Spouses joining EU citizens
You are an EU citizen, have settled in Germany and now want to bring your spouse over? Read here what you need to bear in mind when it comes to family reunification
Are you a citizen of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, living and working in Germany, and would like to bring your spouse to Germany? In this case, your spouse may also live and work in Germany. Whether a specific residence permit is required depends on your spouse’s nationality.
Would you also like to live in Germany with your children in addition to your spouse? Find out about the applicable regulations in the section “Family reunion for children”.
Spouse joining you is a citizen of an EU Member State, the EEA or Switzerland
f your spouse is a citizen of an EU or EEA Member State or of Switzerland, moving to Germany is very straightforward. Your spouse may live and work in Germany without any restrictions. There is no need to apply for a specific residence permit.
Spouse joining you is a citizen of a third country
If you are a citizen of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland and your spouse is a citizen of a third country, he or she will need a visa for the purpose of family reunification in order to enter Germany. If the joining spouse already holds a residence permit from another EU country, EEA country or Switzerland, he or she may enter Germany without a visa pursuant to Section 2 (4) of the Freedom of Movement Act/EU .
Family reunification for spouses: Residence permit after visa-free entry
Nationals of Andorra, Australia, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Canada, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America who come to Germany for the purpose of family reunification may enter Germany without a visa and then apply for the required residence permit directly at the competent foreigners authority .
How to apply for a visa for family reunification for spouses
If your spouse requires a visa to enter Germany, he or she must apply for a visa for family reunification for spouses. The visa can be applied for online via the Consular Services Portal of the Federal Foreign Office or directly at the German embassy . A list of all missions of the Federal Republic of Germany abroad can be found under Advisory and Contact Services.
To apply for a visa for your spouse to join you, you will generally need to provide your passport and a wedding certificate or proof of a registered or civil partnership. Please contact the German embassy responsible for you to find out which additional documents must be submitted.
Since processing your application may take some time, we recommend that you find out what documentation is necessary for the application well in advance and submit your application in good time. Spouses arriving in Germany must register their new address at the Einwohnermeldeamt (Residents' Registration Office) and then apply in person for a temporary residence permit for spouses joining their partners. Once a residence title has been granted, your spouse is immediately entitled to take up any kind of employment in Germany.
Information on the web
- Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) Family portal
- Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) Important information about family reunification
- Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) ESF federal program "Stark im Beruf" supports mothers with a migration background in getting a job
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