Aufenthaltserlaubnis aus familiären Gründen Erteilung für den Familiennachzug eines ausländischen Ehegatten zu einem Deutschen

As the spouse or partner of a German citizen, you can obtain a residence permit for family reunification if you wish to live together in Germany.

The residence permit is issued for a limited period of at least one year and entitles you to pursue gainful employment.

• Recognized and valid identity document (e.g. passport or passport substitute)
• Current biometric photo in passport format (45 x 35 mm)
• Visa, if this was required for entry
• Proof of the existence of the marriage or civil partnership (e.g. marriage certificate)
• Proof of knowledge of the German language at least at level A1 (e.g. language certificate, German school, training or university certificates, proof of successful participation in an integration course)

The documents and information must always be submitted in German. In individual cases, the Immigration Office may require less or further proof.

• You are a national of a country outside the EU or the EEA.
• You are the spouse or partner of a German national.
• You and your spouse or partner have reached the age of 18.
• Your German spouse or partner has their habitual residence in Germany (i.e. their main place of residence is not only temporarily in Germany).
• Your marriage/ civil partnership with the German national is valid and still exists.

Please note: The validity of the marriage depends on the form and marriage requirements specified at the place of marriage. The marriage no longer exists if it has been divorced, annulled or declared invalid by an incontestable decision of a competent body.

• You and your spouse/cohabiting partner live together as a family (e.g. sharing a home). If you do not live together in a shared home, you may be considered to be living together as a family if you maintain regular contact with each other that goes beyond mere visits.
• You can at least communicate in a simple way in German (level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). This may be waived if no German courses are offered in your country of origin, if they are too expensive or if you are unable to attend them for other reasons.

Please note: under certain circumstances, the immigration authority may oblige you to attend an integration course. This will then be noted on your residence permit.

• There is no interest in deporting you.

Your stay does not jeopardize or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.

• Find out whether your foreigners authority allows you to apply online or has a special application form.
• If the application can only be submitted in person, make an appointment at the immigration office. If you apply online, the Foreigners' Registration Office will contact you after receiving your application to arrange an appointment.
• During the appointment, your identity and documents will be checked (please bring your documents to the appointment, in the original if possible).
• If your application is approved, your fingerprints will be taken to produce a new electronic residence permit (eAT card).
• The Foreigners' Registration Office will commission the Bundesdruckerei to produce the eAT card. After completion, you will receive information and can collect the eAT card from the responsible office. The eAT card must always be collected in person.
• If your application is rejected, you will receive a notice of rejection.

• Appeal against the decision of the immigration authority within one month of notification
• Legal action before the court named in the objection notice if the objection is not upheld

• Residence permit for family reasons Issued for the family reunification of a foreign spouse with a German national
• Covers the reunification of third-country national spouses or registered partners of German nationals.
• The German national must have their habitual residence in Germany (i.e. the center of life is not only temporarily in Germany).
• The spouses must have reached the age of 18.
• The marriage/partnership must have been validly concluded and still exist.
• There must be an actual cohabitation between the spouses with mutual responsibility for each other (e.g. shared home or regular contact that goes beyond mere visits).
• The third-country national spouse or partner must be able to prove that they have at least A1 level German language skills (exceptions are possible, for example, if no German courses are offered in the country of origin, if they are too expensive or if they cannot be attended for other reasons).
• The residence permit is usually issued for a limited period of three years.
• Responsible: the foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence

The foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence is responsible for processing the application.