Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

LEARNING GERMAN

11 words you need to know for your German visa appointment

From the ‘Antragsformular’ to the ‘Familienzusammenführung’, grasping these 11 essential words will help you navigate the complexities of your German visa application with ease.

Published: 20 October 2023 10:28 CEST
Updated: 22 October 2023 08:06 CEST
Application form for a residence permit.
Application form for a residence permit. Photo: picture alliance / dpa | Wolfram Kastl

If you’re applying for a visa outside from Germany, depending on where you are, you may need to know – or will benefit from – knowing some German terms.

Das Antragsformular 

This document (application form) needs to be completed with personal information and details about the purpose of your visit. It serves as the primary application for the visa. 

Der Reisepass 

Your Reisepass (passport) serves as the primary identification document, confirming your personal information. It is then used to assess your travel patterns and visa application history.

Be sure to have enough blank pages left, as your passport will be stamped and the visa will be affixed to a blank page, indicating the dates of validity and the type of visa granted. 

Das Passfoto 

Two identical passport photos are normally required as part of your application.  They should adhere to specific size and format requirements for the visa application and have been taken in the past three months. 

Over the next few years, Germany is planning on phasing out paper photos in favour of digital ones, which can be taken during your appointment at the immigration office. 

READ ALSO: How Germany wants to speed up applications for e-residence permits

Die Aufenthaltsgenehmigung / Aufenthaltserlaubnis 

Die Aufenthaltsgenehmigung or Aufenthaltserlaubis translates to ‘residence permit’ and refers to an official document issued by the immigration authorities in Germany that grants the holder permission to reside in the country for a specified period. 

Aufenthaltstitel

A German residence permit or ‘Aufenthaltstitel’. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Daniel Karmann

It is essential for individuals who plan to live in Germany beyond the duration permitted by a standard visa. It serves as legal proof of the individual’s right to reside in the country and may be required for various administrative and legal processes.

Die Visumgebühr 

The visa fee is required to process the visa application.  

The fees vary depending on the type of visa, with shorter visas tending to cost €40 for children and €80 for adults, then longer term visas ranging from €75 to €200 depending on the visa type, applicant’s nationality and other factors.

READ ALSO: Germany or Austria: Where is it easier to get an EU Blue Card?

Das Einladungsschreiben

This ‘letter of invitation’ is a formal letter issued by a host in Germany to invite someone from another country to visit for a specific purpose. It typically contains essential details such as the purpose of the visit, the duration of the stay, the relationship between the host and the guest, and the host’s commitment to providing accommodation and financial support during the guest’s visit. 

Der Nachweis über ausreichende Mittel/über Unterkunft

Evidence of sufficient funds (ausreichende Mittel) and accommodation (Unterkunft) are prerequisites in the visa process. 

Documentation demonstrating the capability to cover expenses during the stay (accommodation, transportation, and living costs) can include bank statements, proof of income and a sponsorship letter.

Proof of accommodation can include hotel reservations or a letter of accommodation from a host for instance. 

Die Krankenversicherung 

Krankenversicherung (health insurance) is required to cover your entire visit, ensuring access to medical care while in Germany. 

The policy should include comprehensive coverage, a minimum coverage amount (usually €30,000 or more), repatriation coverage, immediate coverage, and Schengen Area coverage if you are applying for a Schengen visa. Statutory healthcare is usually mandatory if you are coming to Germany for work, and your employer will pay half of the costs. 

Health insurance cards from statutory insurer AOK.

Health insurance cards from statutory insurer AOK. German health insurance will pay your medical bills, including sick pay for up to 78 weeks. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Karl-Josef Hildenbrand

Die Botschaft/das Konsulat 

Die Botschaft (embassy) and das Konsulat (consulate) can both help you with your visa whilst abroad. 

The embassy diplomatically represents one country in another, providing consular services, including visa processing and the consulate is a branch within this that assists with visa applications and other consular matters for residents in a specific region.

READ ALSO: The vocabulary you need to understand the German citizenship process

Das Arbeitsvisum/das Studentenvisum 

A work visa and a student visa respectively, these are two of the most common visa types.

An Arbeitsvisum is typically issued based on a specific job offer or employment contract, whereas a Studentenvisum requires specific documentation from the educational institution. 

Die Familienzusammenführung / Familiennachzug 

Familienzusammenführung, or family reunification in English, is the process of bringing family members to join a foreign national who is already residing in Germany, often requiring specific documentation and proof of relationship.

By familiarising yourself with these vital terms, you can approach your often daunting visa appointment with confidence and clarity. 

Whether you’re navigating the Krankenversicherung requirements or understanding the nuances of Familienzusammenzuführung, having these German terms up your sleeve are sure to make the visa process smoother and more successful. 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

GERMAN CITIZENSHIP

How much do you need to earn to qualify for citizenship in Germany?

Applicants for German citizenship need to be able to support themselves financially, but it's often unclear what that means in practice. Here's how to work out if your income is high enough for citizenship.

Published: 15 May 2024 15:29 CEST
How much do you need to earn to qualify for citizenship in Germany?

Out of the requirements for qualifying for a German passport, supporting yourself financially is one of the most important – and one of the most confusing.

Many foreigners assume that the authorities have a magic number in mind and will often worry about whether their income is above or below this threshold.

In reality, though, the law is much more flexible. In section 10 of the nationality law, it states that applicants must show that they “can support themselves and their dependent family members without claiming benefits under the Second or Twelfth Book of the Social Code.”

In other words, that your income is healthy enough to not rely on the state for things like long-term unemployment benefits.

According to Fabian Graske, an immigration lawyer at Migrando, around €1,500 gross per month for a single person is usually considered enough to live on. 

That said, there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all approach to this quesiton. 

When it comes to working out if your income is high enough, you’ll need to take into account a number of factors that your case worker at the naturalisation office will also weigh up. 

That’s why it’s important to ask yourself a number of questions that go beyond just how much you earn: 

How high are your living costs? 

In Germany, there are huge regional differences in the cost of living, so what someone can afford to live on varies hugely from place to place.

For example, someone living in pricey Munich is likely to need much more money for rent or their mortgage than a resident of much more affordable places like Halle or Leipzig, so you should consider whether what you earn is enough to offer a basic standard of living in the city or town you live in. 

READ ALSO: Requirements, costs and permits – 6 essential articles for German citizenship

It is worth mentioning, though, that what you actually pay for rent and bills matters more than the averages. If you’re lucky enough to find an apartment with unusually low rent in Berlin, for instance, you can probably get away with earning less money as well. 

Are you single or do you have a family?

If you’re single and have no children, you’ll likely get a lot more lenience from the authorities when it comes to having a lower-than-average income.

A family sit at a lake.

A family sit at a lake in Bavaria. Image by Eva Mospanova from Pixabay

Of course, if you have dependents such as kids or a spouse who doesn’t work (or both), you’ll need to ensure not only that your own living costs are taken care of, but also that your family can survive on your income alone.

That naturally means you’ll be expected to earn a certain amount more for each dependent child or adult.

On the plus side, any income your spouse does earn will be counted alongside your own, so if you’re the one who is supported by their partner, the authorities will also take this into account. 

Is your job stable or unstable?

One key thing to think about when applying for citizenship is the security of your work contract. Someone who has a long-term contract with an employer and has passed their probationary period will be in a much better position than someone who is still on a three-month trial, for example.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t submit a citizenship application after just starting a new job, but be aware that the authorities may well wait to process your application until you’ve passed the initial probation and have been put onto a longer-term contract. 

A similar rule of thumb applies to people who are currently claiming Arbeitslosengeld I (ALG I), or unemployment insurance. Though this doesn’t disqualify you from citizenship, it may delay your application until you can find a stable job. 

READ ALSO: Can I still get German citizenship after claiming benefits?

Do you need to rely on welfare payments to get by?

A key aspect of German naturalisation law is working out whether you’re likely to be a financial burden on the state by relying too much on the welfare system.

The entrance to the Jobcenter in Düsseldorf,

The entrance to the Jobcenter in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Oliver Berg

While everyone needs a helping hand from time to time, claiming benefits like long-term unemployment benefit (Bürgergeld) or housing benefit (Wohngeld) to top up your income sadly shuts you out of the naturalisation process and could also make it hard for you to qualify in the future. 

Luckily, this doesn’t apply to all types of state support – Kindergeld, ALG I and Bafög don’t count, for example – so seek advice from a lawyer or your local citizenship office if you’re unsure.

How old are you?

Though this is hard to fully quantify, age can sometimes play a role in assessments of your financial fitness in Germany.

A young person fresh out of university or vocational college may be seen as someone with high earning potential over the years, so in some cases the authorities may take a more relaxed approach to their current income.

In contrast, an older person coming to the end of their working life could be held to slightly stricter standards. 

This is also why it can be important to show that you have sufficient pension contributions or another form of security for the future, such as owning your own home or having lots of savings. 

READ ALSO: How can over 60s get German citizenship under the new nationality law?

What counts as ‘income’ under German law?

It’s important to note that income doesn’t just have to mean the salary you get at your job: income from rental properties, side hustles and freelance gigs can also be included, as well as things like alimony payments after divorce.

Once again, if you’re unsure, just ask. The citizenship offices are there to advise you and should give you clear instructions about what kind of documents count as proof of income in your application. 

SHOW COMMENTS