Visa applications for family reunification in the Consular Services Portal

Visas for family reunification

Joining a Spouse

The visa for subsequent immigration of spouses allows people from abroad to join their spouse or their life partner living in Germany.

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Children joining parents

The visa for subsequent immigration of a child enables a foreign minor child to join a parent with custodial rights living in Germany.

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Parents joining children

The visa for subsequent immigration of parents allows a foreign parent to join your child living in Germany.

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Not sure which visa is right for you?

The Visa Navigator helps you to quickly and easily find the visa you need to enter and stay in Germany. Answer a few questions about the purpose of your entry and get sound information on how and where to apply for the relevant visa.

Make it in Germany

As the Federal Government's portal for skilled workers from abroad, Make it in Germany provides extensive information about working and living in Germany.

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Study in Germany

The Study in Germany portal provides prospective students from abroad with reliable information on studying and living in Germany.

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Federal Foreign Office

The website of the Federal Foreign Office provides information on all consular services as well as on German foreign policy.

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Not sure if you need a visa?

You generally need a visa to enter and stay in Germany. The type of visa depends on the duration and purpose of your stay.

For short stays of up to 90 days, you will need a Schengen visa – unless you are a national of an EU state or another state with which there is a visa waiver agreement.

For longer stays and for stays for the purpose of gainful employment, study or training, as well as for family reunification, you will need to apply for a national visa.

You can apply for a visa at the German mission responsible for you, which depends on the administrative district where you live. The Consulate Finder is the quick and easy way to find the German mission responsible for you.

Just a few steps to a visa

1. Complete the application online

Go to the Consular Services Portal and complete the application form online, upload all the required supporting documents and submit these documents for preliminary review.

2. Wait for the preliminary review

During the preliminary review, your information and documents will be checked to ensure that everything is complete. If any information or documents are missing, this will be clarified with you directly via the Consular Services Portal. In this way, everything will be perfectly prepared for your in-person appointment at your German mission.

3. In-person appointment

The purpose of the in-person appointment is to establish your identity and to submit your biometric data (fingerprints and photo). You also pay the fee on site.

The online application is currently only possible for one person. Family members can apply for their visa as usual locally at their German mission.

The many advantages of applying online

Submit a paperless application

Complete the application form directly in the Consular Services Portal and submit it online together with your uploaded supporting documents.

Direct contact with your German mission

Your German mission will clarify any queries or uncertainties with you directly via the Consular Services Portal prior to your in-person appointment.

All set for the in-person appointment

During the preliminary review, the documents you submitted will already be checked to ensure that everything is complete. You will also receive a checklist of all the original documents you need to present at your in-person appointment.

Status of processing always clear

You can always track the status of your application via the Consular Services Portal and view it at any time.

Highest security standards for your data

Your user account and the processing of your data are subject to the strictest security requirements in the Consular Services Portal. This ensures that you can communicate securely with your German mission – unlike, for instance, with unencrypted e-mail.

Still have questions?

Frequently asked questions and answers with more information on how to use the Consular Services Portal and the online application process can be found in our FAQ section. Take a look and see if you can find the answer to your question.

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