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Visa for family reunification - spouse
Important
The German Mission reserves the right to ask for additional documentation at any time during the processing of the application whenever deemed necessary. Presenting the above-mentioned documentation does not guarantee that the visa will be granted. We strongly recommend that you do not purchase an airline ticket unless the visa has been approved and the German Mission requests you to do so.
The processing time can take up to three months, but may be longer in individual cases. Once the application has been approved by the relevant German authority, the German Mission will issue a visa valid for 3 months. Your subsequent residence permit will be issued by the competent Aliens Authority in Germany. You are required to apply well in advance for it before the expiry of the visa.
Please do not contact the mission abroad to check the status of your application during the normal processing period. Such inquiries are extremely time-consuming for the visa section and can thus not be answered.
Please do not staple the documents.
Required documents
Use the following checklist to make sure your application documents are complete. All documents listed here are to be submitted in the requested form and order.
Application completed, printed and signed (including Information provided to applicants pursuant to Section 54 (2) 8 in conjunction with Section 53 of the Residence Act)
One (1) recent biometric passport photo (see specimen photos)
- Valid and personally (signed passport with at least two completely empty pages)
- One (1) uncertified copy of the data page of your valid passport
Original marriage certificate with Apostille (from DIRCO, if marriage took place in SA)
alternatively: confirmation by the German Standesamt (Anmeldung zur Eheschließung) with confirmed appointment for the intended marriage in Germany
1 copy of spouse’s passport
Regular travel health insurance as per Schengen requirements, valid for 90 days – or proof of German health insurance coverage
to be submitted only at the time of visa issuance, if application has been decided favorably
The proof of German language skills (A1 level) must be presented when lodging the application. NB: Only the following language test certificates can be accepted:
- „Start Deutsch 1“ or higher from Goethe-Institute,
- „Start Deutsch 1“ or higher from telc GmbH (The European Language Certificate)
- „Grundstufe Deutsch 1“ or higher of the Austrian Language Diploma (ÖSD)
- „TestDaF“ from TestDaF-Institut e.V. (available on the level B2 or higher)
Please here for more information.
In case of former marriages: Divorce decree or death certificate of former spouse
If your spouse is neither a German citizen nor a EU citizen, the following additional documents are required:
- 1 copy of proof of residence permit of spouse in Germany
- 1 copy of proof of employment of spouse
- 1 copy of proof of accomodation in Germany (e.g. rental contract)
The Visa fee amounts to 75 Euro or the equivalent in ARIARY depending on the exchange rate in cash.