Spouse Visa For Students In Germany

More and more international students are coming to Germany to pursue high-level education, and with the help of a spouse visa for students some will also be accompanied by their partner. This type of visa is often very simple to obtain as long as you qualify. However, there are some pros and cons associated with it that will be addressed in this article.

Are you a student in Germany and want to bring your spouse here? You need a spouse visa (subclass 309). But it is not as easy as you think. You should hire the right people who would provide the best advice on how to get the visa.

A spouse visa from Germany can be obtained by non-EU aliens who intend to live in Germany with their German spouse(s) and marry within three months of arrival. After marrying, the applicant and his or her German spouse will apply for an extension (if necessary) of their residence permits.

Your partner likes the idea of relocating to Munich? Congratulations! Andrea’s company brings you a list of important things about the spouse visa regulations in Germany.

Spouse Visa For Students In Germany

As a non-German studying in Germany, you’re allowed to bring your family members to live with you at least during the study period, but, both parts must meet some requirements.

What Is the German Visa for Family Reunification?

German visa for family members of foreign students is a residence permit that entitles your non-EU/EEA family members to come and stay in Germany, while you’re completing a study course on the basis of a German Residence Permit “Aufenthaltserlaubnis for study.

Who Needs a Family Reunion Visa to join you during your studies here?

To join you in Germany on a family basis, while you’re studying here as a foreign student, qualifying family members whose nationality is of a country outside of the EU/EEA, require a German Reunion Visa beforehand they travel, taken from a German embassy or consulate of the country they live.

Which Family Members Can Apply for a German Family Reunion Visa?

The following members of your family have the eligibility to join you in Germany while you’re studying here:

• Spouse (husband, wife).
• Minor child.
• Parent.

Preconditions to Get a German Family Visa

The following basic preconditions must be met for the purpose of bringing the qualifying family members in Germany, while you’re studying as a foreigner:

• Sufficient Living Money. You must possess enough financial resources to cover the living costs of yourself and of any joining relative. Such money should cover the entire period of stay in Germany, and you must not rely on Germany’s public funds.
• Adequate Living Place. You won’t be able to bring your relatives if you fail to have the right space in Germany to accommodate yourself and any joining family member.
• Marriage Requirement. The marriage with you’re the spouse to join, should have happened before you’ve obtained the German Student Visa.
• Civil Partnership Requirement. You must have registered your relationship with your joining same-sex partner before you’ve received the German Student Visa.
• Age Requirement. The joining partner and you must be aged at least 18 when they apply for the family visa. If your parent is applying for a family reunion visa to join you, you must be a minor in need of care. If your child is seeking to join you in Germany, they must not be aged more than 16. If your joining child is aged 16, they must be in possession of sufficient German language proficiency for an easier integration here.
• Language Requirement. Your spouse won’t be able to make a successful reunion visa application if they don’t have the right command in German language, equal to at least A1 level of the CEFR. A child aged 16 – 18 can join you if they have a German language command of the minimum C1 level of the CEFR.
• Dependence. Your parent can join you only if you are in need of their care during your studies here as a minor. A child joining you in Germany, on the other hand, must not have a separated family unit in Germany, and must intend to live in the same home with you in Germany.
• Residence Period. Your relatives can only join you if you’ve a German residence permit for a study course lasting at least 1 year.
• Civil status. A child joining you while studying in Germany must not be married, divorced or widowed.
• Custody rights. For a child joining, you should have a custody rights over them.

How to Apply for a German Family Visa?

There are two ways you can make an application for a German Family Reunion Visa, depending on which is your current location.

Application for the Entry German Family Visa from Abroad

For entering the Federal territory of Germany on family grounds, as a visa national foreigner, you’re required to make an application for an entry German Family Reunion Visa, early enough from your travel date.

The visa application from abroad must be addressed to the German consular service in your country of residence.

To apply, you’ve to book an appointment through the official webpage (online booking system) of the consular service in your respective country of residence.

On the visa appointment day, you’re expected to supply the complete documents for visa application, in the required quality and format.

As a part of an application, you will be sitting in an interview season where you’ve to answer a set of personal questions and related the reasons you’re applying for the visa.

You may also be required to provide additional evidence after this date.

Application for the German Residence Permit on the Family Basis in Germany

In the initial 3 months of your arrival in Germany, you must confirm your right of residence, by applying for a German Residence Permit. This should be done at the German Foreigner’s Authority of the district in Germany where your permanent address is.

The application process for a residence permit comprises of submitting most of the documents you’ve already submitted on getting the entry German Family Visa, together with the evidences for your current residence in Germany.

Visa Requirements for the German Family Reunification Visa

The required documents to apply for a German family reunion visa are:

• 2 Long-Term German Visa Application Forms (Duly filled-out). They’ve to be duly completed and properly signed by the relative applying for the German family visa (except for your minor child – you or the other parent must sign the form).
• 2 Signed Security Questionnaires. They must be signed by the joining relative, as an approval of such applicant for their visa document to be verified by the appropriate German authorities.
• 2 Signed Applicant’s Declaration. It must be signed by the joining family member as a form to confirm the authenticity of the provided information.
• Valid Passport of Your Joining Relative. It must be accompanied by 2-3 copies of the passport ID page, as well as entry/exit stamps’ pages, together with the visa/residence permit pages.
• 2-4 Photographs of Your Joining Relative (passport-size).
• 2 Copies of Your Valid National Passport Data Page. They must be supplemented by 2 copies of the passport pages which contain your entry/exit stamps, visa and residence permits held over the past 2 years.
• 2 Copies of Your Current German Residence Permit.
• Personal Cover Letter by your relative (If applicable). In the letter, your family member should explain their motives of joining you in Germany and for how long they plan to stay here.
• Proof of Your Residence in Germany. Any of the following:
  • Registration certificate of your permanent living address in Germany “Meldebestätigung”. It must not be older than 6 months.
  • Rental contract. It must be accompanied by the confirmation letter from the landlord of the rented apartment.
• Travel Health Insurance (if required). It must cover the period of 90 days of stay in Germany.
• Copy of Visa Appointment Confirmation E-Mail Containing the Booking Code.
• Money for the Appropriate Visa Fee.

Required documents for your spouse:

• Proof of Previous Marriages of Yours/Your Partner (if applicable).
  • Divorce judgment.
  • Decree
• Proof of Relationship of Your Partner with You.
  • Marriage certificate (if a spouse).
  • Partnership certificate (if a same-sex registered partner).
• Academic Degree Certificates of Your Partner (if applicable).
• Additional Documents Proving Identity and Age of Your Partner.
  • Birth certificate of your partner.
  • Matriculation certificate.
  • School-leaving certificate.