Everything You Need to Know About Germany Family Reunion Visa and Bringing Your Loved Ones Together
Croyez immigration is your trusted partner in making the process of family reunification easier. If you are looking to bring family and loved ones to Germany, this Germany Family Reunion Visa is an ideal pathway to live in Germany. Our expert immigration consultants at Croyez specialize in making this process simple and easier, making sure you reunite with your family and live with them in Germany.Here, get to know everything about the Germany Family Reunion Visa including the eligibility criteria, documents required, the application process, the processing time and who can benefit from this visa.What is the Germany Family Reunion Visa?
The Germany Family Reunion Visa is a residency visa which is intended for individuals who want to reunite with their family members already living in Germany. Close family members such as parents, spouses or kids are allowed to join the family who is a legal resident in Germany. This legal residence obtained by the family member can be through studies, work or any other legal means.This visa type provides unity and assistance for families entering a new phase of their lives by making sure that families can stay together while their relatives live and work in Germany. Be it if you are married to a German citizen, have children living in Germany or looking to reunite with parents living in Germany, this Germany Family Reunion visa provides a legal framework to make it possible. Eligibility Criteria for the Germany Family Reunion Visa
To apply for the Germany Family Reunion Visa, the applicant must meet certain criteria that are listed below:Family Relationship
The applicant must have a genuine and verifiable close family member who is legally residing in Germany. This means that the applicant should be either of the following:
- Spouse - Husband or wife of the sponsor
- Minor children - Kids under the age of 18 of the sponsor
- Dependant relatives - Elderly parents or relatives who is depend on the sponsor for support
Sponsor’s Legal Residence
It is important for the sponsor to prove that they are legally residing in Germany for the reunion of the family. The family member of the applicant, who is the sponsor living in Germany should have a legally registered residence permit in Germany which includes the following:
- Work permit if the sponsor is employed in Germany
- Student visa if the sponsor is a student in Germany
- German citizenship or PR
Financial Support
The sponsor in Germany should show that they are financially stable to support the applicant while they are in Germany. This is to make sure that the applicant will not need any public welfare support on their arrival in Germany. The sponsor can prove their that they have sufficient funds through
- Employment contracts or payslips
- Bank statements
- Proof of self employment or tax returns.
Health Insurance
The sponsor and the applicant should have enough health insurance coverage to meet their medical expenses while in Germany. The sponsor should have a valid health insurance and the applicant’s health insurance should be recognized by the German authorities.
Language Requirements
To easily integrate with the German society and job market, the applicant must prove their proficiency in the basic level of German language. This mostly will be applicable for partners and spouses of German nationals, children over the age of 18 who apply to join their family members.
Proof of Relationship
The applicant must provide supporting documents to prove their relationship with the sponsor. These documents must be official and if requited, must be translated to German or EnglishThe most commonly submitted documents are:
- Marriage certificate for spouses
- Birth certificate for children
- Adoption or custody documents for adopted children or guardianship.
Before applying for the Germany Family Reunion Visa, applicants must make sure they meet all the requirements and ensure they are eligible for the application. At Croyez, our expert consultants will help you understand all these criteria and assist you in gathering all the necessary documents for the application to be successful.
Documents Required to Apply for the Germany Family Reunion Visa
The specific documents that are needed for application varies based on the type of family relationship, family members position in Germany and the county of origin of the applicant. But below are the general documents required to apply for the Germany Family Reunion Visa:
- A valid passport with a validity of at least 6 months beyond the intended date of stay in Germany.
- The completed, signed visa application form.
- A proof of relationship. This can be a marriage certificate for spouses, birth certificate for children or proof of dependency for parents and elders.
- A work permit or student visa of the family member in Germany that serves as a proof of legal residence of the sponsor.
- Financial documents proving that the sponsor has the ability to support the applicant.during their stay in Germany. This can be payslips, bank statements or employment contracts.
- Proof of health insurance coverage for both the sponsor and applicant in Germany.
- Certificates proving the applicants basic German language proficiency which is usually level A1.
- Payment receipt of the application fee.
Our expert consultants at Croyez make sure the applicant does not miss out any important documents while submitting the application.
The Application Process for Germany Family Reunion Visa
To ensure the application for the Germany Family Reunion Visa is completed with accuracy, there are several steps to be followed. For a successful application, the applicant has to follow these simple steps:
Initial Consultation
As the process of applying, collecting the required documents can be a tiresome process, it is important to schedule an initial consultation with an immigration consultant. At Croyez, our consultants assist you in accessing your eligibility and gathering all the necessary paperworks required for a smooth application process.
Prepare Required Documents
All the necessary and relevant documents proving the relationship between the applicant and the sponsor must be prepared. The documents that support your application are:
- Valid passport
- Relationship proof
- Financial documents of the sponsor
- Health insurance
- Completed visa application form
Submit Application
The carefully filled application form must be submitted to the German embassy or consulate in the country of residence. Few applicants will have to give biometric information for which they should schedule an appointment.
Attend Interview
To verify that the provided certificates and information are genuine, the applicant will have to attend an interview at the German embassy or consulate. This happens only in certain cases and if required.
Pay Visa Fee
During the submission of the application, the applicant has to pay the visa processing fee. Even if the visa is denied, this fee will not be refunded.
Wait for Processing
Once the application has been submitted, the processing begins. The authorities verify that the submitted documents are valid, conduct background checks and the decision on the visa is made.
Get Visa Decision
Once your application is processed, the German embassy will send you a notification on the status of your visa application. If it is approved, you will receive your visa with which you can begin your journey to Germany to join your family.
Travel to Germany
On approval of your Germany Family Reunion Visa, you can travel to Germany. On reaching Germany, the applicant has to register their residence in Germany.
Processing Time for Germany Family Reunion Visa
The processing time for Germany Family Reunion Visa varies for each applicant. This depends on the nationality of the applicant, complexity of the case and also the workload of the embassy. The average processing time for this visa is usually 2 to 12 weeks. It is important to remember that the processing time increases during peak periods and also if additional documents or explanations are needed from the applicant.
It is advisable to submit the application well in advance of the intended date of travel in order to speed up the process. Occasionally, expedited services may be available for an additional fee which makes the processing faster. Get in touch with our immigration consultants to get an estimate of the processing time for your visa application.
Who Can Benefit from Germany Family Reunion Visa?
The German Family Reunion Visa is specially designed to reunite various family members with their loved ones in Germany. The below listed family members can be the applicants of this visa type:
- Spouses of the sponsor in Germany
- Minor children of the sponsor
- Parents of minor children living in Germany
- Adult children who are dependent on the sponsor in Germany.
- Elderly parents
- Extended family members who are compassionate to join their loved ones in Germany.
Some categories of application requires additional requirements. With the assistance of our immigration experts at Croyez, applicants can get personalized advice.