What is a family reunification visa?
The family reunification visa (D visa) is a visa for a longer stay in Germany. It is issued for a stay of longer than 3 months and differs in duration from other visa variants such as the type A visa (48-hour transit visa) or type C visa (90 days within 180 days).
With the D visa (also known as a national visa), you can, for example, submit the following in Germany after arrival, an application for the Residence permit § 30 AufenthG for the reunification of spouses. Entry with a D visa is therefore mandatory for the subsequent Residence permit application. The same conditions apply ...
- ... for the reunification of children according to § 32 AufenthG,
- in the case of parental reunification in accordance with § 36 AufenthG and
- when applying to join beneficiaries of subsidiary protection in accordance with § 36a AufenthG.
- When joining German citizens in accordance with § 28 AufenthG.
Let's start at the beginning with the different types of visas in Germany.
In Germany there are basically 4 common visa typeswhich we will briefly introduce to you:
A visa: The A visa or transit visa is only valid in the international transit area of the airport.
C visa: The C visa is valid for short stays of 3 months in the Schengen area. This visa is ideal for tourist purposes.
D visa: The D visa is valid for longer stays in Germany and is suitable for family reunification, study visits or work stays. It is the right choice for people who apply for a Residence permit during the visa period.
LTV visa: This visa is only valid for one specific country and not for all countries in the Schengen area.
Requirements for a family reunification visa in Germany
You must prove to the authorities that the conditions for the D visa are met in your case. The Foreigners' office and the German embassy will check and decidewhether it is possible for your family member to join you and therefore whether a realistic long stay can be considered as a reason for the D visa. In the next section, we explain which documents and requirements you and your family member need in detail.
Which documents are required?
To ensure that your visa application is successful, you must submit the following documents to the German embassy/consulate in your home country:
Documents for the person who is to be caught up:
- The completed visa application for the D visa.
- a valid passport.
- signed declaration of consent to the processing of data within the framework of the Data Protection Regulation.
- 3 Biometric passport photos.
- Marriage certificate (if spouse reunification according to § 30 AufenthG).
- Proof of A1 language certificate (except for children up to the age of 16 and relatives of applicants with an EU season ticket, people with exemption).
- Birth certificate (for child reunification according to § 32 AufenthG).
- Proof of sole custody (if necessary).
Documents from the person living in Germany:
- Passport or passport substitute or alternative identity document.
- Proof of means of subsistence (employer's certificate, payslip for the last 3 months) (if required).
- Proof of sufficient living space, e.g. rental agreement.
- Proof of health insurance (if required).
- Proof of residence permit.
- Proof § 28 AufenthG (if the marriage is with a German citizen).
- Proof for self-employed persons (if in possession of Residence permit according to § 21 AufenthG for self-employed persons).
If you do not meet the requirements and the Foreigners' office and the embassy do not see the prerequisite for spouse reunification, child reunification or parent reunification, then the application for the D visa can be refused! There may also be exceptions to requirements, such as the A1 language certificate. This can be obtained in Germany.
Consent from Foreigners' office for the family reunification visa
The consent of Foreigners' office for the family reunification visa is required in accordance with § 31 AufenthV (Residence Ordinance) so that your application for the D visa works.
The reason for the need for consent is that you want to stay in Germany for more than 90 days with a D visa with a D visa.
Consent is also required in accordance with Section 31 (3) AufenthV if the data of your family member according to § Section 73 AufenthG are transmitted to the security authorities after the Federal Ministry of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany has ordered this.
After checking, Foreigners' office will forward the assessment for the D visa to the embassy. Among other things, the embassy checks the legal requirements, then gives its final approval and your visa is successfully issued. Due to the examination, you must automatically expect a longer process because the application goes through various authorities.
5 steps to a D visa for family reunification
To ensure that your application for a D visa is successful, we will now show you the 5 steps of the application process. If you follow this sequence, nothing will stand in the way of successful family reunification for you!
- Check requirements: As a first step, check whether you meet the requirements for the D visa and organize and check your documents for the D visa.
- Contact the German Embassy / Consulate: Once you have checked all requirements for the D visa and all documents are complete, contact the German Embassy / Consulate in your home country and make an appointment.
- Apply for a visa: Appear at the embassy on the agreed date and hand in the application for the D visa with the complete documents to the responsible office.
- Entering Germany: If your D visa has been approved, you will be able to enter Germany.
- Residence permit apply for a residence permit: As soon as you have entered the country, make an appointment with the family member living in Germany at Foreigners' office. At the agreed appointment, you apply for a Residence permit and then submit the application together with the documents.
Applying for a family reunification visa: duration and costs
The duration of your family reunification visa depends very much on the need for the embassy's approval following the report from Foreigners' office . For applications to work with a D visa, even more authorities are involved. The processing time is generally longer than for a C visa for a short stay, for example.
If you have an exceptional case with an application for family reunification under Section 18d AufenthG, the application will be processed quickly. In most cases, however, approval from Foreigners' office is necessary and takes time. The average visa processing time is between 6 weeks and 3 months. The longer the examination by Foreigners' office and the embassy, the longer the processing time.
The cost of applying for a D visa for family reunification is 75 € for adults. When applying for family reunification for underage children, the costs amount to €37.50. Family reunification with German citizens or EU citizens is generally free of charge.
Get help with the family reunification visa
If you want to bring your family to Germany, there are a few points to consider, such as the duration of the visa and what conditions apply to you, such as living expenses. If you are German, family reunification is easier and you do not need to apply for a family reunification visa. We at Migrando have years of experience in assisting clients with the naturalization process. Let's take this step together!
FAQ - Frequently asked questions about the family reunification visa
Can a visa for family reunification be refused?
Yes, the approval of Foreigners' office and the embassy is crucial. If Foreigners' office or the embassy do not consider the requirements for a family reunification visa to be met, they can have your application rejected.
Can I apply for a family reunification visa without sufficient knowledge of German?
Yes, if the reference person in Germany has a Residence permit such as permanent residence in the EUyou are exempt from providing proof of sufficient German language skills. Children under the age of 16 are also exempt from the A1 certificate requirement. Exemption is also possible for health reasons or due to educational or professional qualifications.
How much does it cost to apply for a family reunification visa?
The cost of applying for a D visa is 75 € for adult applicants and €37.50 for underage applicants and children. If you are joining German citizens or EU citizens, the application is free of charge.
How long does the visa for family reunification take?
The duration of a visa for family reunification is between 6 weeks and 3 months. The decisive factor is how long it takes Foreigners' office and the embassy to check the approval. The final decision on the visa is ultimately made by the embassy.
What do you need for a D visa for family reunification?
For a D visa for family reunification you need, among other things
- the necessary Residence permit of the person living in Germany,
- securing a livelihood,
- proof of accommodation and, in some cases, proof of the A1 certificate of the person joining you.
There are always exceptions for proof of livelihood, accommodation and language certificate.
