the term that is used more frequently in legal language and also in laws.
The questions at the interview on family reunification are asked by the embassy in the home country. The purpose of the questions is to find out whether the requirements for family reunification are met in your case.
