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IMMIGRATION

When can foreign nationals bring their family members to Germany?

In many cases holding a valid residence permit in Germany allows you to bring your partner, children, and in some cases, even other family members to join you in Germany. We explain when non-EU nationals can invite their family.

Published: 4 March 2024 12:33 CET
hands held
A married woman and man hold hands during a walk on the beach. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Axel Heimken

It should probably go without saying, but before you can bring family to Germany you need to have the legal right to live here yourself. So you need to have a valid residence permit, such as an EU Blue Card, long-term residence permit, or settlement permit etc.

Generally family reunification is not an option for short-term visa holders, such as people with Schengen visas, job seeker visas or business visas.

Which ‘immediate’ family members can you bring to Germany?

German residents can generally invite their immediate non-EU family members to join them. In this case immediate family is considered spouses, children under 18 years old, and parents of children who are under 18.

These immediate family members are allowed to enter the country for the purpose of reunification for a long-term stay (meaning over 90 days), and can enter Germany with or without the reference person, or person inviting them. But they still need to meet the necessary requirements for entry into the Bundesrepublik, such as holding the correct visa.

Entry to the country for partners for the purpose of marriage (the D visa) is also possible.

Immediate family relationships can be proven by a marriage certificate, a certificate of civil partnership, a birth certificate, or a notarised extract from the family record or the civil status register.

Civil partnerships are acceptable in some cases, but in all cases your partner must be over 18 years old, and the marriage or partnership must be legitimate. Faking a marriage for the purpose of immigration is a serious offence in Germany.

READ ALSO: How to have your marriage abroad recognised in Germany

Regarding reunification, a person’s children are defined as unmarried minors and can be extended to non-biological children such as stepchildren, foster children and adopted children.

When approved, visas for family reunification are granted for a minimum of one year, and can be longer to match their partner’s visa. So if you’re in Germany on a two-year student visa, for example, your spouse may be granted a two year visa to allow them to stay with you for the duration of your studies.

When can you invite extended family members?

First and second-degree relatives are generally not permitted to enter Germany for short-term family visits, but exceptions are made in some cases for ‘urgent’ family reasons. 

According to Germany’s Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI), urgent family reasons may include births, weddings, and deaths or funerals. Additional special exceptions may apply in cases when serious illness results in a first or second degree family member urgently needing help, or being left in the absence of an adult or legal guardian.

In these cases, travellers should carry suitable proof of their urgent family situation, which clearly demonstrates the need to enter the country. 

READ ALSO: How to write a visa invitation letter for family and friends to visit you in Germany

More distant family members who are not EU nationals are not permitted to enter Germany for family reasons.

What else do you need before inviting your family to Germany?

Before you can bring a family to live with you in Germany, you need to be able to demonstrate your ability to provide for yourself and your family members who plan to join you. 

Namely, the German state allows family immigration for residents who support themselves without welfare benefits, and have secured sufficient housing, health insurance and income to cover their family’s needs.

Sufficient living space is generally considered to be housing that amounts to more than 12 square metres of space for each family member above the age of six, and more than ten square metres of space for each child under six. Adequate facilities, such as a kitchen and bathroom with toilets should also be included.

Regarding the requirements of your family members, their identity and nationality needs to be verifiable – typically with a valid passport. Finally, they will need to prove that they are not a threat to safety, and that there are no grounds for their expulsion from the country. This can be verified by providing a criminal record for examination.

Relaxed reunification requirements for skilled workers

As part of the government’s plan to attract more skilled workers to the country, some family reunification rules have been relaxed as of March 1st.

Blue Card holders and residents on skilled worker permits who have arrived after March 1st are able to bring their parents with them. In the case that their spouse is also a German resident, the same applies to their parents-in-law.

Additionally the requirement to prove sufficient living space will no longer apply to those bringing their dependent children or spouses into the country.

READ ALSO: The changes to Germany’s immigrations rules in March 2024

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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. 

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