Family Reunion Visa Germany: Who Can Apply, What Is Required, and How Long It Takes

Germany granted over 100,000 family reunion visas in 2023, yet the average wait for an appointment at the German Embassy Colombo that year was three to eight months. If you start without A1 German or your documents are not apostilled in the right order, that wait stretches further. (Source: German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), 2023 Visa Statistics)

The family reunion visa, known in German as the Visum zur Familienzusammenführung, allows close family members of people legally residing in Germany to join them. It covers spouses, registered partners, minor children, and in specific circumstances, parents and adult children.

This guide explains who qualifies under German law, what documents are required, what language conditions apply, how long the process realistically takes, and where applications most often go wrong. MALIROSA supports Sri Lankan families through this pathway as part of its visa consulting service.

Who Can Apply for a Family Reunion Visa to Germany

The family reunion visa is not available to all family members of all Germany residents. Eligibility depends on the relationship to the person in Germany and the type of residence permit they hold.

Spouse and Partner Visa: The Most Common Family Reunion Pathway

The spouse visa is the most common family reunion visa applied for by Sri Lankan candidates. Whether your spouse holds German citizenship or a long-term German residence permit, the general requirements for joining them in Germany are as follows.

• Valid marriage certificate, officially certified and apostilled. If the marriage took place in Sri Lanka, the certificate must be issued by the relevant Divisional Secretariat, apostilled at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and accompanied by a certified German translation.
• The sponsor in Germany must demonstrate adequate income to support both themselves and the joining spouse, typically at least the German minimum wage for a single household plus a defined additional amount per dependent.
• The sponsor must have adequate housing confirmed in writing, meaning a rental agreement or property document showing that the accommodation is large enough for two people according to German housing standards.
• The joining spouse must demonstrate at least A1 German language ability when joining a German citizen. This is a legal requirement under §30(1) AufenthG (German Residence Act). Exceptions apply in documented hardship cases or where German language learning is not reasonably possible. When joining a non-German spouse holding a German residence permit, the applicable rules depend on the sponsor's specific permit type. (Source: Aufenthaltsgesetz §30(1), 2023)
• Both parties must be over 18. Germany has specific anti-forced-marriage measures that affect the minimum age requirement for spousal visa applications.

The German Language Requirement for Spousal Visa Applicants

The A1 language requirement under §30(1) AufenthG is one of the most significant practical hurdles for Sri Lankan applicants joining a German citizen spouse. Many people in this situation have limited or no prior German language exposure.

A1 is a low threshold in absolute terms, but reaching it requires approximately 80 to 100 guided learning hours and passing the Goethe Institut A1 exam or an equivalent accepted test. The Goethe Institut offers A1 exam preparation in Sri Lanka. MALIROSA offers online German language training from A1 level specifically for candidates preparing for the spousal visa. (Source: Goethe Institut Sri Lanka; MALIROSA language programme, 2024)

The language requirement applies at the time of the visa application, not the appointment booking. Many applicants book their embassy appointment before they have the language certificate; then the appointment arrives, the exam has not been passed, and the application cannot be submitted. Embassy appointments in Colombo are booked via the online system at colombo.diplo.de, and rebooked slots can mean a further 3–6 month wait. (Source: German Embassy Colombo, colombo.diplo.de, 2024)

MALIROSA's approach for spousal visa candidates is to begin German language training at the same time as document preparation, so both streams are completed simultaneously rather than sequentially. This typically saves two to four months of total preparation time.

Note: the A1 requirement does not apply when joining a non-German spouse with a German residence permit in all cases. The specific rules depend on the sponsor's residence status. MALIROSA advises on whether the language condition applies to your specific case.

Family Reunion Visa for Children: What Parents Need to Know

Children under 16 joining both parents in Germany generally have the most straightforward visa pathway. A child joining one parent when the other parent is not in Germany requires evidence of the non-travelling parent's consent or a court order.

For children between 16 and 18, the German language requirement may apply. A child aged 16 or 17 applying to join a parent in Germany must demonstrate the ability to integrate successfully, which German immigration authorities generally interpret as including German language ability. This requirement does not apply to younger children.

The child's birth certificate must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified German translation. If custody is shared or contested, legal documentation clarifying custody rights is required.

How Long the Family Reunion Visa Process Actually Takes

Sri Lankan applicants for family reunion visas should plan for a total process time of six to eighteen months from the start of preparation to arrival in Germany. This range reflects the variable wait times for embassy appointments and document processing.

1. Preparation phase (two to four months): Obtain and apostille all required documents. Complete the A1 German course and examination if required. Confirm income and housing documentation from the sponsor in Germany.
2. Application submission and appointment booking (variable): The German Embassy Colombo appointment system operates through the AIS (Appointment Information System). Wait times for family reunion visa appointments fluctuate. In 2024, wait times of three to eight months were common. Book your appointment as early as possible, ideally before all documents are finalised, as you can continue preparation while waiting.
3. Processing after submission (two to three months): Once your application is submitted, the embassy processes it and may request additional documentation. Average processing time for straightforward family reunion cases is eight to twelve weeks.
4. Visa issuance and travel: Once approved, the visa is typically a national visa (D-Visa) valid for three to six months, within which you must enter Germany and convert it to a residence permit.

Visa decisions are made exclusively by the German Embassy or responsible German authority. MALIROSA provides support with preparation, documentation, and application strategy. We do not guarantee outcomes.

How MALIROSA Supports Sri Lankan Families Through This Process

The family reunion visa process involves multiple parallel streams: document collection and certification, language preparation, income and housing verification by the sponsor in Germany, and embassy appointment management. Candidates who try to manage all of these alone frequently encounter sequencing errors that add months to the process.

MALIROSA works with Sri Lankan families on the full preparation process: advising on which documents are required for the specific family situation, supporting the A1 German language preparation for the joining spouse, coordinating with the sponsor in Germany regarding income and housing documentation, and providing step-by-step guidance through the application process.

Robert and Randima Saiger founded MALIROSA with a direct understanding of what it means to have family on both sides of a border between Sri Lanka and Germany. That personal understanding shapes a service that is practically useful rather than theoretically comprehensive.