The Family Reunification visa: the possibility of educational migration with the family

The German Student Visa allows students to bring their family members to Germany during their studies. This visa enables parents, children, and spouses of international students to reside in Germany alongside their loved ones. Obtaining the Student Visa for family members is an effective way for families to enter Germany. For spouses, the Spouse Visa (Spouse Visa) is required, and for other family members, the Family Reunion Visa is necessary. Migrating to Germany with family through this type of visa is a suitable option for students who wish to study in Germany with their loved ones. If you intend to obtain a German Student Visa for your family, continue reading this article for more information.

What is the The Family Reunification visa?

The Family Reunification visa allows students studying in Germany to bring their family members with them. This visa is known by different names, including "German Family Reunion Visa" or "German Family Visa," and in German, it is known as Familiennachzug.

As an international student with a German Student Visa or Residence Permit for Study Purposes, you can bring your spouse, children, and parents with you to Germany, allowing them to study alongside you while you pursue your education at top German universities.

Conditions for The Family Reunification visa

Obtaining a family visa for Germany for individuals intending to accompany students in Germany varies for different family members. In other words, the required documents, conditions, and prerequisites for obtaining a The Family Reunification visa for each family member may differ. Here, we examine the conditions for obtaining this visa.

Conditions for Spouse Visa for Study in Germany

To migrate to Germany for study with your spouse, you need to apply for a Spouse Visa. This visa, which is a subset of the Family Reunion Visa, has specific conditions and prerequisites, as follows:

- Age: Both you and your spouse must be at least 18 years old at the time of applying for this visa.

- Duration of stay: Your minimum duration of stay during the study period must be one year.

- Financial capability: For the Spouse Visa for study in Germany, you must have sufficient financial means to cover your and your spouse's needs. This means you should be able to cover both your and your spouse's living expenses and not require any additional financial support.

- Accommodation: Another condition for obtaining a Spouse Visa for study is to provide suitable accommodation for yourself and your spouse in Germany. This means your living space should be large enough for both of you. For example, you should consider at least one room with an area of ​​16 square meters. Student dormitories generally offer larger rooms for couples; however, single rooms are usually not suitable for couples. Additionally, 14 square meters are added to the house area for each person.

Age requirements for the The Family Reunification visa

The minimum age requirement for obtaining a The Family Reunification visa is 18 years old. Please note that the age requirement is 18 for spouses applying for the dependent visa, and if children wish to accompany the student to Germany, they must be under 16 years old.

However, if your child is 16 years or older and wishes to accompany you during your studies in Germany, they must have sufficient proficiency in the German language to effectively communicate with the German community. The most important requirement for family members to accompany you to Germany is to have a minimum one-year residence permit for the duration of your study program. Additionally, the accompanying individual cannot be the spouse of another person, divorced, or widowed.

Language Skills Requirements

If your spouse does not have sufficient proficiency in the German language, they cannot apply for the The Family Reunification visa . According to German law, the minimum language proficiency required for spouses is level A1 according to the CEFR framework.

Moreover, children aged 16 to 18 have the ability to accompany their parents; however, the necessary condition for this action is to have language skills at a minimum level equivalent to C1 according to the CEFR framework.

Read more: Immigration with the B1 German language level

Required Documents for German Dependent Visa

- Two copies of the completed and signed Long-Term Visa Application Form for Germany.

- Copy of the visa appointment confirmation email including the reservation code.

- Two copies of the signed security questionnaire.

- Two copies of the declaration signed by the applicant.

- Valid passports of family members, including two or three copies of the passport identification page, pages with visa stamps, and residence permits.

- Two to four passport-sized photos of family members.

- Two copies of the valid passport information page of the applicant.

- Cover letter or sponsorship letter written by family members, stating their intended duration and reason for joining the applicant.

- Health insurance covering a period of at least 90 days of stay in Germany if necessary.

- Two copies of the current student residence permit held by the student in Germany.

Required documents for spouse

To obtain a The Family Reunification visa for your spouse, you need to provide the following documents:

● Documents related to previous marriages (if applicable);

● Divorce decree, in case of separation from a previous spouse;

● Marriage certificate;

● Spouse's educational certificates;

● Spouse's birth certificate and passport;

● Proof of German language proficiency at level A1 according to the CEFR standard or higher, or other valid German language proficiency certificates;

● Spouse's residence permit in the country of origin, such as national ID card;

● Marriage photos or family photos;

● Documents proving the spouse's children, if any, along with their birth certificates;

● Declaration of the age of the spouse's child and current parent contact information, if applicable.

Documents required for spouse:

To obtain a The Family Reunification visa for your spouse, you need to prepare the following documents:

Documents required for children:

To obtain a The Family Reunification visa for children, you need to provide the following documents:

- Birth certificate and valid passport;

- Certificate of guardianship;

- Court order proving you are the child's legal guardian;

- Hospital birth registration number, if available;

- Custody documentation for the child;

- Court order regarding the applicant's custody or joint custody or the custody of the former spouse in case of divorce;

- Custody judgment in case of divorce;

- Paternity determination certificate;

- Father's consent letter;

- Child's educational certificate, which must be obtained from their current school at least 14 days after the date of application;

- Name and contact information of the school where the child is enrolled;

- Parents' divorce documents, in case of divorce;

- German language certificate for children aged 16 to 18, with a minimum C1 level according to CEFR standard;

Old photographs of the applicant, child, and family, if necessary.

Documents required for parents:

To obtain a The Family Reunification visa for parents, you need to provide the following documents:

- Valid identity documents including national ID card, legal birth certificate, and passport;

- Certificate of guardianship of the applicant, if necessary;

- Parents' marriage certificate;

- Proof of exclusive custody or joint custody in case of parents' divorce;

- Parents' educational documents, if necessary;

- Parents' residency documents in the country of origin, such as national ID card.

Financial Proof Required for The Family Reunification visa

For migration to study in Germany and covering the expenses of the first year of study, it is necessary to have financial proof of 934 euros per month (11,208 euros per year). This amount is calculated for covering the expenses of one person, i.e., the applicant themselves; therefore, this amount should be increased for each member of the family. For example, the required financial proof for an individual and their spouse in Germany is approximately 1,720 euros per month. This budget should be able to cover the living expenses of each family member.

Read more: Financial Planning for Nurses: How to Achieve Financial Wellness as a Nurse

9 Steps to Apply for a Student Visa for Germany with Family

The process of applying for a family visa along with the student visa for Germany involves 9 important steps; below, we review the stages of obtaining a student visa for Germany with your family:

1. Ensure that your family and spouse meet all the necessary conditions and prerequisites for obtaining a visa;

2. Start collecting the required documents;

3. Schedule an interview at the German embassy or consulate, and make sure to have all the necessary documents ready for the appointment as requested on the embassy's website;

4. Arrive at the German embassy at the scheduled time, making sure to be there at least 15 minutes before the appointment;

5. Submit the required documents to the German embassy according to the checklist provided, ensuring that the documents are not stapled;

6. Pay the processing fee for the family visa application, which is 75 euros per person;

7. At this stage, you will have an interview with the embassy official, usually lasting 10 to 15 minutes. Keep in mind that the interview questions will mostly be about your background and your purpose of immigrating to Germany;

8. Wait for the response, and consider a minimum of 3 weeks for this process;

9. Receive your passport and visas, check the related information carefully, and prepare for your trip to Germany.

Duration of obtaining a German dependent visa

It usually takes about 3 weeks from the time of visa application acceptance to passport delivery by the German embassy in Iran, regardless of which German embassy in which country you apply for the visa. Therefore, you should plan your trip to Germany in such a way that your travel won't be disrupted in case of a delay in visa issuance.

Validity period of the German dependent visa

The German dependent visa usually has a validity period of 12 months. However, if you intend to stay in Germany for longer than this period, you can extend your visa three months after entering Germany.

Remember to apply for an extension of your residence permit before your visa expires. Also, keep in mind that any violation or submission of forged documents and incorrect information regarding your visa can lead to its invalidation. Therefore, make sure to provide accurate information and documents to avoid such problems.

Working in Germany with a The Family Reunification visa

Individuals holding a dependent visa can work in Germany during their stay in the country. For instance, your spouse, upon entering Germany with a dependent visa, has approximately 3 months to convert it into a Residence Permit for Spouses.

Once your spouse obtains the Residence Permit for Spouses, they will be legally entitled to work in Germany. Please note that to obtain this residence permit, your spouse must apply to the local Foreigners' Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde).

Actions to take after entering Germany with a dependent visa

1. Registration at the local registration office: Within two weeks of arriving in Germany, you must register at the local registration office. For this, you usually need to provide a rental agreement or utility bills for your place of residence.

2. Applying for family residence permit: Upon registration, you should immediately apply for a family residence permit in Germany. First, you need to schedule an interview and appointment with German immigration authorities.

3. Interview with immigration authorities: On the day of the interview, make sure to be there on time and ensure you have all the necessary documents for the family residence permit in Germany.

4. Attending German language classes: If you lack proficiency in the German language, you must attend German language classes and then provide proof of passing the German language test.

Cost of Obtaining a Student Dependent Visa for Germany

The cost of obtaining a dependent visa for Germany depends on the type of visa and the age of the individuals. Typically, obtaining a long-term family reunion visa in Germany (Category D) costs 80 euros for adults and 40 euros for children under 18 years old.

In addition to the visa fee, you should also consider the financial means required by the German Embassy to prove that you will not face financial difficulties while living in Germany. The required financial means for a The Family Reunification visa , to accompany a student, is approximately 1027 euros per month.

Conclusion

Many non-German individuals feel the need to have their families, especially their spouses and children, with them after moving to Germany. Family reunification is one of the important goals of the German dependent visa, supported by German immigration authorities. Even if the individual is not a permanent resident of Germany, they can obtain a German dependent visa for their family with a temporary residence permit. However, the applicant must demonstrate their financial ability to support them. This step is particularly important for starting a new life in Germany and allows individuals to start their new life in this country. In this article, we have tried to provide you with all the necessary information to obtain a student dependent visa for Germany. We hope this information helps you successfully obtain a dependent visa for your spouse, children, and parents.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is providing a German language certificate necessary to obtain the German family reunion visa?

Obtaining the German family reunion visa, especially for family members such as spouses and children, requires meeting certain conditions. One of these conditions is having at least a minimum proficiency in the German language, which is necessary to facilitate the visa issuance process.

What is the cost of the student family reunion visa for children?

The cost of the student family reunion visa for children is approximately 40 euros.

Can siblings apply for the German family reunion visa?

Siblings can also apply for the German family reunion visa under certain conditions.