The Germany spouse visa lets the husband, wife or registered partner of someone living in Germany join them for the long term, with full permission to work from the first day. It is a national (type D) visa for family reunification, applied for at the German mission in your country of residence, and converted into a residence permit after you arrive.
The rules depend heavily on who you are joining. The spouse of an EU Blue Card holder faces far fewer hurdles than the spouse of a student, and spouses of German citizens sit somewhere in between. This guide explains the 2026 requirements, from the A1 German rule and its exceptions to documents, timing and your rights after arrival.
Who can apply for a spouse visa for Germany?
You can apply if you are legally married to, or in a registered civil partnership with, a person who lives in Germany and is one of the following:
- a German citizen;
- a non-EU national holding a residence permit, EU Blue Card, ICT card, settlement permit or EU long-term residence permit;
- a recognised refugee or person entitled to asylum.
Both spouses must be at least 18, the marriage must be valid under the law of the country where it took place and recognised in Germany, and you must genuinely intend to live together. Religious-only or proxy marriages can cause problems, and unmarried partners do not qualify (a separate visa exists for entering Germany to marry).
If your spouse is a citizen of another EU country living in Germany, you fall under EU free movement law instead. That route is simpler: no German test and no fixed income rule, and you apply for an entry visa free of charge, then a residence card in Germany.
Note that family reunification with people holding subsidiary protection was suspended for two years from mid-2025, apart from hardship cases. Check the current position with the German mission if this applies to you.
What are the requirements in 2026?
Basic German at A1 level
As a rule, the spouse moving to Germany must show basic German at level A1 of the Common European Framework before the visa is issued — enough to introduce yourself, ask simple questions and fill in a form. Missions accept certificates from recognised providers such as the Goethe-Institut, telc or ÖSD; check your mission’s list.
Who is exempt from the A1 requirement?
The exceptions are wide. You generally do not need an A1 certificate if:
- your spouse holds an EU Blue Card, an ICT card, or a permit as a researcher or highly qualified person, or is self-employed under certain conditions;
- your spouse is a national of a country whose citizens may enter Germany visa-free for long stays, such as Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the UK or the USA;
- you hold a university degree and are likely to integrate easily and find work;
- you cannot learn German because of a physical or mental illness or disability;
- learning German abroad is impossible or unreasonable in your circumstances, or you have tried seriously for a year without success (the hardship clause);
- your spouse is a recognised refugee and the marriage existed before they fled;
- your German skills are obvious at the visa interview.
Spouses of German citizens must in principle show A1, but the hardship clause applies to them too. Even if you are exempt, start learning — you will usually be asked to attend an integration course after arrival.
Secure livelihood
The spouse in Germany must be able to support the household without relying on social benefits. There is no single published figure: the immigration office compares net income with the standard benefit rates plus rent and health insurance. Recent payslips, the employment contract and the tenancy agreement are the key evidence. This requirement is normally waived for spouses of German citizens and, within the first three months after recognition, for refugees.
Sufficient living space
Your home must be large enough for the family. Authorities commonly work with a guideline of about 12 square metres per person aged six or over and 10 square metres per younger child, though practice varies by federal state. An important change: for skilled workers — including holders of Blue Cards and §18a or §18b permits — the proof of living space for spouses and minor children was dropped under the Skilled Immigration Act reforms in March 2024. Health insurance is also needed, but a non-working spouse is usually covered free of charge under the sponsor’s public Familienversicherung.
Requirements compared by sponsor type
| Your spouse in Germany is… | A1 German needed? | Income proof? | Living space proof? |
|---|---|---|---|
| German citizen | Yes, with hardship exceptions | Usually not | Usually not |
| EU Blue Card holder | No | Yes (salary normally suffices) | No |
| Skilled worker, §18a / §18b | Yes, unless another exemption applies | Yes | No |
| Student or other permit holder | Yes, unless exempt | Yes | Yes |
| Recognised refugee | No, if married before flight | Waived if applied within 3 months | Waived if applied within 3 months |
| EU citizen (not German) | No | Free movement rules apply | No |
This is a simplified overview; the German mission’s checklist for your country is decisive.
Which documents do you need?
- Completed national visa application and declaration forms
- Valid passport and biometric photos
- Marriage certificate, with legalisation or apostille and a certified German translation
- A1 certificate, or evidence for an exemption such as your degree certificate
- Copy of your spouse’s passport and residence permit (or German ID card)
- Your spouse’s registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung), tenancy agreement, employment contract and last three to six payslips
- Proof of health insurance cover from arrival
- Divorce decrees or death certificates from any previous marriages
In a number of countries, German missions cannot legalise civil documents and instead commission a document verification by a local trusted lawyer. This applies in parts of Africa and South Asia, costs several hundred euros and can add three to six months or more. Check your mission’s website before you do anything else, because it determines your whole timeline.
How to apply for the Germany spouse visa step by step
- Check the mission’s family reunion checklist for your country on the Federal Foreign Office site or via make-it-in-germany.com.
- Take the A1 exam if you need it. Book early; seats fill up.
- Gather and translate documents, and start legalisation or verification.
- Apply online through the Consular Services Portal at digital.diplo.de, where family reunification applications can now be submitted digitally at most missions, then attend an appointment to give fingerprints and show originals. Where the portal is not yet available, book an appointment directly.
- Pay the fee: €75 for adults and €37.50 for minors. Spouses of German and EU citizens are generally exempt.
- Wait while the mission consults the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) where your spouse lives. If your spouse was hired through the accelerated skilled worker procedure, your application can be fast-tracked alongside theirs.
- Collect the visa, usually valid for three to six months, and travel.
- After arrival: register your address, arrange health insurance, and apply for your residence permit (roughly €100) before the visa expires.
How long does processing take?
Once your file is complete, a decision typically takes from a few weeks to around three months. The real delays come earlier: waiting lists for appointments at busy missions have stretched to many months, and document verification adds more. Applying together with a Blue Card holder, or through the accelerated procedure, is usually the quickest scenario.
Can a spouse work in Germany?
Yes. A residence permit for family reunification entitles you to take any employment or self-employment, full-time or part-time, without approval from the Federal Employment Agency. If you work in a regulated profession such as nursing or teaching, you still need professional recognition; our guide to healthcare careers in Germany explains how that works, and how to apply for jobs in Germany covers CVs and interviews.
Your permit is normally issued for the same period as your spouse’s. After three years of married life together in Germany you acquire an independent right of residence that survives separation, and earlier in hardship cases such as domestic violence. Permanent settlement is possible after five years, or sooner in some cases — spouses of German citizens can qualify after three years, and spouses of skilled workers holding a settlement permit benefit from reduced requirements.
Costs to budget for
- A1 course and exam: exam fees vary by country, commonly €80–€150, plus course costs.
- Translations, apostille or verification: from under €100 to several hundred euros.
- Visa and residence permit fees: €75 plus roughly €100.
- Flights and initial set-up, including travel medical insurance if public cover does not start on arrival — see our comparison of travel insurance for international trips.
- Legal help: not needed for a standard case. After a refusal, a German immigration lawyer (Fachanwalt für Migrationsrecht) typically charges a few hundred to a couple of thousand euros. This article is general information, not legal advice.
If your partner is still planning their own move, our overview of Germany visa types shows which permits make later family reunification easiest. Families weighing up Britain instead can compare the much stricter income rule in our UK spouse visa guide.
Scams and mistakes to avoid
Nobody can sell you a faster appointment or a guaranteed visa; appointment booking at German missions is free. Never buy a language certificate — missions check authenticity and may test your German at the counter, and a forged document leads to refusal and a possible entry ban. A marriage entered into only for residence purposes is a criminal offence in Germany, and couples should expect separate interviews if officials have doubts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I enter Germany on a Schengen visa and apply for family reunification there?
Generally no. You must enter with the correct national visa, and an application made after entering as a visitor is normally refused. The main exceptions are nationals of visa-privileged countries such as the USA, Japan or Australia.
Can my children come with me?
Yes. Unmarried children under 18 can apply at the same time, normally without a language requirement if they move with both parents or the parent with custody. Children aged 16 or 17 who move later, separately from their parents, may need to show strong German or good integration prospects.
What if my visa is refused?
The refusal letter must give reasons. Since 2025 the informal remonstration procedure is no longer available, so your options are a fresh application that fixes the problem or a court action before the Administrative Court in Berlin within one month.
Does my spouse in Germany need a minimum salary?
There is no fixed figure in the law. The test is whether the household can live without social benefits after rent and health insurance. A full-time skilled salary normally passes; part-time or minimum-wage income with high rent may not.
Can same-sex spouses apply?
Yes. Germany recognises same-sex marriage, and same-sex spouses and registered partners have the same family reunification rights, even if the marriage is not recognised in the country where you currently live.
Bottom line
The Germany spouse visa is a rights-based route, not a lottery: if you meet the conditions, you generally have a legal claim to it. Work out which sponsor category applies to you, check whether you are exempt from A1 German, find out early whether your country requires document verification, and apply through the official portal. Once you arrive, you can work freely and build your own path to permanent residence.