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Residence permit; application for family reunification with foreigners

Residence permit for family reasons - Residence permit for family reasons
Please note in particular our information under:

  • Brief description

    You can apply for a residence permit for family reunification.

  • Description

    Marriage and family are under the special protection of the Basic Law and the Bavarian Constitution.

    Therefore

    • German nationals and
    • foreign nationals residing in Germany with a settlement permit, a permanent residence permit - EU, a residence permit, an EU Blue Card, an ICT card or a Mobile ICT card (see "Related topics"),

    have their foreign spouse/partner and underage children join them.

    The group of unaccompanied refugee minors is a special case. They can also have their parents join them until they reach the age of 18.

    The individual regulations on the reunification of foreign family members, which also apply to the reunification of civil partners, are set out in great detail in the Residence Act. The possibilities and requirements for family reunification depend on the type of residence permit and the underlying purpose of the stay of the family member already living in Germany.

    Before foreign spouses/life partners or underage children can travel to Germany, they need a visa for family reunification, which they can apply for at the German diplomatic mission in their home country (see "National visa; issue and extension" under "Related topics").

    The foreigners authority can tell you in each individual case whether there are exceptions to the visa requirement - for example for certain countries of origin.

    Special information for - District of Bad Tölz Wolfratshausen

    We ask you to give priority to using the above-mentioned online service via the button "Residence permit for family reasons".

    You will find the following documents for this service in the Forms section:

    • Authorization to collect an eAT.
    • Application for the issue or extension of a residence permit.

  • Prerequisites

    What all cases of family reunification have in common is that the spouse/partner and minor children must enter the country to establish and maintain the family relationship or civil partnership.

    Further requirements are,

    • that the family member (for whom family reunification is taking place) is in possession of a residence permit,
    • sufficient living space is available,
    • the livelihood is secured,
    • that both spouses are of legal age and
    • that the spouse joining them can communicate in German in a simple manner.
      This is intended to encourage the person concerned to acquire a basic knowledge of German before entering the country and thus facilitate their integration in Germany. Exceptions to the requirement for proof of language proficiency apply, for example, if it is not possible or reasonable for the spouse to make efforts to acquire a basic knowledge of German before entering the country due to special circumstances of the individual case, in the case of spouses of business people who will only be working and living in Germany temporarily, or in the case of persons with a university degree.

    With regard to the housing requirement, there is an exception for reunification with holders of an EU Blue Card, other skilled workers, certain scientists, self-employed persons and some other groups of people. Furthermore, in the case of reunification with holders of an EU Blue Card, proof of livelihood does not have to be provided under certain conditions.

    Family members other than spouses/partners and underage children, such as grandparents, parents-in-law, siblings, uncles, aunts and grandchildren, may only be allowed to join their families if there is exceptional hardship. There are high requirements for the existence of a case of exceptional hardship. No concessions are provided for such foreign family members of Germans.

    Exceptions apply to the parents of holders of an EU Blue Card, other skilled workers, certain scientists, self-employed persons and some other groups of people; in these cases, parents may also be allowed to join their spouse if their livelihood is secure. This also includes the reunification of parents-in-law, provided that the spouse is or will be permanently residing in Germany.

    Family reunification is excluded in the following cases, among others:

    • to foreigners who are in Germany as asylum seekers and whose asylum procedure has not yet been completed,
    • to foreigners who are obliged to leave Germany, including those whose deportation has been temporarily suspended (e.g. due to inability to travel, lack of passport or interrupted or missing transport connections), i.e. who are only staying in Germany on a tolerated basis,
    • to foreigners who have been granted a residence permit only for a temporary stay for urgent humanitarian or personal reasons or because substantial public interests require their continued temporary presence.

  • Deadlines

    The application should be submitted to the Foreigners' Registration Office at least eight weeks before your valid residence permit expires.

  • Required documents

    The documents to be submitted may vary considerably.

    Please enquire at the immigration office. However, the following documents are usually required:

    Registration certificate from the residents' registration office

    Identity card or passport

    Proof of income

    Proof of sufficient living space

    Marriage certificates, if applicable

  • Forms

    Special information for - District of Bad Tölz Wolfratshausen

  • Costs

    • Issuing the residence permit: 100 Euro
    • Extension for a further stay of up to three months: 96 euros
    • Extension for a further stay of more than three months: 93 euros
    • Costs for the visa, if applicable

  • Legal basis

  • Legal remedy

    Administrative court action

  • Procedure

    • Find out whether your foreigners authority allows you to apply online or has a special application form. If you have entered your place of residence, you may be referred to the application form or the online procedure under "Forms" or "Online procedure".
    • If the application can only be submitted in person, make an appointment at the Foreigners' Registration Office. If you apply online, the Foreigners' Registration Office will contact you after receiving your application to arrange an appointment.
    • Your identity and documents will be checked during the appointment (please bring your documents to the appointment, preferably in the original).
    • If your application is approved, your fingerprints will be taken to produce the residence permit in the form of a new electronic residence permit (eAT).
    • The Foreigners' Registration Office commissions the Bundesdruckerei to produce the eAT. After completion, you will receive information and can collect your residence permit from the responsible office. This must always be collected in person.
    • If your application is rejected, you will receive a rejection notice.

  • Related services


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