The following was shared with us by a fellow South African
- Application Form – easy enough – helps to have your German spouse next to you when you do it with all passport numbers and details available.
- Passport – your passport – check it’s valid – sometimes we forget
- Photo – include a couple in each pack – we had 2 per pack
- Marriage certificate – this is important. This marriage certificate needs to be unabridged AND apostilled. I would recommend (STRONGLY) using Sintiche from SP Document Trade (info@sp-documents.co.za/https://www.sp-documents.co.za/) for this process. Her turnover times were phenomenally fast, and we would’ve been in Germany months ago if we had gone this route first (we used someone else to get our unabridged marriage certificate which took 8 weeks, then another 9 weeks for the Apostille only to find out DIRCO had lost our documents, which is when I discovered SP document trade and she achieved the entire process in just over a week).
- Copy of Spouse’s
- Proof of Health Insurance – technically they only need this when the visa is APPROVED. The process is usually, you hand in your documents and your visa is sent off to the relevant Ausländerbehörde in Germany. If your visa is approved, they contact you and ask for your flight details and proof of health insurance while in Germany, you send those things, and they issue your visa ready for collection at the consulate. In our case, I was over-organised and got the proof of health insurance when we applied on the 31st of October 2023. The lady handling the application seemed happy I had it and when they approved the visa they only asked for flight information, meaning the health insurance was considered during the application. This is as simple as going to the Discovery website and navigating to the travel insurance page https://www.discovery.co.za/…/travelling-internationally and requesting a certificate. Do this a few days before your appointment so the dates are suitable, and print it out ready for your appointment.
- Proof of German Knowledge A1 level – see above.
- Copies of the checklist
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Reunification – Parents of third-country nationals
Reunification – Parents of third-country nationals Moving to a new country is a wonderful opportunity to start a new life. The biggest hardship, in my opinion, is leaving your loved ones behind, especially your elderly parents. Many people are asking if it is possible, as a third-country national with permanent residence in Germany, to bring their parents along to live with them. Germany, unfortunately, does not have a retirement visa option. New changes to the Immigration laws (from 01 March 2024) made it easier for parents of skilled workers to join them in Germany. Previously, and in some cases still valid, your parents can come to Germany on a Family reunification visa (FRV) only if they can prove hardship. Family reunification visa For Third-country nationals, dependent family members like spouses, children of foreign parents, and parents of a German minor can apply for a family reunification visa (FRV).According to BAMF:Parents or other family members (Third Country nationals)If you are the parent or parent-in-law of a skilled worker working in Germany, you may be able to come to Germany under certain circumstances. Other family members may only come to Germany in all other cases to prevent exceptional hardship. If you are a parent or parent-in-law of skilled workers and highly qualified persons, you have the opportunity to come to Germany if your child’s or child-in-law’s residence title was first issued on or after 1 March 2024. For this to be possible, your subsistence must be ensured, including sufficient health and long-term care insurance cover, from your own financial resources. The requirements for a family reunification visa be found on the German embassy in South Africa website. Keep the following in mind:Keep in mind you will have to commit to financing their medical, accommodation and day-to-day expenses. They might be allowed to live with you, but then you need to have enough space in your home. Medical for someone who has never contributed to the system, and who is advanced in their age, is very expensive.It is a difficult and expensive process, and we wish you all the best in this journey. Speak to your local Ausländerbörde and see how they can assist you. The applicable law is Section 36 of the “Act on the Residence, Economic Activity and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory” Section 36 of the Residence Act, Subsequent immigration of parents and other family members (1) In derogation from section 5 (1) no. 1 and section 29 (1) no. 2, a temporary residence permit is to be issued to the parents of a minor foreigner who possesses a temporary residence permit pursuant to section 23 (4), section 25 (1) or (2) sentence 1 first alternative, a permanent settlement permit pursuant to section 26 (3) or a permanent settlement permit under section 26 (4) after being granted a temporary residence permit pursuant to section 25 (2) sentence 1 second alternative, if no parent possessing the right of care and custody is resident in the federal territory. (2) Other family members of a foreigner may be granted a temporary residence permit for the purpose of subsequent immigration to join the foreigner if necessary in order to avoid exceptional hardship. Section 30 (3) and section 31 apply accordingly to adult family members and section 34 applies accordingly to minor family members. (3) A temporary residence permit allowing the subsequent immigration of dependants may be granted to the parents of a foreigner who was granted an EU Blue Card, an ICT Card, a Mobile ICT Card or a residence title in accordance with sections 18a, 18b, 18c (3), 18d, 18f, 19c (1) for employment as an executive, manager, business specialist, academic, visiting academic, engineer or technician in a research team of a visiting academic or as teaching staff pursuant to section 19c (2) or (4) sentence 1 or section 21 for the first time on or after 1 March 2024; the same applies to the parents of the foreigner’s spouse, if the spouse resides permanently in the federal territory. The temporary residence permit in accordance with sentence 1 may only be granted if the requirement of section 5 (1) no. 1 is met. Here is a link to the German website. Financially independent Germany does not have a retirement visa, so even if your parents are financially independent they can not go the retirement route. Depending on their age and situation they can apply for any of the normal long stay visas. Other options It is possible to apply for a Family & Friends visit visa. The inviting person can ask in the invitation letter that the visa be valid for longer periods e.g. one or two years. This allows the person to stay in Germany for 90 days in a 180-day cycle. It is not optimal but at least an option.This will most likely not be granted multiple year visa if it is the first time the person visits you in Germany, also not if the person has a new Passport with no previous visas in the passport. Information on the web For more information, see the following websites: BAMF – Subsequent immigration to join foreign family members Section 36 of the Act on the Residence SE-Legal Reunification due to Need of Care Additional information The following was shared with us by a member of our FB page. This is to be seen as a shared opinion and not as legal or immigration advice. You are responsible for your own legal clarifications. No liability accepted. “Below is a summary of what my in-laws were told by an immigration lawyer here in DE. This will obviously differ from person to person as each case is assessed individually. These were the options given to them. The costs for each option are different, depending on paperwork, etc (it’s not cheap 😯). If anyone is interested, I would suggest they book a meeting with the attorneys (they do Zoom meetings) and get the correct information relevant to them. There is a fee for the initial consultation, but it’s well worth it. Option 1 – Family
Family Reunification Visa – Your stories
Family Reunification Visa – Your stories These are shared experiences by people who recently went through a Family Reunification Visa application process. You can share yours with us via an easy-to-fill-in form on this page. An FB member shared a more detailed experience. You can read it here. Another member, Tom, also shared his experience with us, you can read about it here Shared by Megan in May 2025 When did you apply for your FRV 2025-01-27 How many days did you wait before it was approved 116 Nationality of the person applying for a FRV South African passport The nationality of your spouse whom you will be joining in Germany German passport Marital Status at the time of application Married Children I am a parent to a German child (see next question) Parent to a German Child I am a parent to a German child and applied for the “parent to a minor German child” visa – as it is less restrictive and easier to obtain Type of Visa your spouse applied for in Germany German passport holder Did you need an Unabridged marriage certificate Yes Did you need to have your marriage certificate apostilled Yes Proof of language skills Language requirement was waived Are you allowed to work once you are in Germany Yes Tips you would like to share Expect a long wait, even up to 90 days or more. My visa took 116 days from application to approval. It’s hard, but prepare for the full timeline from the beginning, and don’t assume anything is wrong just because you haven’t heard back. Keep digital and paper copies of all your documents. This includes your passport, marriage certificate, rental agreement, birth certificates of your children, and anything else you submitted. Our rental agreement wasn’t listed as a required document, but the embassy still asked for it during the application process. Having everything on hand makes it easier to respond quickly if they request something unexpectedly. Communication with the Ausländerbehörde can be extremely difficult. In our case, we tried calling every day for weeks and never got an answer. We also emailed the contact address listed on their official website, but never received a reply. Eventually, I came across an obscure Facebook post that listed a different departmental email address, and when I wrote to that one, I finally got a response. All my communication was in German. I can’t say for sure if that made the difference, but the replies I received were friendly and helpful. So if you’re able to, writing in German and finding the correct department email might improve your chances of getting a reply. Join support groups. Being part of a group like South Africans in Germany helped me stay grounded. I learned from others’ timelines, what to expect, and how to stay patient. It’s a great place to vent and feel less alone. Book your flight conservatively. I booked for 26 June, and my visa was approved just a month before departure. That timing was tight but manageable. If you can, give yourself buffer time. Stay emotionally prepared. The process can be draining, especially when your children or spouse are involved. Find little ways to ground yourself. Shared by Candace February 2025 When did you apply for your FRV 2024-12-20 How many days did you wait before it was approved 45 Nationality of the person applying for a FRV South African passport The nationality of your spouse, whom you will be joining in Germany Dual SA and DE Marital Status at the time of application Married Children No children involved Parent to a German Child NA Type of Visa your spouse applied for in Germany German passport holder Did you need an Unabridged marriage certificate Yes Did you need to have your marriage certificate apostilled Yes Proof of language skills A minimum of an A1 level was required Are you allowed to work once you are in Germany Yes Shared by Telo in October 2024 When did you apply for your FRV 2024-09-25 How many days did you wait before it was approved 12 Nationality of the person applying for a FRV South African passport The nationality of your spouse whom you will be joining in Germany German passport Marital Status at the time of application Married Children No children involved Parent to a German Child NA Type of Visa your spouse applied for in Germany Did you need an Unabridged marriage certificate We got married in Germany so it was not needed Did you need to have your marriage certificate apostilled Yes Proof of language skills A minimum of A1 level was required Are you allowed to work once you are in Germany Yes Tips you would like to share Start preparing for the A1 Exam as soon as you are able too. We got married in Europe but still had our marriage certificate apostilled. Gather all documents and make 2 files (1 Copy each per file) the FRV checklist is straightforward forward and if your partner is German you will be exempt from the Visa Fee. I wasn’t given the option to keep my passport. I had the Verpflictungserklärung attached, my spouse was asked to send 2 documents only. All documents were in English no translation required. Shared by Cheryl on 03 May 2024 When did you apply for your FRV 2023-08-23 How many days did you wait before it was approved 82 Nationality of the person applying for a FRV South African passport The nationality of your spouse whom you will be joining in Germany German passport Marital Status at the time of application Engaged Children No children involved Parent to a German Child NA Type of Visa your spouse applied for in Germany German passport holder Did you need an Unabridged marriage certificate We got married in Germany so it was not needed Did you need to have your marriage certificate apostilled We got married in Germany so it was not needed Proof of language skills A
Family Reunification Visa
Family Reunification Visa Family reunification in Germany allows close family members to join their relatives living in Germany—whether those relatives are German citizens or third-country nationals with valid residence (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) or settlement permits (Niederlassungserlaubnis). Eligible family members include: Spouses or registered partners Minor children to foreign parent (unmarried) Parents of a minor German Child These rules focus on preserving the nuclear family. Other relatives, such as adult children, siblings, grandparents, or extended family, are not normally eligible, unless there are exceptional humanitarian or personal hardship circumstances that justify reunification. Immigration authorities evaluate such cases very strictly, and approvals are rare. Visa and Residence Permit: What You Need to Know To join a family member in Germany, you’ll need to go through a two-step process: First, apply for a national visa while still in South Africa. This visa allows you to enter Germany for the purpose of family reunification. After arrival, you must apply for a residence permit from the local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany to legally remain long-term. Please note that the rules and requirements differ based on both your citizenship and the citizenship of the family member you are joining. As a general rule, the conditions vary depending on whether you are joining: A German national An EU citizen A third-country national (non-EU) Each category has its own conditions, documentation requirements, and processing times, so it’s essential to check the correct guidelines for your situation before beginning your application. 👉 Important Note:If you’re planning a short-term stay, such as visiting a relative or friend in Germany for a few weeks or months, this is not the right visa for you. For temporary visits, such as attending family events, holidays, or simply spending time with loved ones, a different visa category applies. Info on the web As the rules and requirements change regularly, please refer to the official websites for information on a family reunification visa. Bamf – Information for 3rd Country Nationals Berlin Welcome Centre Federal office for migration and refugees. Family Reunificationof third-country nationals in Germany – See page 39 for employment restrictions The Federal Government – At a glance: Visa for the purpose of family reunification to foreigners Where to apply You need to submit your application at the German Embassy in South Africa, or at one of the German Consulates in South Africa. You cannot apply for a family reunification visa from inside Germany. The following types of Family reunification Visas are available Spouse Parent to a minor German child Child to a foreign parent Family members of non-German EU citizens Proof of knowledge of basic German To join your spouse in Germany, you must demonstrate at least basic proficiency in the German language (equivalent to Level A1 of the European Language Framework).For more information, you can find a flyer from BAMF (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge) here We summarised the possible exceptions, but please always refer back to the official information from BAMF: You or your spouse are a citizen of a member state of the European Union or you have exercised your right of free movement as a German citizen. Your spouse is a citizen of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco, or San Marino. You have a university degree and can probably find work in Germany thanks to your language skills. Your spouse holds an EU Blue Card. Your spouse holds a residence permit as a skilled worker (§ 18c (3) German Residence Act (AufenthG)). a researcher 2 (§ 18f AufenthG). a selfemployed person 2 (§ 21 AufenthG). a person entitled to asylum (§ 25 (1) and § 26 (3) AufenthG) to whom you were already married in yourhome country before your partner moved to Germany. a person who has been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection (§ 25 (2) and § 26 (3) AufenthG) to whom you were already married in your home country before your partner moved to Germany. a longterm resident from another EU member state (§ 38a AufenthG). You do not wish to remain permanently in Germany. It is impossible or unreasonable to learn the language abroad, or this has proven unsuccessful despite your attempts. You are unable to prove basic knowledge of German on account of a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability. You are able to cite other circumstances that make it impossible for you to learn the language, circumstances that could constitute a case of hardship. Employment Joining a third-country national. According to BAMF documentation, If you are joining your spouse who is a third-country national you are also entitled to take up work if you come to Germany for the purposes of family reunification. Joining a German spouseAccording to BAMF documentation, family members coming to Germany to join their German spouses, for the purpose of family reunification are allowed to work in Germany. Medical For comprehensive guidance on your visa application, read our detailed tips regarding medical insurance coverage—an important requirement to ensure your application proceeds smoothly and meets all necessary criteria. Additional information and tips When a birth or marriage certificate is required, it must always be an unabridged copy The embassy only accepts Marriage certificates that were apostilled by DIRCO Unabridged birth certificates must also be apostilled by DIRCO We have companies listed that can assist in obtaining unabridged documentation, but remember they cannot speed up the process at DIRCO. You can find a list of these companies here When your spouse is already in Germany, it is sufficient to supply a copy of their “Anmeldung” you do not have to wait for a copy of their residence card to submit your application. As with all visa applications, make sure you supply all the documentation required on the Checklist Unless specifically asked for, documents that are in English does not need to be translated During your interview, ask if you can keep your passport with you, as the process can take a long time (months), and you will only get your passport back when the visa is issued. It is impossible to know how long
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