Family Reunion Visa Long stay - family: Complete Guide
The family reunion visa lets the spouse and minor children of a German resident join them to live in Germany. For most spouses, basic A1 German is required before arrival, though spouses of Blue Card and certain skilled-worker holders are often exempt - a meaningful advantage of those routes.
Visa Highlights At-a-Glance
Below is a summary table representing standard processing times, statutory criteria, and typical point thresholds for Indian skilled candidates.
| Visa Metric | Details & Requirements |
|---|---|
| Visa Subclass | Family Reunion Visa (Long stay - family) |
| Avg. Processing Time | TBD Months |
| Government Fees | INR TBD |
| English Language Min | A1 German for spouses in most cases (exemptions apply, e.g. Blue Card) |
| Points Eligibility Bar | Min. 0 Points |
| Visa Validity | TBD |
Why Apply for this Visa Path?
- Reunite the family: spouse and children join the resident in Germany.
- Spouse work rights: joining spouses generally receive work authorisation.
- Blue Card advantage: spouses of Blue Card holders are often exempt from the A1 requirement.
Detailed Entry Requirements
To apply under this Germany visa track from India, your credentials must fulfill the following regulatory criteria:
- 1Eligible sponsor
- 2A resident with an appropriate residence title, adequate income and housing.
- 3Genuine relationship: Marriage certificate / proof of relationship; minor children for child reunion.: Language (spouses): A1 German for spouses in most cases, unless an exemption applies.
Step-by-Step Filing Workflow
Every applicant from Bangalore/India follows this standardized workflow to file their visa application securely:
Confirm sponsor eligibility
Check the resident's title, income and housing meet the requirements.
Meet the language requirement
Spouses obtain A1 German unless exempt (e.g. Blue Card spouse).
Assemble relationship evidence
Compile marriage/birth certificates and supporting documents.
Lodge the reunion visa
Apply at the German mission for each family member. | Senior Consultant Pro Tip If the principal applicant has a choice of routes, the Blue Card often delivers the best family outcome - spouses can usually skip the A1 requirement and work on arrival. We factor family reunion into the primary visa decision, not as an afterthought. |
Reuniting a family - with the spouse working from day one Category: Family Reunion | Visa: Family Reunion Visa
The Client: A Blue Card holder in Munich wanted to bring his wife from India, who was anxious about the German-language requirement she'd heard applied to spouses.
The Challenge: The couple believed she would need A1 German before joining and that she might not be able to work on arrival.
How We Handled It: Confirmed that, as the spouse of a Blue Card holder, she was exempt from the pre-arrival A1 requirement. Assembled marriage and relationship evidence and confirmed the sponsor's income and housing. Prepared the reunion file so her work rights would attach on arrival.
The Result: His wife joined him in Munich without the A1 hurdle and began working soon after arriving. The family settled together with both partners employed. **Why It Matters:** The Blue Card's family advantages are real: spouses often skip the A1 requirement and work immediately. Factoring family into the primary visa choice pays off directly.
Verify Germany immigration rules directly from official government sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are critical questions and details regarding target timelines and scores for this visa path.
Check Your Germany Visa Eligibility
Submit your details for this specific Family Reunion Visa visa track. Our Bangalore team (Koramangala HQ) led by Director Ms. Nahid Hussain will evaluate your credentials and reply directly on WhatsApp with your exact points audit.