Germany’s spouse visa — officially family reunification for spouses (Ehegattennachzug), part of the broader Familiennachzug category under Section 27 et seq. of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz) — is how a non-EU spouse joins a partner who already lives in Germany. It’s one of the few German visas with a hard language requirement before you even land, which trips up more applicants than any other single step. Here’s what actually has to be true, what’s genuinely exempt, and how long to budget for it in 2026.
Who this visa is for
You need the spouse visa if you are a non-EU/EEA national and your husband, wife, or registered partner already lives in Germany as:
- A German citizen,
- An EU/EEA citizen exercising free movement in Germany, or
- A third-country national holding a valid German residence title (an EU Blue Card holder, skilled worker, or someone with a settlement permit — the exact conditions differ by which residence title the German-based spouse holds).
The marriage or registered partnership must be legally valid and recognised under German law — a marriage certificate that isn’t apostilled or officially translated is one of the most common reasons applications get delayed at the document-check stage, not rejected outright.
The A1 German requirement — and who’s exempt
This is the step that catches people off guard: unlike most German work and study visas, the spouse visa requires proof of basic German (CEFR A1) — being able to introduce yourself, answer simple everyday questions, and write short notes — from a Goethe-Institut-recognised provider, submitted with the visa application, not after arrival.
You do not need A1 German if any of these apply:
- Your spouse in Germany is not a German citizen and is either self-employed, works as a highly qualified specialist (this covers most EU Blue Card and skilled-worker cases), or holds a settlement permit or EU long-term residence permit;
- No German course or exam is available or accessible at a reasonable distance in your home country;
- You have a recognised university degree or other documented “integration achievement” the mission accepts as equivalent; or
- You have a medical condition or disability that makes learning or testing impracticable.
If you do need A1, start the exam prep 3–4 months before you plan to apply — most intensive courses get a motivated learner to A1 in 8–12 weeks, but course availability (especially outside major cities) is often the real bottleneck, not the language itself.
Documents and financial requirements
Beyond the A1 certificate (or exemption evidence), expect to assemble:
- Marriage/partnership certificate, apostilled and translated into German by a certified translator;
- Passport valid for the intended stay plus biometric photos;
- Proof the Germany-based spouse has secured livelihood — income sufficient to support both partners without relying on German social benefits (Bürgergeld);
- Proof of adequate housing in Germany (a rental contract sized to the household, not a single room);
- Proof of health insurance valid in Germany from the date of entry; and
- The visa application form plus the standard consular fee.
There is no fixed nationwide minimum income figure published for every case — the local Ausländerbehörde assesses “secured livelihood” against actual household costs (rent, insurance, existing dependants), so a family with children or high local rent needs to show more than a childless couple in a low-cost-of-living region. Ask the German mission handling your case for their current benchmark rather than relying on a generic number online.
Fee and processing time
The national (Type D) visa fee for family reunification is €75 for adults and €37.50 for minor children, paid at the consular appointment and non-refundable regardless of outcome.
Official processing guidance for national visas is 3 to 6 months, but that’s the embassy adjudication window alone. Once you add A1 exam preparation, document apostille and certified translation, and a mission’s own appointment backlog, a realistic total timeline is 6 to 9 months from starting the process to visa issuance — some missions (including those in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Iran) publish “minimum 8 months” directly on their own websites. Book your embassy appointment as early as the portal allows; appointment availability, not document processing, is often the longest single wait.
What happens after arrival
Once you arrive in Germany on the spouse visa, you must register your address (Anmeldung) at your local citizens’ office within the deadline your city sets, then convert the entry visa into a residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde. Spouse-visa holders are generally permitted to work in Germany without a separate work-permit approval, though the exact conditions depend on the sponsoring spouse’s own residence title — confirm this with your caseworker at the conversion appointment.
FAQ
Can I skip the A1 German test if my spouse is a German citizen? No — this is the one case where the exemptions above generally don’t apply. German-citizen-sponsor cases are the ones the A1 requirement was primarily written for; the exemptions mostly cover spouses of highly qualified non-German residents.
Does the spouse visa put me on the same track to permanent residence as my partner? Time on a spouse visa generally counts toward Germany’s settlement-permit requirements, but the exact years depend on your sponsoring spouse’s own status (for example, an EU Blue Card holder’s spouse benefits from that faster timeline). Confirm the specific rule for your case with the Ausländerbehörde rather than assuming a fixed number.
What if we’re not married yet but plan to marry after I arrive? That’s a different situation entirely — Germany doesn’t have a US-style “fiancé visa,” so couples in that position typically need to marry first (either abroad or during a permitted short visit) before applying for Familiennachzug.
Can children join on the same application? Yes, minor unmarried children can generally be included as dependants under the broader Familiennachzug category, each paying the reduced €37.50 fee, subject to their own document requirements.
This is preparation guidance, not legal advice — requirements and fees can vary by the specific German mission handling your case, so confirm the live figures with your local embassy or consulate before applying. If you’re weighing a move to Germany as a couple, join the VisaMet waitlist — our AI eligibility check flags which A1 exemption (if any) applies to your situation before you book a language exam you might not need.
Sources: BAMF — Family reunification, How to Germany — Germany Spouse Visa 2026, Zertifly — German A1 for the Family Reunification Visa, VISARIGHT — Family Reunification Germany 2026.