Residence permit for family reunification 
You would like your foreign spouse and / or your children to move to Germany with you? Or your foreign spouse and / or your children are already in Germany, but do not have a residence permit?
You can find the most important information on this so-called family reunification here:
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Basic information
Family reunification usually requires that a visa for family reunification has been successfully applied for at the German diplomatic mission in the country of origin of the spouse or children (see "Further information"). This applies both to family reunification with foreigners and to family reunification with Germans! Entry without the required visa for family reunification usually means that the foreign family member joining them must leave the country again to apply for a visa in their country of origin.
There are positive exceptions for nationals from EU and EFTA member states. You can join your family members in Germany without a visa or residence permit (there are further exceptions for the following countries: Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, USA, Republic of Korea / see under Procedure).
Family reunification of foreigners with foreigners in Germany is only possible if the family member already living here is in possession of a residence permit that allows family reunification. The following sections do not permit family reunification: 25 IV, 25 IVb, 25V, 25a II, 25 b IV AufenthG Spouses who are to join their family in Germany must generally already have basic German language skills. This also applies to the reunification of a spouse with a German national. For family reunification with foreigners, the livelihood of all family members must be secured. If foreign children join a German spouse, the livelihood of these children must be secured. This list is not exhaustive. Information can be obtained from the German diplomatic missions abroad (see "Further information").
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Procedure
Family reunification generally requires that a visa for family reunification has been successfully applied for at the German diplomatic mission in the country of origin of the spouse or children prior to entry. This applies both to family reunification with foreigners and to family reunification with Germans! The German diplomatic missions abroad are in charge of the procedure, i.e. they decide on the matter, the Migration Office is only involved. Information on the visa procedure can be found on this page under "Further information" and at the German diplomatic missions abroad themselves.
Exceptions only apply to nationals of the following countries: Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, USA and the Republic of Korea or in special exceptional cases because children are dependent on the support of both parents or a spouse is in need of care due to illness. Citizens of these countries can apply for a residence permit for family reunification in Germany.
If you have come to Germany with a 90-day visa or without a required visa and are dependent on your spouse due to a need for support or care that has arisen here, so that you assume that this emergency situation will mean that you will not be able to leave the country again in order to catch up on the visa procedure in your country of origin, you must register with the Migration Office. To do this, please send an e-mail and request an appointment, stating your reasons:
mailto:office@migrationsamt.bremen.de
If you have entered Germany with the required visa for family reunification, please complete the form "Vordruck Terminvergabe Einreise" and send it by email to mailto:ref11@migrationsamt.bremen.de
You will then receive an appointment to issue your residence permit as soon as possible.
If you are in possession of a residence permit
- for study/preparation for study (§ 16b AufenthG),
- to apply for a degree (§ 17 AufenthG),
- for employment as a research assistant/researcher/guest researcher (§§ 19c, 18d AufenthG),
or
as an employee of a university in Bremen in possession of a
- Blue Card (§ 18b Para. 2 AufenthG) or
- settlement permit (§§18c, 9, 9a AufenthG)
your relatives must book an appointment at bremen_service universität to apply for a residence permit for family reunification via the link below.
mailto:auslaenderbehoerde-bsu@migrationsamt.bremen.de
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Necessary Documents
- completed application form
- 1 biometric passport photo (not older than 3 months)
According to Bundesdruckerei's photo sample board: https://www.bundesdruckerei.de
- Health insurance certificate
- valid passport
- for entry without visa are also to be brought along:
- Marriage certificate in the original and translation, legalized if necessary (and possibly divorce decree if already married)
- Language certificate A1 for the newly arrived spouse
- In case of subsequent immigration of children: original birth certificate of the child and translation, legalized if necessary
- Rental agreement
- employment contract and salary statements for the last three months
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Competent Department
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Migrationsamt
- 0421 361-88630
- Stresemannstraße 48, 28207 Bremen
- office
@migrationsamt. bremen. de
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Aufenthalt
- +49 421 361-88630 (montags bis donnerstags von 08.00 Uhr bis 12.00 Uhr)
- Stresemannstraße 48, 28207 Bremen
- office
@migrationsamt. bremen. de
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Fees / Costs
Fees of up to 110.00 may be charged for the issuance of the residence permit.
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Deadlines & processing time
What deadlines must be paid attention to?
The competent German mission abroad in the country of origin of the family member joining him or her will provide information on costs and deadlines / duration of the procedure for issuing a visa.
How long does it take to process
An application for a residence permit after entry with the required visa must be submitted to the Migration Office within the validity of the existing national visa or, in the case of possible visa-free entry, within 90 days.
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Legal Bases
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More Information
This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.
The official information in German is complete and correct. 05.11.2025