Family reunion for children
Of course, your children can also live with you in Germany. You can find out here how to bring them to you.
Entering Germany with children
If you or your spouse are entitled to live in Germany, your children under the age of 18 are also entitled to a temporary or permanent residence permit.
If your children are citizens of a member state of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, they do not require a visa to enter Germany and can live here with their parents.
If your children are citizens of a country which is not in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, they will generally need a visa to enter Germany. If you and your spouse hold temporary resident permits for Germany, your children under 16 years of age will also receive a temporary resident permit in order for them to join you (Section 32 of the Residence Act [AufenthG] ).
Family reunification with children: 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 .
If you are a single parent, you can also apply for a visa for your children. However, in this case, you will need to obtain the consent of the other parent entitled to custody.
To obtain a visa to join you, your children must also meet the following criteria:
- They must not be married, divorced or widowed
- They must be under 18 years of age.
The visa for family reunification with children 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.
Residence permit for children aged 16 and over
Special requirements apply to children over the age of 16. Your local German Embassy will be able to inform you about them. If your child is already 18 years of age, they must generally apply for a separate resident title of their own.
Birth of a child in Germany
A child acquires German citizenship at birth if at least one parent holds German citizenship. This is because the principle of descent (jus sanguinis) generally applies in Germany.
Children of foreign parents who are born in Germany may also acquire German citizenship at birth if one parent:
- has been lawfully and habitually resident in Germany for at least five years, and
- holds a permanent right of residence at the time of the child’s birth (e.g. a settlement permit or EU long-term residence permit), or, as a Swiss national or a family member thereof, holds a certificate or residence card confirming lawful residence in Germany under the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between the EU and Switzerland.
In such cases, under German law, children acquire German citizenship in addition to their parents’ nationality.
Video: Living in Germany with your family
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 of the Interior and Community (BMI) Acquiring German citizenship by birth
- 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
Do you have any questions?
Let us advise you on your opportunities to work and live in Germany. Our experts will support you with questions regarding job search, visa, recognition and learning German.
You can find out more about the various contact options by clicking on one of the icons in the bar below.
