Workflow ID: WF-FED-FAM-001
Version: 1.0
Status: Draft — awaiting source review
Jurisdiction: Federal (national visa stage) + Berlin (residence permit stage)
Risk level: High
Legal review required: Yes
Last reviewed: 2026-08-28
Next review due: 2026-09-25 (fees, the § 36a quota, and mission wait times are volatile — 30-day cycle, matching residence-statuses/family_reunification.md)
Owner: AusHelp Knowledge Team · Backing status file: residence-statuses/family_reunification.md (RS-008) — operationalises process P1 (first issuance from abroad) for the general sponsor route.
Scope and disclaimer
Informational guidance only — not legal advice. AusHelp is not a legal advisor, lawyer, or official authority and takes no responsibility for the outcome of any proceeding. Family reunification carries real refusal risk (sham-marriage scrutiny, document legalisation, language proof). Verify critical decisions with the responsible German mission, the LEA (030 / 90269-4000), or a qualified immigration advisor.
Guide a foreign-national sponsor already resident in Germany, and the spouse or minor unmarried child joining from abroad, through the national (Category D) family reunification visa at the responsible German mission, then — after entry and Anmeldung — the residence permit at the Berlin LEA. Covers the general route under §§ 27, 29, 30, 32 AufenthG.
Out of scope: reunification to a German sponsor (§ 28 — different conditions) and to a subsidiary-protection sponsor (§ 36a — suspended until 23 July 2027 except §§ 22/23 hardship grounds; see Common Exceptions).
| Trigger | Urgency |
|---|---|
| "I want to bring my spouse/child to Germany" / sponsor just received a qualifying title | Medium |
| Joining member abroad asks how the process works | Medium |
| Child approaching age 16 or 18, case not yet filed | High |
| User confuses this with the protection-holder (§ 36a) route | High — redirect first |
| Dimension | Required value |
|---|---|
| Sponsor's title | NE, DA-EU, AE, Blue Card EU, ICT/Mobiler-ICT card, or residing under § 18e (§ 29 Abs. 1 Nr. 1) |
| Sponsor's nationality | Foreign national — not German (see § 28 note) |
| Joining family member | Spouse/registered partner, or minor unmarried child |
| Joining member's location | Currently abroad, first issuance |
| Destination | Berlin (residence-permit stage) |
German sponsor → different workflow (§ 28, WF-FED-FAM-002, not yet created). Sponsor holds subsidiary protection (§ 25 Abs. 2 S. 2) → § 36a route, currently suspended — see Common Exceptions.
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Sponsor's title type and expiry | Eligibility; permit-duration cap (§ 27 Abs. 4) |
| Relationship and date it began | Track selection; sham-marriage/hardship screening |
| Joining member's country of residence | Determines the responsible mission and legalisation route |
| Spouse's A1 certificate status | Required, or check the 7 exceptions |
| Child's current age | 16-year integration test; 18th-birthday cutoff |
| Household income, housing size and address | Livelihood check (§ 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1) and housing adequacy check (§ 29 Abs. 1 Nr. 2), unless waived |
| Stage | Authority | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | Responsible German mission abroad | Located via Visa Navigator: digital.diplo.de/navigator |
| Visa | Auswärtiges Amt (oversight) | germany.info (mission network) |
| Permit | LEA, Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24, 10589 Berlin | 030 / 90269-4000; online via service.berlin.de |
| # | Document | Issuing body | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-01 | Valid passport (joining member); sponsor's residence title (copy) | Home country / Ausländerbehörde | Originals shown at both mission and LEA appointments |
| D-02 | Marriage certificate, apostilled/legalised, certified translation | Standesamt / foreign registry | Spouse track |
| D-03 | Birth certificate + custody documentation | Foreign registry / court | Child track; both parents' consent or a binding decision |
| D-04 | A1 German certificate | Goethe-Institut / recognised provider | Spouse track, unless an exception applies (Step 4) |
| D-05 | Household income proof | Employer / tax office | Joining member's own income also counts |
| D-06 | Housing proof (lease + size) | Landlord | Unless the sponsor's title waives this (§ 29 Abs. 5) |
| D-07 | Health insurance confirmation | Krankenkasse | Both partners |
| D-08 | Online visa application, fee (€75), biometric data | Consular Services Portal / mission | Fee-exempt only for family of a German national |
| D-09 | Anmeldebestätigung; online LEA application + fee (€100 spouse / €50 child); Fiktionsbescheinigung if needed | Bürgeramt / service.berlin.de / LEA | Anmeldung is a prerequisite; LEA URLs: dienstleistung/305289 (spouse), /354970 (child); Fiktionsbescheinigung bridges a wait past visa-derived stay (§ 81 Abs. 3–5) |
Confirm the sponsor holds a qualifying title (§ 29 Abs. 1 Nr. 1) and the relationship fits the spouse (§ 30) or minor-child (§ 32 Abs. 1) track. Screen out German-sponsor and subsidiary-protection cases.
Source: SRC-150, SRC-120, SRC-209
A national (Category D) visa is required before entry (§ 6 Abs. 3). Use the Visa Navigator to find the mission responsible for the joining member's residence. Ask the sponsor's local Ausländerbehörde about Vorabzustimmung (pre-approval) — can shorten mission-side processing.
Source: SRC-336, SRC-344, SRC-337
Foreign civil-status documents need an apostille (Hague Convention countries) or legalisation by the German mission in the issuing country, plus a certified German translation — country-specific, check the mission's own checklist. This is a known pain point: legalisation lead time varies widely by country and no single official figure was found (Assumptions A-002).
Source: SRC-342, SRC-341
The joining spouse must show simple German communication ability (commonly A1). Seven statutory exceptions exist, notably: sponsor holds a Blue Card EU, ICT card, or a title under §§ 18a/18b/18c Abs. 3/18d/18f/19c/21; sponsor's nationality has visa-free entry for non-short stays; illness/disability. Children face a separate age-16 integration test instead (§ 32 Abs. 2).
Source: SRC-120, SRC-209
Housing must be adequate (social-housing yardstick; under-2 children not counted) unless waived by the sponsor's title (§ 29 Abs. 5). Livelihood must be secured without public funds; the joining member's own income counts toward the household. Both need health insurance.
Source: SRC-150, SRC-147, SRC-167, SRC-023
Apply via the Consular Services Portal from any mission worldwide; upload documents, pay the €75 visa fee. The in-person appointment establishes identity, captures biometrics, and reviews originals — the exact checklist and format vary by mission (Assumptions A-001).
Source: SRC-344, SRC-338, SRC-341
Processing may include a domestic consultation with the sponsor's Ausländerbehörde (§ 31 AufenthV) — a Vorabzustimmung generally shortens this. Full processing is commonly ~1–3 months once complete, but the wait for an appointment varies drastically by mission: a 2024 federal government reply cited roughly 2 weeks (New Delhi) up to 52+ weeks (Addis Ababa, Beirut, Dhaka, Erbil, Islamabad, Lagos, Rabat, Tunis). Current 2026 figures are unverified (Unresolved Questions UQ-001).
Source: SRC-343, SRC-337
Enter within the visa's validity window; complete Anmeldung within 2 weeks (§ 17 BMG). Submit "Aufenthaltserlaubnis aus familiären Gründen" via service.berlin.de before the visa-derived stay lapses — timely filing preserves Fiktionswirkung while LEA decides (§ 81 Abs. 3–5). Spouse cases need a joint appointment; the eAT is issued at least 4 weeks after. Permit duration on first issuance is capped at the sponsor's remaining permit validity (matched in full for certain sponsor titles, otherwise at least 1 year); extension continues while the family community continues, with livelihood/housing relaxed (§ 27 Abs. 4, § 30 Abs. 3 spouse, § 34 Abs. 1 child).
Source: SRC-015, SRC-002, SRC-339, SRC-340, SRC-205, SRC-120, SRC-213
| Deadline | Detail | Consequence of missing |
|---|---|---|
| Visa entry window | Must enter within the visa's validity period | Visa lapses; process may need to restart |
| Anmeldung | Within 2 weeks of moving in (§ 17 BMG) | Blocks the LEA application; fine risk (§ 54 BMG) |
| LEA permit application | Before the visa-derived lawful stay ends | Fiktionswirkung may not apply; unlawful-stay risk |
| Child ages 16 / 18 mid-process | 16: integration-prognosis test unless exempt. 18: loses the minor-child basis of § 32 | ⚠ UNCERTAIN how a case pending at 18 is assessed (UQ-005) — escalate |
| Exception | Description | Handling |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor is German | § 28 governs, not § 29 — different conditions | Different workflow (WF-FED-FAM-002, not yet created) |
| Sponsor holds subsidiary protection | § 36a suspended until 23 July 2027 except §§ 22/23 hardship and already-scheduled appointments | Explain plainly; escalate for the hardship route |
| Sponsor's title exempts spouse from A1, or from housing/livelihood proof | § 30 Abs. 1 S. 3 Nr. 5/7 (A1); § 29 Abs. 5 (housing/livelihood) | Confirm the exception before booking a test or requiring D-05/D-06 |
| Suspected sham or forced marriage | § 27 Abs. 1a — reunification barred if established | High risk — escalate, do not coach around scrutiny |
| Condition | Escalation action |
|---|---|
| Sham- or forced-marriage allegation raised | Immediate referral to an immigration lawyer |
| Sponsor believes § 36a applies now | Explain the § 104 Abs. 14 suspension; route to an advisor for §§ 22/23 — never self-assess |
| Marriage breaks down or domestic violence before the permit issues | This workflow no longer applies — refer to specialist support and the independent-right process (§ 31) |
| Visa refused, or LEA application refused | Inform of remonstration/appeal rights (mission: informal remonstration; LEA: Widerspruch within 1 month); refer to a lawyer |
| Child approaching 18, case still pending | Time-critical — escalate immediately |
| Claim | Legal basis | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Reunification protects marriage/family life under Art. 6 GG; barred where the marriage was contracted solely for entry, or under coercion. Permit duration capped at sponsor's remaining validity; matched in full for listed titles; else ≥1 year first issuance | § 27 Abs. 1, 1a, 4 AufenthG | SRC-205 |
| Sponsor must hold a qualifying title; adequate housing required (social-housing yardstick, under-2 exemption), waived for listed sponsor titles | § 29 Abs. 1, Abs. 5 AufenthG | SRC-150 |
| Livelihood secured without public funds; joining member's income counts | § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1, § 2 Abs. 3 S. 4 AufenthG | SRC-167, SRC-147 |
| Spouses must be 18+ and show simple German ability, subject to 7 exceptions | § 30 Abs. 1 AufenthG | SRC-120 |
| Minor unmarried child entitled where parent(s) hold a qualifying title; 16+ needs an integration prognosis unless exempt | § 32 Abs. 1, 2 AufenthG | SRC-209 |
| National (Category D) visa required before entry; issuance requires prior correct-visa entry, narrow hardship exception | § 6 Abs. 3, § 5 Abs. 2 AufenthG | SRC-336, SRC-167 |
| Local Ausländerbehörde's consent governs visa issuance for longer stays (Vorabzustimmung available); national visa fee is €75, exempt only for family of a German national | § 31 AufenthV, § 46 Abs. 2 AufenthV | SRC-337, SRC-338 |
| Reunification to subsidiary-protection sponsors (§ 36a) suspended until 23 July 2027, except §§ 22/23 | § 104 Abs. 14 AufenthG | SRC-335, SRC-211 |
| Timely application before expiry triggers Fiktionswirkung, documented by a Fiktionsbescheinigung | § 81 Abs. 3–5 AufenthG | SRC-002 |
| Claim | Source |
|---|---|
| Family-grounds permits applied for online as "Aufenthaltserlaubnis aus familiären Gründen" | SRC-339, SRC-340 |
| Spouse fee: €100 first issuance / €93 renewal; child fee: €50 first issuance / €46.50 renewal; reduced for Turkish nationals; waiver if unable to self-support | SRC-339, SRC-340 |
| Spouse cases require a joint in-person appointment with the sponsor; eAT issued at least 4 weeks after, at Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24, 10589 Berlin | SRC-339 |
| ID | Assumption | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| A-001 | Mission appointment checklist/format follows the general pattern described; the responsible mission's own list may differ | Medium |
| A-002 | 2026 mission wait times and legalisation lead times extrapolate from partial or older data — 2024 parliamentary figures for wait times (SRC-343), no per-country figure for legalisation | Medium |
| ID | Question | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| UQ-001 | Current (2026) per-mission visa appointment wait times — cited figures (SRC-343) are from a 2024 parliamentary reply | High |
| UQ-002 | What certified-translation standard is accepted (sworn/court-certified translator rules appear to vary by state and mission)? | Medium |
| UQ-003 | Is Vorabzustimmung requested proactively by the sponsor, or offered automatically in entitlement cases? § 31 AufenthV text is ambiguous | Medium |
| UQ-004 | Previously registered SRC-219 (service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324271) 404s as of 2026-08-28; working URLs are /305289 (spouse) and /354970 (child) — source register should be corrected | Low |
| UQ-005 | How is a child's age assessed under § 32/§ 34 if the 18th birthday falls between filing and decision? Unresolved in family_reunification.md too | High |
The workflow is complete when:
2026-08-28 — initial draft. Sources fetched and checked 2026-08-28; SRC-341 and SRC-344 verified only via search-engine snippet after direct fetch was blocked by JS rendering. Re-verify before next review (due 2026-09-25).
AusHelp provides information and calculation against published criteria — not legal advice (keine Rechtsberatung). Final decisions rest with the German authorities. For individual cases contact the responsible authority or the free migration counselling services (MBE/JMD). This page is a free public reference; AusHelp is an independent commercial project and is not affiliated with any German authority.
Generated 2026-08-28 from the AusHelp knowledge engine. Every claim carries its source; sources are re-checked on a weekly cycle (statutes every 90 days, official guidance every 30, volatile figures every 14).