Steps for family reunification in Germany The requirements to be met for family reunification depend on your residency status. Recognized refugees and persons entitled to asylum can apply for "privileged family reunification" Then their families will be allowed to come to Germany, subject to the requirements: no specific income has to be proven, an apartment for housing, etc.

For "privileged family reunification", the family reunification application must be submitted within three months of the person being recognized as a refugee/person entitled to asylum. If the application is not submitted within the specified time, the same conditions that apply to persons prohibited from deportation will have to be met.

Steps for family reunification in Germany

Persons with a national ban on deportation. Various conditions apply to them:

• The ability to earn a living: This means that a person has to earn enough money to support himself and his family.
• No money is allowed to be received from the Employment Office or the Social Welfare Office. 
• How much money actually has to be earned depends on the size of the family.
• The immigration authorities will carefully check the income.
• Having enough space for housing: The apartment should be large enough for a family.
• As a general rule, 12 square meters for each family member of 6 years and over.
• For children under 6 years old, 10 square meters is enough. The offer does not include children up to two years old. In exceptional cases, the apartment can be slightly smaller.
• Having health insurance for the person and his family: As a general rule, the family can also be insured through what is known as "family insurance".
• You can find out more about this in the "Health Insurance" section.
• Speaking German: If the couple wishes to come to Germany via family reunification, they must prove that they speak German at level A1.
• Proof of this with a certificate from a language school.
• This rule does not apply to children under 16 years of age.
• If your child is already over 16 years old, they must also prove that they already speak German.

 Read more: How to reunite in Germany

Where and how can I apply for family reunification?

Family members must submit an application for family reunification in person at the German Embassy or Consulate General in their country or at the German diplomatic mission closest to their country (for Syrians, the German Embassy in Beirut, Amman or Erbil).

The person in Germany must notify the relevant immigration office that he intends to bring his family to Germany. They can be informed by fax or via the website of the German Foreign Office.

By filling out a request/a notice sheet, this notice is known as the “Request for Maintenance of Time Limit”. It is important to keep the message or ascertain who gets it. The notice must be sent within three months of the date it was given; Only then can family reunification be facilitated (the so-called "privilege family reunion").

If the person is from Syria and their family is still there, their application must be submitted online at: familyreunion-syria.diplo.de After submitting the application, the German embassy or consulate will send it to the responsible aliens registration office in Germany.

The Aliens Registration Office will check whether the conditions for family reunification are met. This procedure often takes several months, sometimes more than a year.

Then, if the Immigration Office agrees, the family will receive a visa and can legally travel to Germany. Upon their arrival in Germany, they must apply for a residence permit for family reasons or family asylum at the relevant immigration office.