Family Reunion — Spouse & Children
Bring your spouse and children to Germany on a family reunion visa. Here are the requirements, the marriage-certificate rules, your work rights, schooling for kids, and the full process.
The spouse passes A1 ("Start Deutsch 1", Goethe/telc). Waived for spouses of Blue Card, Skilled Worker, Researcher or Self-employed holders, and in hardship cases.
No fixed national figure, but immigration offices look for roughly €2,300–2,500 net/month for a couple — enough to support the family without state benefits.
About 12 m² per person of living space. Waived since March 2024 for Blue Card & skilled-worker (§18a/b, §19c, §21) families.
Legalised / apostilled via MEA India + certified German translation. For Hindu Marriage Act marriages: registration certificate + temple/priest certificate + photos of the rites.
Your Key Rights as a Dependent
Family Reunification Visa
For spouses/children to join a family member already residing in Germany
- Valid passport
- Marriage certificate (apostilled & translated to German)
- Proof of main applicant's residence permit in Germany
- Proof of adequate housing (waived for Blue Card & skilled-worker families since March 2024)
- Proof of financial support
- Basic German language skills (A1 for spouses, waived in some cases)
- Health insurance
- Visa fee: €75
💡 A1 German waiver applies for Blue Card holders' spouses, highly educated, or if learning was impossible. Since March 2024, Blue Card & skilled-worker (§18a/b, §19c, §21) families are also exempt from the housing-space proof and may bring parents/parents-in-law.
Permanent residents' spouses have immediate, unrestricted work rights. No separate permit — start on day one.
Immediate, unrestricted right to work in any field for any employer. No separate work permit needed.
Usually allowed to work. Check the conditions stamped on your specific Aufenthaltstitel — some have restrictions.
Subject to the same annual work limits as the student. Track days carefully — exceeding the limit is a visa violation.
Hold a German-recognised degree? Apply independently for an EU Blue Card or Skilled Worker Visa, you don't need to rely on your spouse's status.
Have your own degree? You can skip dependency entirely and apply for a work visa in your own right.
Professionals Guide →The German Education System
Enrolling Your Child in School
- Register your address at the Einwohnermeldeamt first
- Contact the local Schulamt (school authority), they assign schools by district
- Required: birth certificate (translated), passport, vaccination records
- Schools offer Deutsch als Zweitsprache (DaZ) — German as a second language, for new arrivals
- International schools available in major cities (fee-based)
First Steps After Arrival
💡 Top Tips for Dependents
- • Start German A1 preparation early (apps: Duolingo, Babbel; Goethe Institut courses)
- • Get marriage certificate apostilled in India via MEA (Ministry of External Affairs)
- • Translate documents via certified German translators only
- • Health insurance required from day one of arrival
Get marriage certificate / children's birth certificates apostilled AND certified German translation
Apply for A1 German certificate — Goethe A1 (not required for spouses of Blue Card holders)
Goethe Institut →Apply for family reunification visa (Ehegattennachzug / Kindernachzug) at German Embassy
VFS Global →Confirm health insurance coverage, add to sponsor's policy or get separate policy
Compare dependent options →Confirm living address in Germany and arrange accommodation
Book flights
Register at Einwohnermeldeamt (Anmeldung) — bring passport + sponsor's Anmeldebescheinigung + rental contract
Get a German SIM card
Open a German bank account or get access to joint account with sponsor
For children: contact the local Schulamt (school authority) for school enrollment
Get children vaccinated if records are incomplete (school requires vaccination records)
Book Ausländerbehörde appointment for your dependent residence permit
Wait for Steuer-ID to arrive by post
Submit children's enrollment documents to assigned school (passport, birth cert, vaccination record)
Check work authorisation on your residence permit (most spouses of Blue Card holders have full work rights)
If working: register at Agentur für Arbeit and confirm Steuerklasse with employer
Agentur für Arbeit →Enroll in a German Integration Course (Integrationskurs) at VHS, often free for new arrivals
BAMF →Apply for Kita (nursery/daycare) immediately — waitlists in cities can be 6–18 months
Register the whole family with a Hausarzt (GP) and a dentist
Get a Haftpflichtversicherung (family policy covers all household members)
Check24 →Consider having Indian driving licence converted to German licence (2–3 months)
Explore German language learning (B1 required for permanent residence eventually)
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