Family reunification

Would you like to move to Rhineland-Palatinate with your family? Spouses, registered life partners and underaged children are entitled to move to their dependants or relatives living in Germany. There are certain requirements to be met depending on the nationality of the person concerned.

You are EU-citizen and want your registered partner or spouse to join you in Rhineland-Palatinate?

If your spouse or registered partner is an EU, EEA or Swiss national, they can easily join you in Germany and live and work here without restrictions. You do not need to apply for any type of residence permit. If your spouse or registered partner is not an EU, EEA or Swiss national, he or she must generally apply for a visa for spouses joining their partners at the respective German embassy or mission abroad. They will provide you with information on the required documents for such application. Further information can be found on the website “Make it in Germany”.

You are a third country national looking to bring your spouse to Rhineland- Palatinate?

If you are a third-country national but your spouse is a EU, EEA or Swiss national, she or he is entitled to freedom of movement and can therefore live and work in Germany without restrictions.

If both of you are third country nationals, you will need to fulfil several conditions in order to bring your spouse to live with you in Germany. You will require: 

• A residence permit for employment, a settlement permit or an "EU Blue Card" for Germany.
• Health insurance and sufficient financial resources. If you are a citizen of another EU country with an EU Blue Card and would like to live in Germany long-term with your family members, you only need to provide proof of health insurance cover for you and your family.
• Your spouse must be of legal age, i.e. at least 18 years old.

Please note that unmarried partners can also apply for family reunification if they fulfil the requirements for spouses joining their partner. Find out more on “Make it in Germany“.

Bringing your children to join you in Germany

If you or your spouse are entitled to live in Germany or if you are a single parent with full custody of your children, your children will automatically get a residence permit until they reached the age of 16. If your children are older than 16, special rules will apply for their subsequent immigration. Find more information on child reunification on the "Make it in Germany" website.

How to bring your family to join you in Germany

Your spouse and your children apply for a residence permit for the purpose of family reunion in Germany at the German mission or embassy in their home country. Please note that the processing of this application may take some time. Therefore, you should submit your application as early as possible and find out what documents are required.

As soon as your family has arrived in Germany, register your family members at the residents' registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt) and apply for a residence permit at the responsible foreigners authority. You will need to bring your identity cards, birth and marriage certificates, salary or tax certificates, proof of rent and possibly other documents. You will find further information in the section "After the move". 

You can find out more about day-care places for your children under the heading "Childcare". If your children are older than six years, they must go to school, as school attendance is compulsory in Germany. Find out more about the school system in Rhineland-Palatinate.