Pathway 06 of 06 · FOR FAMILIES
Family Reunification
If your spouse, parent or child holds a German residence permit, you can join them. Spouses usually need basic German (A1), and the sponsor must show income and housing.
- Processing
- 3–9 months
- Embassy fee
- €75
- Permanent residence
- Tied to the sponsor's permit
All figures checked against auswaertiges-amt.de · last updated 12 Aug 2026
Requirements
Updated 12 Aug 2026- Sponsor holds a valid residence permit
- Sponsor meets income and housing requirements
- Marriage or birth certificate (legalised)
- A1 German for spouses (with exceptions)
- Health insurance and a valid passport
- A1 German can be waived for some nationalities and genuine hardship cases
Document checklist
Updated 12 Aug 2026- Valid passport (2+ years remaining)
- Marriage or birth certificate (legalised)
- Sponsor's residence permit copy
- Sponsor's income and housing proof
- A1 German certificate if applicable
- Health insurance confirmation
- Two biometric photos + completed VIDEX form
Step by step
Updated 12 Aug 202601 · 1–2 weeks
Confirm sponsor's permit and income
Your relative confirms their residence permit and shows income and housing.
02 · 4–8 weeks
Legalise your certificate
Marriage or birth certificate must be legalised and translated.
03 · 3–6 months
Learn German to A1 if required
Spouses usually need an A1 certificate, with some exceptions.
04 · book early
Book the embassy appointment
Family visas take the longest, apply as early as possible.
05 · 1 day
Submit, pay €75, give biometrics
Bring originals and one copy set of everything on the checklist.
06 · 3–9 months
Decision, then travel
Processing is the longest of all routes, start early.
What it costs
Updated 12 Aug 2026- Visa fee€75
- Certificate legalisation€40–80
- German A1 course€200–500
- Document translation, per page€25–40
- Flight, Accra → Frankfurt€550–900
Processing is the longest of all routes, start early.
Mistakes we see weekly
12 Aug 2026- 1.Missing A1 German for spouses
- 2.Unlegalised marriage or birth certificates
- 3.Sponsor income below the requirement
- 4.Booking a flight before the visa is in the passport
Is this your route?
45 minutes to be sure
Bring your degree, CV and any offer. We confirm the route, or point you to the one that fits better.
€25/ 45 min
Information and application support. Not legal advice.
Other routes
Updated 12 Aug 2026Official sourceAlways cross-check with the German Federal Foreign Office: auswaertiges-amt.de