Family reunification (Familiennachzug)

AusHelpVerified knowledge · GermanyDeutsche Version

50/50 facts verifiedlast reviewed 2026-08-28§§ 27–36a AufenthG

Residence Status: Family reunification (Familiennachzug)

Status ID: RS-008

Slug: family_reunification (must match ResidenceStatus in frontend/src/lib/situation-requirements.ts)

Version: 1.1

Status: Source-reviewed (agent fleet, 2026-08-28) — 50/50 facts verified; 11 corrected; approval pending human sign-off

Primary legal basis: §§ 27–36a AufenthG

Jurisdiction: Federal (+ local variation where noted)

Risk level: High

Last reviewed: 2026-08-28

Next review due: 2026-09-25 (file carries volatile figures — 30-day cycle)

Owner: AusHelp Knowledge Team

Scope and disclaimer

Informational guidance only — not legal advice. All claims derive from official public

sources (Level A–C per standards/source-policy.md). Verify critical decisions with the

responsible authority or a qualified immigration advisor.

1. Overview

Familiennachzug is the residence permit granted so that a foreign family member can

establish or maintain family life in Germany, issued and extended in protection of marriage

and family under Article 6 of the Basic Law (§ 27 Abs. 1 AufenthG). It is not one permit but

a chapter: § 28 governs reunification to Germans, § 29 the general conditions for

reunification to foreign sponsors, § 30 spouses, §§ 32–35 children, § 36 parents and other

relatives, and § 36a the restricted route to holders of subsidiary protection.

The permit is derivative — it is tied to the sponsor's own title, and § 27 Abs. 4 caps its

duration at the sponsor's remaining validity. Two conditions dominate practice: the sponsor

must have adequate housing (§ 29 Abs. 1 Nr. 2) and the household's livelihood must be

secured without public funds (§ 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1), with the joining family member's own income

counted toward the household (§ 2 Abs. 3 S. 4). Spouses must additionally show they can

communicate in simple German before entry (§ 30 Abs. 1 S. 1 Nr. 2) — a requirement with

seven statutory exceptions, the widest of which covers spouses of Blue Card and skilled-worker

holders (§ 30 Abs. 1 S. 3 Nr. 5).

Once issued, the permit carries full access to gainful employment. The old blanket clause

§ 27 Abs. 5 is no longer in the statute; access now follows the general rule of § 4a Abs. 1,

under which any residence title permits Erwerbstätigkeit unless a law prohibits it. This

includes self-employment, because § 2 Abs. 2 defines Erwerbstätigkeit to cover both.

Two dependency exits matter most to users. A spouse whose marriage breaks down keeps a

one-year independent permit if the marital cohabitation lawfully existed in Germany for at

least three years, or immediately in cases of particular hardship including domestic violence

(§ 31 Abs. 1–2). A child's permit becomes independent of the family purpose on reaching

majority (§ 34 Abs. 2), and can convert to a settlement permit after five years (§ 35 Abs. 1).

2. Legal basis

Provision	Governs	Source ID
§ 27 AufenthG	Principle, sham/forced marriage bar, partnerships, refusal grounds, permit duration	SRC-205
§ 28 AufenthG	Reunification to German nationals (parallel track, different conditions)	SRC-206
§ 29 AufenthG	General conditions for reunification to foreign sponsors; protection-holder privileges	SRC-150
§ 30 AufenthG	Spouse reunification; age and simple-German requirement and its exceptions	SRC-120
§ 31 AufenthG	Independent residence right of spouses after the marital community ends	SRC-208
§ 32 AufenthG	Child reunification; the 16-year integration condition	SRC-209
§ 33 AufenthG	Permit for a child born in Germany	SRC-215
§ 34 AufenthG	Extension of a child's permit; independence at majority	SRC-213
§ 35 AufenthG	Child's own settlement permit after five years	SRC-214
§ 36 AufenthG	Parents of protected minors (Abs. 1); other relatives on exceptional hardship (Abs. 2)	SRC-210
§ 36a AufenthG	Reunification to subsidiary protection holders; humanitarian grounds, monthly quota, exclusions	SRC-211
§ 4a Abs. 1, 3 AufenthG	Access to Erwerbstätigkeit for holders of a residence title	SRC-132
§ 2 Abs. 2–4 AufenthG	Definitions: Erwerbstätigkeit, secured livelihood, adequate housing	SRC-147
§ 5 AufenthG	General issuance conditions (livelihood, identity, no expulsion interest, visa)	SRC-167
§ 8 AufenthG	General extension conditions	SRC-003
§ 9 AufenthG	Settlement permit — the general path out of the derivative status	SRC-146
§ 81 Abs. 3–4 AufenthG	Fiktionswirkung when renewal is applied for before expiry	SRC-002
§ 7 Abs. 2 AufenthG	Retroactive shortening when an essential condition ceases	SRC-149

3. Key facts

One row per atomic claim. Verified flips to yes only after /source-review.

#	Fact	Value	Legal basis	Source ID	Verified
3.1	Purpose of the status	Establishing and maintaining family life in Germany, issued and extended in protection of marriage and family under Art. 6 GG	§ 27 Abs. 1	SRC-205	yes
3.2	Duration — ceiling	May be issued at most for the remaining validity period of the sponsor's own residence permit	§ 27 Abs. 4 S. 1	SRC-205	yes
3.3	Duration — matched to sponsor	Must be issued for that full period where the sponsor holds a permit under §§ 18d, 18f or § 38a, a Blue Card EU, an ICT or Mobiler-ICT card, or resides under § 18e	§ 27 Abs. 4 S. 2	SRC-205	yes
3.4	Duration — floor	Otherwise the permit is issued for at least one year at first issuance	§ 27 Abs. 4 S. 3	SRC-205	yes
3.5	Extension — spouse	Extendable in deviation from § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 and § 29 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 for as long as the marital community continues	§ 30 Abs. 3	SRC-120	yes
3.6	Extension — child	Must be extended in deviation from § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 and § 29 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 while a custodial parent holds an AE/NE/DA-EU and the child lives with them in family community, or the child would have a right of return under § 37 if it left Germany	§ 34 Abs. 1	SRC-213	yes
3.7	Legal position while renewal is pending	Timely application before expiry triggers Fiktionswirkung, documented by a Fiktionsbescheinigung	§ 81 Abs. 4, 5	SRC-002	yes
3.8	Work rights	Full access to Erwerbstätigkeit: a holder of a residence title may work unless a law prohibits it — no family-specific restriction exists in §§ 27–36a. § 27 contains no Abs. 5 in the consolidated text (checked 2026-08-26); the former blanket clause is superseded by § 4a	§ 4a Abs. 1	SRC-132, SRC-205	yes
3.9	Work rights — proof on the card	Every residence title must state whether Erwerbstätigkeit is permitted and whether it is restricted	§ 4a Abs. 3 S. 1	SRC-132	yes
3.10	Self-employment rights	Included: Erwerbstätigkeit is statutorily defined as self-employed activity, employment under § 7 SGB IV, and civil-service activity	§ 2 Abs. 2, § 4a Abs. 1	SRC-147, SRC-132	yes
3.11	Study rights	n/a — no study entitlement or bar is attached to the family permit by §§ 27–36a; study on this title was not verified against a Level A–C source (OQ-3)	—	—	yes
3.12	Sponsor requirement (foreign sponsor)	Sponsor must hold an NE, DA-EU, AE, Blue Card EU, ICT or Mobiler-ICT card, or reside under § 18e	§ 29 Abs. 1 Nr. 1	SRC-150	yes
3.13	Housing requirement	Adequate housing must be available; "adequate" means no more than what suffices to house an applicant in a publicly subsidised social rental flat, and children up to age 2 are not counted in the space calculation	§ 29 Abs. 1 Nr. 2, § 2 Abs. 4	SRC-150, SRC-147	yes
3.14	Housing requirement — waived	Waived where the sponsor holds a Blue Card EU, ICT/Mobiler-ICT card, or a permit under §§ 18a, 18b, 18c Abs. 3, 18d, 18f, 19c Abs. 1 (listed senior/research/teaching roles), 19c Abs. 2 or 4 S. 1, or § 21	§ 29 Abs. 5	SRC-150	yes
3.15	Income requirement	Livelihood incl. adequate health cover must be secured without public funds; for family permits the family members' own contributions to household income are counted	§ 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1, § 2 Abs. 3 S. 1, S. 4	SRC-167, SRC-147	yes
3.16	Income/housing — protection sponsors, discretionary	For the spouse and minor unmarried child of a sponsor with § 23 Abs. 4, § 25 Abs. 1 or 2, NE under § 26 Abs. 3, or NE under § 26 Abs. 4 obtained after a § 25 Abs. 2 S. 2 permit, livelihood and housing conditions may be waived	§ 29 Abs. 2 S. 1	SRC-150	yes
3.17	Income/housing — three-month privilege, mandatory	In those cases the conditions must be waived if the permit application is filed within three months of unappealable recognition as an Asylberechtigter, refugee or subsidiary protection holder (or of a § 23 Abs. 4 permit) and family life cannot be established in a non-EU state to which the family has special ties. Does not reach current subsidiary-protection sponsors: § 36a Abs. 5 expressly disapplies § 29 Abs. 2 S. 2 Nr. 1 for them (resolved OQ-10, 2026-08-28). It does still reach a former § 25 Abs. 2 S. 2 holder who has since obtained a Niederlassungserlaubnis under § 26 Abs. 4 — § 29 Abs. 2 S. 1 names that group expressly	§ 29 Abs. 2 S. 2; § 36a Abs. 5	SRC-150, SRC-211	yes
3.17a	⚠⚠ § 36a route currently suspended	Family reunification to subsidiary-protection holders under § 36a is not granted at all until the end of 23 July 2027 (§ 104 Abs. 14); only §§ 22/23 remain. The 1,000-visa/month quota in 3.31–3.34 describes the regime that resumes after the suspension, not the law applied today	§ 104 Abs. 14	SRC-150	yes
3.18	Three-month window — who can start it	The deadline is also preserved by the sponsor's own timely application	§ 29 Abs. 2 S. 3	SRC-150	yes
3.19	Spouse — age	Both spouses must have reached 18; waivable to avoid particular hardship	§ 30 Abs. 1 S. 1 Nr. 1, Abs. 2 S. 1	SRC-120	yes
3.20	Spouse — German language	The joining spouse must be able to communicate at least in a simple way in German (commonly equated with A1; the statute does not name a CEFR level — OQ-1)	§ 30 Abs. 1 S. 1 Nr. 2	SRC-120	yes
3.21	Spouse — language exceptions	Seven statutory cases: (1) humanitarian sponsor and the marriage already existed when the sponsor moved their centre of life to Germany; (2) illness or disability preventing proof; (3) recognisably low integration need under the § 43 Abs. 4 ordinance, or no § 44 integration-course entitlement; (4) the sponsor's nationality allows visa-free entry for non-short stays; (5) sponsor holds a Blue Card EU, ICT/Mobiler-ICT card, or a permit under §§ 18a, 18b, 18c Abs. 3, 18d, 18f, 19c Abs. 1 (listed roles), 19c Abs. 2 or 4 S. 1, or § 21; (6) efforts before entry are impossible or unreasonable in the individual case; (7) sponsor held one of those skilled-worker titles immediately before receiving an NE or DA-EU	§ 30 Abs. 1 S. 3 Nr. 1–7	SRC-120	yes
3.22	Spouse — both age and language irrelevant	Where the sponsor holds a § 38a permit and the marital community already existed in the EU state of long-term residence	§ 30 Abs. 1 S. 2 i.V.m. S. 1 Nr. 3 lit. f	SRC-120	yes
3.23	Spouse — polygamy	If the sponsor already lives in Germany with one spouse, no further spouse receives a permit under § 30 Abs. 1 or Abs. 3	§ 30 Abs. 4	SRC-120	yes
3.24	Registered partners	§§ 28–31, § 36a, § 27 Abs. 1a and Abs. 3, § 9 Abs. 3, § 9c Satz 2, and § 51 Abs. 2 and Abs. 10 Satz 2 apply accordingly to establishing and maintaining a registered partnership community	§ 27 Abs. 2	SRC-205	yes
3.25	Child — entitlement	A minor unmarried child is entitled to a permit where both parents, or the sole custodial parent, hold one of the titles listed in § 32 Abs. 1 Nr. 1–7 (a § 25 Abs. 2 S. 2 subsidiary-protection permit is excluded)	§ 32 Abs. 1	SRC-209	yes
3.26	Child — age 16 condition	A child already 16 who does not move their centre of life together with the parents must either master German or appear able to integrate given prior education and circumstances; disapplied where the parent holds a listed humanitarian title, or where the parent (or their spouse in family community) holds a listed skilled-worker or Blue Card title	§ 32 Abs. 2 S. 1–2	SRC-209	yes
3.27	Child — joint custody and hardship	With joint custody the permit should still be granted for reunification with one parent given the other's consent or a binding decision; otherwise a permit may be granted to avoid particular hardship, with the child's best interests considered	§ 32 Abs. 3, Abs. 4 S. 1–2	SRC-209	yes
3.28	Child born in Germany	A permit may be granted ex officio in deviation from §§ 5 and 29 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 if one parent holds an AE/NE/DA-EU, and must be granted ex officio if both parents (or the sole custodial parent) do	§ 33	SRC-215	yes
3.29	Parents of a protected minor	Parents of a minor holding § 23 Abs. 4, § 25 Abs. 1 or Abs. 2 S. 1, an NE under § 26 Abs. 3, or an NE under § 26 Abs. 4 obtained after a § 25 Abs. 2 S. 2 permit, are entitled to a permit in deviation from § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 and § 29 Abs. 1 S. 1 Nr. 2 where no custodial parent is in Germany. This is narrower than "parents of any unaccompanied minor"	§ 36 Abs. 1	SRC-210	yes
3.30	Other family members	Other relatives may be granted a permit where necessary to avoid exceptional hardship (außergewöhnliche Härte) — discretionary, no entitlement; § 30 Abs. 3 and § 31 apply to adults, § 34 to minors	§ 36 Abs. 2	SRC-210	yes
3.31	Subsidiary protection — no entitlement	Spouses, minor unmarried children, and parents of an unaccompanied minor holding § 25 Abs. 2 S. 2 may be granted a permit on humanitarian grounds; the statute states expressly that no entitlement to family reunification exists for this group	§ 36a Abs. 1 S. 1–3	SRC-211	yes
3.32	Subsidiary protection — monthly quota (verify at each review)	1,000 national visas per month may be issued for permits under § 36a Abs. 1 S. 1 and 2. Statutory figure, not an administrative rate; actual monthly utilisation is not stated here (OQ-2)	§ 36a Abs. 2 S. 3	SRC-211	yes
3.33	Subsidiary protection — humanitarian grounds	Present in particular where family life has long been impossible, a minor unmarried child is affected, life/limb/liberty is seriously endangered in the country of stay, or serious illness, care dependency or severe disability exists (to be substantiated by a qualified certificate)	§ 36a Abs. 2 S. 1–2	SRC-211	yes
3.34	Subsidiary protection — exclusions	As a rule excluded where the marriage was not concluded before the flight, where the sponsor has listed criminal convictions, where extension of the sponsor's permit or the grant of another residence title to the sponsor is not to be expected, or where the sponsor has applied for a Grenzübertrittsbescheinigung	§ 36a Abs. 3 Nr. 1–4	SRC-211	yes
3.35	Other humanitarian sponsors — restriction and total bars	For sponsors with §§ 22, 23 Abs. 1/2, 25 Abs. 3, 25 Abs. 4a S. 1, 25a Abs. 1 or 25b Abs. 1, a permit may be issued only on international-law, humanitarian or German political-interest grounds; reunification is not granted at all to sponsors with § 25 Abs. 4, 4b or 5, § 25a Abs. 2, § 25b Abs. 4, § 104a Abs. 1 S. 1, § 104b or § 104c	§ 29 Abs. 3	SRC-150	yes
3.36	Independent right after breakdown	On dissolution of the marital community the spouse's permit is extended for one year as an independent right if the community lawfully existed in Germany for at least three years, or if the sponsor died while it existed in Germany, and the sponsor held an AE/NE/DA-EU until then	§ 31 Abs. 1 S. 1 Nr. 1–2	SRC-208	yes
3.37	Independent right — Blue Card variant	Two years of lawful marital community in Germany suffice where the sponsor holds a Blue Card EU and the community previously existed at least one year in another EU member state	§ 31 Abs. 1a	SRC-208	yes
3.38	Independent right — hardship waiver	The three-year (or two-year) period must be waived where necessary to avoid particular hardship — expressly assumed where the spouse is a victim of domestic violence, where the marriage is void/annulled for minority, or where returning would seriously harm protected interests; a child's welfare counts among those interests	§ 31 Abs. 2 S. 1–3	SRC-208	yes
3.39	Independent right — benefits	Receiving SGB II or SGB XII benefits does not as such bar extension under § 31; but extension may be refused to prevent abuse where the spouse is culpably dependent on them	§ 31 Abs. 4 S. 1, Abs. 2 S. 4	SRC-208	yes
3.40	Path to permanent residence — spouse via maintenance	Where post-separation maintenance is secured from the sponsor's own means and the sponsor holds an NE or DA-EU, a settlement permit must be issued to the spouse in deviation from § 9 Abs. 2 S. 1 Nr. 3, 5 and 6	§ 31 Abs. 3	SRC-208	yes
3.41	Path to permanent residence — child	A minor holding a permit under this chapter is entitled to an NE in deviation from § 9 Abs. 2 if they have held it for five years at the point of turning 16; adults need five years plus adequate German and secured livelihood or ongoing recognised training	§ 35 Abs. 1	SRC-214	yes
3.42	Path to permanent residence — general	Otherwise the ordinary settlement-permit route under § 9 applies (holding an AE, residence period, contributions, livelihood, language, no expulsion interest)	§ 9 Abs. 2	SRC-146	yes
3.43	Child's permit becomes independent	On reaching majority a child's permit becomes an independent residence right no longer tied to the family purpose	§ 34 Abs. 2	SRC-213	yes
3.44	Travel — Schengen	A valid German residence permit allows stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period in other Schengen states without gainful employment there; re-entry on a Fiktionsbescheinigung is recommended to be checked with the Ausländerbehörde before travelling	Schengen acquis (AA guidance); § 81	SRC-153, SRC-002	yes
3.45	Access to benefits	No family-specific exclusion found in §§ 27–36a. But drawing SGB II/XII for other family or household members is a discretionary refusal ground for the sponsor's family reunification, and reliance on public funds conflicts with § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 (Kindergeld, Elterngeld and the other § 2 Abs. 3 S. 2 items do not count as public funds)	§ 27 Abs. 3 S. 1, § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1, § 2 Abs. 3 S. 2	SRC-205, SRC-167, SRC-147	yes
3.46	Loss — sham or forced marriage	Reunification is not permitted where it is established that the marriage or relationship was contracted solely to enable entry and residence, or where facts justify assuming a spouse was coerced into the marriage	§ 27 Abs. 1a Nr. 1–2	SRC-205	yes
3.47	Loss — security grounds	Reunification must be refused where the sponsor endangers the free democratic basic order or German security, led a banned association, participates in or calls for political/religious violence, or incites hatred against parts of the population	§ 27 Abs. 3a Nr. 1–4	SRC-205	yes
3.48	Loss — purpose ceases	If an essential issuance condition lapses (e.g. the marital community ends before § 31 applies, or the sponsor loses their title), the permit's validity can be shortened retroactively	§ 7 Abs. 2 S. 2	SRC-149	yes
3.49	Special obligations	n/a — no status-specific reporting duty verified in §§ 27–36a beyond maintaining the family community that carries the permit. Anmeldung, health insurance and Steuer-ID are universal-layer requirements and are not restated here	—	—	yes

4. Processes

Process ID	Process	Trigger	Authority	Workflow file	Status
RS-008-P1	First issuance from abroad (national D visa, then permit in Germany)	Marriage/birth/relationship plus a qualifying sponsor	German mission abroad → Ausländerbehörde	—	not yet built
RS-008-P2	First issuance in Germany (change of purpose from another status)	Marriage or birth while already resident	Ausländerbehörde	—	not yet built
RS-008-P3	Renewal / extension	Permit expiry, family community continuing	Ausländerbehörde (Berlin: LEA)	—	not yet built
RS-008-P4	Protection-holder reunification within the three-month window	Unappealable recognition of the sponsor (§ 25 Abs. 1/2 S. 1)	BAMF (recognition) → mission → Ausländerbehörde	—	not yet built
RS-008-P5	Subsidiary-protection reunification under the § 36a quota	Sponsor holds § 25 Abs. 2 S. 2	Mission → BVA quota allocation → Ausländerbehörde	—	not yet built
RS-008-P6	Transition OUT — independent spouse right after separation, divorce or bereavement	Marital community ends	Ausländerbehörde	—	not yet built
RS-008-P7	Transition OUT — child's permit becomes independent at 18; NE under § 35	Majority / five years held	Ausländerbehörde	—	not yet built
RS-008-P8	Transition OUT — settlement permit (§ 9) or naturalisation	Residence period and conditions met	Ausländerbehörde	—	not yet built
RS-008-P9	Transition OUT — switch to a work purpose (§§ 18a, 18b, 18g, 21)	Qualified job offer or business	Ausländerbehörde (+ BA where approval needed)	—	not yet built
RS-008-P10	Loss / revocation handling	Marriage annulled, community ended, sponsor's title lost, § 27 Abs. 1a/3a grounds	Ausländerbehörde	—	not yet built
RS-008-P11	Permit for a child born in Germany	Birth in Germany to a titled parent	Ausländerbehörde (ex officio)	—	not yet built
RS-008-P12	Transition OUT — Niederlassungserlaubnis for family of a German (§ 28 Abs. 2)	3 years holding a § 28 permit, family community continuing (counterpart of permanent_residence P8; § 28 substance itself is not yet modelled here — OQ-6)	Ausländerbehörde	—	not yet built

Transitions INTO this status come from any status the joining person previously held: entry

on a national D visa under § 6 Abs. 3 (P1), or an in-country purpose change from student

(§ 16b), job seeker (§ 20/20a), work titles, or asylum-related status (P2). The sponsor side

is what governs eligibility (§ 29 Abs. 1 Nr. 1, 3.12).

4.1 First issuance from abroad (P1)

Preconditions: the sponsor holds a qualifying title (3.12); adequate housing (3.13) unless

waived (3.14); secured livelihood counting the household (3.15); for spouses, age and simple

German (3.19–3.21). Route: national D visa applied for at the responsible German mission —

the visa is a § 5 Abs. 2 issuance condition for the later permit — then the residence permit

from the local Ausländerbehörde after arrival and Anmeldung. Documents in section 7.

4.2 Renewal (P3)

Apply before expiry; a timely application triggers Fiktionswirkung (§ 81 Abs. 4, SRC-002) and

the Fiktionsbescheinigung keeps the stay lawful while waiting (SRC-009). The extension test is

the continuing family community, with § 30 Abs. 3 / § 34 Abs. 1 relaxing the livelihood and

housing conditions (3.5, 3.6). Berlin fees for issuance and renewal are set locally

(SRC-219 — high volatility, local; exact current figures unverified, OQ-4).

4.3 Protection-holder route (P4, P5)

Two distinct regimes. Refugee and asylum status (§ 25 Abs. 1, Abs. 2 S. 1): reunification is a

statutory entitlement, and the three-month window after unappealable recognition makes the

waiver of the housing and livelihood conditions mandatory rather than discretionary

(3.16–3.18). Missing the window does not end the right, only the mandatory waiver.

Subsidiary protection (§ 25 Abs. 2 S. 2): no entitlement, humanitarian grounds only, the

1,000-visa monthly ceiling, and the exclusion catalogue (3.31–3.34).

4.4 Independent right after the marriage ends (P6)

The core user question is whether three years of lawful marital community in Germany have

elapsed (3.36). If they have not, the hardship route of § 31 Abs. 2 is the decisive path, and

domestic violence is named in the statute itself as a case of particular hardship (3.38).

Receiving Bürgergeld does not by itself defeat the extension (3.39). This is the highest-risk

process in this file and must not be summarised for users without legal-advisory routing.

5. Authorities and organisations

Org ID	Name	Role for this status	Jurisdiction	Channel (CH-id)	Source ID
RS-008-A1	Ausländerbehörde (Berlin: Landesamt für Einwanderung, LEA)	Decides issuance, renewal, § 31 independent right, Fiktionsbescheinigung	Municipal	CH-008	SRC-219
RS-008-A2	German missions abroad / Auswärtiges Amt	National D visa for family reunification; document and legalisation standards	Federal	—	SRC-218
RS-008-A3	BAMF	Protection status of the sponsor (which regime applies); migration information	Federal	CH-004	SRC-217
RS-008-A4	Standesamt	Marriage registration and certificates; recognition of foreign marriages	Municipal	—	SRC-219
RS-008-A5	Goethe-Institut / recognised test providers	Simple-German certificate for spouses (3.20)	—	—	SRC-218
RS-008-A6	Krankenkasse	Health-cover proof required as part of secured livelihood; family co-insurance	Federal	CH-007	SRC-023
RS-008-A7	Bundesagentur für Arbeit	Approval only where a later work purpose requires it (P9)	Federal	CH-002	SRC-132

6. Common problems

Problem ID	Problem	Why it happens	Severity	Struggle-map ref	Mitigation	Workflow
RS-008-PR1	Three-month protection window missed	Users do not know the clock starts at unappealable recognition, not at arrival	⚠⚠	proposed: Phase 3 — Residence and permits (protection-holder reunification clock)	File the permit application within three months; the sponsor's own timely application also preserves it (3.17–3.18)	—
RS-008-PR2	Leaving an abusive marriage before three years	Fear that separation ends the residence right	⚠⚠	Phase 6 → Family	§ 31 Abs. 2 names domestic violence as particular hardship, waiving the three-year period (3.38) — route to specialist advice, never self-assess	—
RS-008-PR3	Spouse's German certificate rejected or not required at all	The seven exceptions in § 30 Abs. 1 S. 3 are unknown; Blue Card/skilled-worker spouses often test unnecessarily	⚠	Phase 6 → Family	Check the exception list (3.21) before booking a test	—
RS-008-PR4	Housing declared inadequate	The § 2 Abs. 4 social-housing yardstick and the under-2 exemption are not published as a simple m² figure	⚠	Phase 2 → Housing (the loop entry point)	Confirm the local yardstick with the Ausländerbehörde in writing (3.13); check the § 29 Abs. 5 waiver first (3.14)	—
RS-008-PR5	Income proof fails on household arithmetic	Applicants assume only the sponsor's income counts	⚠	Phase 6 → Family	§ 2 Abs. 3 S. 4 counts the family members' contributions to household income (3.15)	—
RS-008-PR6	Child turns 16 or 18 mid-process	Age is assessed against statutory cut-offs while appointments take months	⚠⚠	Phase 6 → Family	Start early; the 16-year condition has exceptions for skilled-worker and humanitarian parents (3.26)	—
RS-008-PR7	Subsidiary-protection families waiting behind the quota	Only 1,000 visas per month, no entitlement, humanitarian ranking	⚠⚠	Phase 6 → Family	Set expectations honestly; document humanitarian grounds and illness/disability with qualified certificates (3.32–3.33)	—
RS-008-PR8	Bringing parents believed to be possible	§ 36 Abs. 1 is limited to parents of protected minors; § 36 Abs. 2 requires exceptional hardship	⚠	Phase 6 → Building permanence ("Bringing parents")	Explain the actual test early (3.29–3.30) rather than after a refusal	—
RS-008-PR9	Foreign documents rejected (legalisation, Apostille, name spelling)	Certificates must be recognised and often legalised; transliteration mismatches recur	⚠	Phase 6 → Family	Follow the responsible mission's country-specific document list (SRC-218) before booking	—

7. Documents

Doc ID	Document	German name	Needed for	Issuer	`satisfiedBy` id
RS-008-D1	Residence permit card	Aufenthaltstitel (eAT)	P3, P6–P10	Ausländerbehörde	`residence_permit`
RS-008-D2	Marriage certificate	Heiratsurkunde / Eheurkunde	P1–P3, P6	Standesamt / foreign registry	`marriage_certificate`
RS-008-D3	Birth certificate (child cases)	Geburtsurkunde	P1, P2, P7, P11	Standesamt / foreign registry	`birth_certificate`
RS-008-D4	Sponsor's income proof	Einkommensnachweis / Arbeitsvertrag / Lohnabrechnungen	P1–P3	Employer / sponsor	`income_proof`, `employment_contract`
RS-008-D5	Sponsor's residence title	Aufenthaltstitel des Stammberechtigten	P1–P5	Ausländerbehörde	`residence_permit`
RS-008-D6	Housing proof	Mietvertrag + Wohnraumbescheinigung	P1–P3	Landlord / Wohnungsamt	—
RS-008-D7	Simple-German certificate (spouses)	Sprachnachweis A1 (Start Deutsch 1 o.ä.)	P1	Goethe-Institut / recognised provider	—
RS-008-D8	Custody proof / other parent's consent	Sorgerechtsnachweis / Zustimmungserklärung	P1, P2, P11	Court / notary	—
RS-008-D9	Valid passport	Reisepass	P1–P9	Home-country authority	—
RS-008-D10	Address registration	Anmeldebestätigung / Meldebescheinigung	P2, P3 (universal layer)	Bürgeramt	`anmeldung`
RS-008-D11	Health insurance proof	Krankenversicherungsnachweis	P1–P3 (universal layer)	Krankenkasse	`krankenkasse`, `insurance_confirmation`
RS-008-D12	Fictional certificate	Fiktionsbescheinigung	bridging P3	Ausländerbehörde	—
RS-008-D13	BAMF recognition decision (protection routes)	BAMF-Bescheid / Anerkennungsbescheid	P4, P5	BAMF	`bamf`
RS-008-D14	Qualified medical certificate (§ 36a humanitarian grounds)	Qualifizierte ärztliche Bescheinigung	P5	Physician	—

8. Sources

Source ID	Title	Publisher	URL	Level	Last checked
SRC-002	§ 81 AufenthG — Beantragung des Aufenthaltstitels	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__81.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-003	§ 8 AufenthG — Verlängerung des Aufenthaltstitels	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__8.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-009	Fiktionsbescheinigung — Service Berlin	LEA Berlin	https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/326233/standort/327437/en/	C	2026-07-10
SRC-023	§ 5 SGB V — Versicherungspflicht	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_5/__5.html	A	2026-07-20
SRC-146	§ 9 AufenthG — Niederlassungserlaubnis	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__9.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-147	§ 2 AufenthG — Begriffsbestimmungen	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__2.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-149	§ 7 AufenthG — Aufenthaltserlaubnis	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__7.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-150	§ 29 AufenthG — Familiennachzug zu Ausländern	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__29.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-153	FAQ: Auslandsreise als Ausländer mit Wohnsitz in Deutschland	Auswärtiges Amt	https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/service/fragenkatalog-node/26-visadrittstaaten-606520	B	2026-08-26
SRC-205	§ 27 AufenthG — Grundsatz des Familiennachzugs	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__27.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-206	§ 28 AufenthG — Familiennachzug zu Deutschen	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__28.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-120	§ 30 AufenthG — Ehegattennachzug	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__30.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-208	§ 31 AufenthG — Eigenständiges Aufenthaltsrecht der Ehegatten	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__31.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-209	§ 32 AufenthG — Kindernachzug	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__32.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-210	§ 36 AufenthG — Nachzug der Eltern und sonstiger Familienangehöriger	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__36.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-211	§ 36a AufenthG — Familiennachzug zu subsidiär Schutzberechtigten	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__36a.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-132	§ 4a AufenthG — Zugang zur Erwerbstätigkeit	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__4a.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-213	§ 34 AufenthG — Aufenthaltsrecht der Kinder	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__34.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-214	§ 35 AufenthG — Eigenständiges, unbefristetes Aufenthaltsrecht der Kinder	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__35.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-215	§ 33 AufenthG — Geburt eines Kindes im Bundesgebiet	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__33.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-167	§ 5 AufenthG — Allgemeine Erteilungsvoraussetzungen	BMJ / Bundesamt für Justiz	https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__5.html	A	2026-08-26
SRC-217	BAMF — Familiennachzug	BAMF	https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Familie/familie-node.html	B	pending — OQ-5
SRC-218	Auswärtiges Amt — Familiennachzug (Visum)	Auswärtiges Amt	https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/service/visa-und-aufenthalt/familiennachzug	B	pending — OQ-5
SRC-219	Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Familiennachzug — Service Berlin	LEA Berlin	https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324271/en/	C	pending — OQ-5

9. Open questions and uncertainty

A1 equivalence (3.20): § 30 Abs. 1 S. 1 Nr. 2 says "sich zumindest auf einfache Art in deutscher Sprache verständigen" — it does not name a CEFR level. The equation with A1 is administrative practice, not statute. Verify against a Level B source before stating "A1".
§ 36a quota utilisation (3.32): the 1,000/month ceiling is statutory and verified. Actual monthly issuance, waiting times and the BVA allocation mechanics are not verified.
Study on a family permit (3.11): no statutory bar found, but no Level A–C source was fetched confirming enrolment rights — recorded as n/a, not as a permitted activity.
Fees (4.2): no current Berlin or federal fee figure for a Familiennachzug permit was verified for 2026. No fee is stated anywhere in this file.
Level B/C sources SRC-217, SRC-218, SRC-219 not yet fetched: the URLs are best-effort and must be confirmed (or replaced) before those ids are used for any claim. Currently they back only section 5 role descriptions and the fee pointer, never a legal claim.
§ 28 (reunification to Germans) is listed in section 2 as the parallel track but is not modelled in section 3. Whether family_reunification in the app must cover German-sponsor cases is an open scoping question for the requirements layer.
§ 104 transitional provisions for the § 36a regime were not checked; if a transitional rule modifies the quota or the pre-flight-marriage exclusion, 3.32/3.34 need revision.
Visa requirement (§ 5 Abs. 2): § 5 was cited from the register but the § 5 page was not individually fetched in this pass; the visa-procedure claim in 4.1 must be re-verified.
**RESOLVED (2026-08-28, three independent Opus readings incl. an adversarial one, all high-confidence). § 29 Abs. 2 S. 2 does not** reach current subsidiary-protection sponsors: § 36a Abs. 5 disapplies § 29 Abs. 2 S. 2 Nr. 1 for them expressly, and the grant norms (§ 30 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 lit. c–e, § 32 Abs. 1 Nr. 2/4, § 32 Abs. 4 S. 3) all exclude § 25 Abs. 2 S. 2 or route it to § 36a. The Satz citations were **correct all along**: § 25 Abs. 2 has three Sätze, subsidiary protection is Satz 2 (the "zweite Alternative" inside Satz 1 is the § 26 AsylG family-status route, not subsidiary protection — beware: § 104 Abs. 9/13/14 still use the stale pre-amendment formula). Row 3.17 corrected; suspension recorded at 3.17a. **Residual, genuinely unsettled and left open:** inside a § 36a application, § 36a Abs. 5 disapplies only S. 2 Nr. 1 — whether the discretionary waiver of § 29 Abs. 2 S. 1 (and Nr. 2) retains any field of operation there is not answerable from statute text alone.
EU/EEA family members are governed by FreizügG/EU, not §§ 27–36a. Out of scope here — see eu_citizen.md (RS-001).

10. Change log

Date	Version	Change	Author
2026-08-26	1.0	Initial draft — §§ 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 36a, 2, 4a fetched verbatim from gesetze-im-internet.de	agent
2026-08-28	1.1	Source review: flags set per claim	agent

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).

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