Foreigners interested in a spouse visa for Germany can join and live with their life partners who are German citizens or legal residents in Germany. In this case, foreign citizens who have settled in Germany can bring family members with or without family reunion visas based on their countries of origin. Since most immigrants are interested if they can apply for a marriage visa for Germany, it is worth noting that there is no specific type of permit for one’s life partner.
According to the Schengen Agreement, citizens part of the European Union countries will not need to obtain a spouse visa in order to join their life partners in Germany. This privilege is not applicable for citizens outside of EU, including United Kingdom. Non-EU citizens who are interested in information about German marriage visa should know that they can apply for a visa which is available for 90 days. After this period, if you plan to remain in Germany long-term, it is necessary to apply for a German residence permit.
Below, our immigration lawyers explain the details about obtaining a spouse visa for Germany based on nationality. Feel free to address our specialists if you want to bring your spouse, civil partner or other family members to join you here.
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EU citizens and the German residence permit for spouse
If you are an EU citizen and want to know if you need to obtain a spouse visa for Germany to bring your life partner, you must know that you don’t need to do that. Your life partner has the benefit of joining you in Germany without applying for a visa or permit, as long as she or he has the intention to stay in Germany only for a brief period.
Quick Facts | |
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Requirements for the German spouse visa | It is a must to show official proof of the long-term relationship and present eligibility for the visa requirements. |
Spouse visa nationality restrictions |
No specified restrictions. Citizens outside the EU area might have different requirements than the EU citizens. |
Spouse visa for civil partnerships (Yes/No) |
Yes (D Visa) |
Spouse visa in Germany for non-heterosexual couples (Yes/No) | Yes, the German law recognizes both mixed-sex and same sex marriages. |
Spouse visa validity |
3 months. During this period, an application for a residence permit is required. |
Employment in Germany for the spouse visa holder |
Partners holding a spouse visa can work after obtaining a residence permit. |
Study for the spouse visa holder |
Possible on certain conditions. |
Income requirements |
The spouse who is a Dutch citizen or resident will serve as the sponsor of the visa holder, and the declared income must be stable, adequate, and self-sustaining. |
Accommodation requirements |
Proof of proper accommodation in Germany is required. |
Document requirements for the applicant |
application form, passport, biometrics, financial proof, accommodation proof, marriage certificate |
Proof of relationship |
Marriage or civil partnership certificate is required. |
Permanent residency right |
Subject to more requirements like living in Germany for at least 5 years, for example. |
Visa fees |
Visa fee is 75,00 EUR. For spouses/children of German and EU citizens, the fee is not applicable. |
Visa processing time |
5-14 days, depending on the case. |
Assistance for spouse visa applications in Germany | Find support from our specialized immigration lawyers in Germany in this matter. |
Main situations when EU citizens do not need to apply for a German visa:
- you have a valid EU/Schengen passport;
- you have a valid EU/Schengen residence permit;
- you have a valid passport from the countries that hold a visa-free agreement with the Schengen states;
- you have a valid Schengen visa;
Considering that you can stay in Germany as an EU citizen for a limited period, you might decide on moving to Germany. This implies the process of obtaining a permanent visa or a German citizenship, later on.
Do not hesitate to enquire with our immigration lawyers in Germany about the spouse visa requirements.
Non-EU citizens seeking to obtain a spouse visa for Germany
As a non-EU citizen who wants to bring your partner here, you can be required to apply for German residence permit for spouse after he or she obtains the permit to enter the country. Additionally, it is important to note that starting with 2021, non-EU citizens are also required to obtain the ETIAS approval to enter Germany. This is an electronic authorization required for those who travel to Schengen area.
The marriage visa for Germany can be processed as long as you meet all the legal requirements. These can be explained by our specialists so that you are well prepared when filing for the permit application.
If you want to apply for a German residence permit, do not hesitate to contact us. We are at your disposal with various services, depending on the reason for your relocation. Either way, a residence permit is required for both short and long-term stays, so do not hesitate to contact us as rapidly as possible.
Moving to Germany – spouse visa requirements
One of the most important things to note when seeking to obtain a spouse visa for Germany is that the spouse living in Germany must meet certain requirements. These are:
- you need to have the legal right to reside in Germany;
- you have sufficient space to accommodate your family to live with you;
- you also have health insurance that will cover your incoming spouse or partner;
- you have sufficient funds to financially support your spouse.
With respect to the foreign partner, he or she must also meet 2 basic requirements for a spouse visa for Germany:
- he or she must have the legal age of 18;
- he or she must have basic knowledge of the German language.
It is also worth noting that now it has become possible to apply for an unmarried partner visa for Germany.
Among the documents one needs to substantiate in order to obtain a German residence permit for a spouse are the passports of both spouses, the residence permit of the spouse living in Germany and the marriage certificate.
Many foreign citizens ask our lawyers if there is a direct way to German citizenship. The answer is no, however, there is a residency program that allows one to invest in the local immigration lawyers in Germany economy and live a comfortable life here. If you are interested in this option as a pathway to citizenship, do not doubt in contacting us.
Documentation requirements for spouse visa in Germany
If you are interested in a spouse visa in Germany, there are some legal paper requirements to consider, such as:
- completed and signed visa application form;
- valid passport;
- biometric photograph;
- photocopies of previous Schengen visa, if it is applicable;
- Schengen visa insurance;
- proof of flight ticket purchased in round-trip;
- proof of financial stability: documents proving you have the financial support to sustain yourself during the stay in Germany;
- proof of accommodation;
- proof of relationship status: marriage certificate.
In order to successfully complete the Germany spouse visa requirements, you can benefit from the support of our specialized team of immigration lawyers in Germany.
Where to apply for Germany partner visa?
To obtain information about the Germany partner visa, find below the main locations which process the applications for a German permit:
- closest German embassy to your location;
- closest German consulate to your present location;
- visa center where Germany authorities signed a subcontract.
If you consider taking the steps to apply for relocation in Germany, find support from our immigration lawyers who can simplify the process of Germany marriage visa requirements for you.
How to obtain an unmarried partner visa for Germany
Here are the documents to be filed in order to obtain a German visa for your life partner when you are not married:
- an invitation letter;
- a declaration signed by both partners that attest to the existence of their relationship;
- evidence supporting the relationship (photos, correspondence, testimonies, etc.)
Do not hesitate to ask for guidance from our immigration law firm in Germany if you want to apply for such a visa.
Visa processing time in Germany
Generally, it takes about 10 days for a visa application to be processed by German embassies around the world. The most rapid time to process a dependant visa in Germany or other visa types takes around 5 working days. Depending on the flow of requests that the German authorities are receiving, it can take up to 14 days to process a visa application. In some cases, the embassies might request additional documents and in this case the time-frame could be longer.
Living costs for a family in Germany
More people around the world are considering Germany immigration as the country has flourishing economy and it offers immigrants various procedures to successfully immigrate to Germany. Before applying for one of Germany’s visas, it is important to consider the German living expenses.
According to official data, here are the main living costs and average salary to consider as a family in Germany:
- The monthly rent can range from 900 EUR to 1,670 EUR depending on the city and type of accommodation.
- Monthly utilities (electricity, heating, water, garbage) for a medium apartment is between 200 EUR and 400 EUR.
- The average monthly salary in Germany is around 2,830 EUR after taxes.
- Regarding transportation, a monthly pass for local transport is between 49 EUR and 74 EUR.
- When it comes to childcare and education, a private preschool for one child costs between 200 EUR and 900 EUR monthly.
If you decide to apply and obtain a spouse visa for Germany, do not hesitate to contact us.