How to get a German Residence Card (Aufenthaltskarte) through Marriage

I recently moved to Germany and was able to get a residence permit that was valid for five years along with permission to work. Contrary to what I heard, the entire process was actually simple- after three months I received the card and the only costs I incurred were the price of the permit, about 30 euros, 80 euros for a translated document, and the cost of buying health insurance (about 280 euros for six months). I was eligible for the residence permit as a citizen from outside the EU because I married an EU citizen who has registered her right to live in Germany.

This guide will cover the process I went through which is essentially the same for foreigners from non-EU countries coming to Germany to live with their spouse who is:

  • An EU-member registered to live in Germany
  • A German citizen or permanent resident

Note that moving to Germany for either of these two reasons also entitles you to have the right to work and you don’t need to do anything extra for this in your application.

Also note that same-sex marriages conducted in foreign countries are recognized in Germany as legal civil partnerships that also carry the rights of a residence card and work permit. More about this in the comments below (posted July 13, 2015)

There are three basic steps regarding how to get a German residence card or aufenthaltskarte:

  1. Get to Germany
  2. Register your name and address with your local municipality (Einwohnermeldeamt)
  3. Apply for the residence card/aufenthaltskarte
  4. Notes on required documents
  5. Terms and Vocabulary

Finally it should be distinguished that there are three different types of residence cards, and this information is for the first listed here, which is valid for five years:

  • Aufenthaltskarte Residence Permit: required for non-EU third country nationals, valid for five years, and if you get this based on marriage I believe you can work legally
  • Niederlassungserlaugnis Unlimited Residence Permit: issued after someone has been legally living in Germany for at least five years and can meet certain income and language requirements
  • Blue Card EU: this is for workers with specialized skills who want to come to Germany for a job and requires meeting university degree, salary, and career qualifications

Step 1. Getting to Germany

Depending on a person’s circumstances, simply getting to Germany may prove to be the first significant obstacle to overcome. Below are some of the circumstances people may find themselves in.

Visa Requirement: Depending on your nationality you may also need to have a visa to enter Germany. If you are required to have a visa to travel to Germany, this in itself legally acts as a residence permit and you can find more information about applying for these here. The German Federal Foreign Office maintains a comprehensive list of nationalities that do and do not require an entry visa. Some common countries that do not require entry visas include:

  • EU/EEA member states
  • United States
  • Australia
  • Japan
  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Canada
  • South Korea
  • Mexico
  • Singapore

If you enter Germany and you are not required to have a visa, you must register your name and the address where you are living with the Einwohnermeldeamt (municipal registration office, usually located in the rathaus) within two weeks of your arrival.

Language Requirement: Recent legislation has now mandated a German language requirement for certain people. Even if you have already married abroad, to join your German spouse you now must show that you have a basic level of knowledge of the German language if your spouse has not previously registered his or her right of residence in a different EU country. As a non-EU member spouse, you can prove this language requirement at the Germany embassy or consulate in your home country by completing the first level of a German language course from a well known institute, for example the Start Deutsch 1 course offered by the Goethe Institut. If you cannot reasonably complete a course or do not pass the course after trying for a year then you are exempt from this requirement.

I found this requirement to be particularly funny because it only applies to foreign spouses moving to German citizens who have not lived abroad in another EU country. As a spouse moving to Germany to join your partner, you do not need to meet this language requirement if:

  • Either you or your partner is from an EU-member state (excluding Germany) or Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, or Switzerland
  • Your spouse is a German citizen who has previously taken advantage of his or her right of movement in Europe

Step 2. Registering with Your Local Municiaplity: Einwohnermeldeamt

According to the official phrasing, if you intend to stay longer than 90 days in Germany you must register at your local municipality’s city hall (rathaus) within two weeks of your arrival in the country. Germans are supposed to do this as well thanks to a law targeting radical militant groups operating in the country in the 1970s, but nowadays many do not register with their municipality to protest the invasion of privacy, and face a fine.

Registering at your local rathaus is simple- you just need to bring your passport and rental contract for the place you are living and that’s it. In my case I could not immediately register as “married” because I found out that to do this I needed to have my marriage certificate translated into German. However I did register as “single” which kept me legal and once I had a translated marriage certificate I re-registered as married. If you can get your marriage certificate translated in time you can bring this with you when you initially register and get everything done in one visit.

And a note on translations: these must be done by a German government-sanctioned translator who will give you an official stamp (just do an internet search and find out if the person or company is a certified translator for official German government documents). I sent mine to a translator by mail, and one week and 80 euros later was holding an official translation in my hand.

Once your registration is complete you will receive an official copy when you leave (this document is called your anmeldebestätigung, or certificate of registration). Note that you have just completed the process of registering with your municipality (einwohnermeldeamt), a step on your way to making an application for a residence permit. On that note, don’t forget to ask if your rathaus has an application for an aufenthaltskarte (residence permit)- they often do.

A few important details about when you register

First, you will be asked what religion you are. If you say that you are a particular religion you will have to pay a 1% income tax to the government, who in turn gives this money to support your religious institution. If you say you are not religious you will not be charged this tax, but in the future if you want to have some sort of religious event (wedding, funeral, baptism, etc) you may run into difficulties finding a place of worship where you can do this. Some families that pay the religion tax because it’s easier to get their kids into private Christian kindergartens than wait in line at public kindergartens.

Second, the GEZ tax. There is a convoluted history about the GEZ tax, which is collected to support broadcasting (like a TV/radio fee), and technically isn’t a tax even though everyone must pay it. Until January 2013 you could avoid paying this if you did not own a TV, radio, or have access to the internet (and you may have needed to avoid volunteer inspectors who would come to your door and try and trick you into revealing a hidden TV). Now to simplify things everyone must pay this.

It comes out to something like 18.50 euros each month, and if you don’t pay it you will be fined a thousand euros or some such (I haven’t heard of this happening since the new system went into action in 2013). The reason this segment is included here is because a private company combs through rathaus civil registrations looking for new people and then reports its findings to a different company affiliated with the state that collects the so-called GEZ tax. So once you register you can expect to start getting letters in the mail requesting you to pay your monthly fee. Anyway you have bigger things to worry about now like getting your residence permit.

And finally, remember that law that says you must register within two weeks of arriving in Germany if you intend to stay longer than 90 days. If you don’t do this you can theoretically be fined something like 500 euros. However this is obviously ambiguous because of the phrasing, “intend to stay.” Who is to say when you began, “intending to stay,” but if it reassures you, in my case I registered about 50 days after I arrived in Germany and everything was fine.

Step 3. Applying for a Residence Permit / Aufenthaltskarte

Now that you have an anmeldebestätigung (certificate of registration with your local municipality) you can begin to get things in order to submit with your application for a residence permit/aufenthaltskarte.

You will need to make an application for your residence permit through your local authority. If you live in a smaller town this is called the Landratsamt, (the specific department within the Landratsamt is the Ordnungsamt). If you live in a city this is called something like Ausländerbehörde, located within your city’s rathaus.

This is the main governmental office for your district or region where you live. You can do an internet search or ask at your local rathaus where your landratsamt/Ausländerbehörde is. Just be careful to get the right one: landratsamt if you live in a small town or village; Ausländerbehörde if you live in a bigger city (this is what I’ve found with my experience anyway).

There’s a chance the application for your residence card will be on your local Landratsamt/Ausländerbehörde’s website, and it might even be in your native language. The applications is called “Antrag auf erteilung einer aufenthaltserlaubnis” — look for this on your Landratsamt/Ausländerbehörde’s website or do an internet search for this + your local Landratsamt/Ausländerbehörde.

This is what you will need to include with your residence permit/aufenthaltskarte:

  • Copy of your passport showing your name, picture, and expiration date
  • Copy of your health insurance
  • Two biometric photos
  • Proof of your income or employment, needs to be at least around 700 euros per month and can be in the form of a letter from your employer, bank statements, or adequate savings statements
  • Marriage certificate in German
  • Your anmeldebestätigung (municipal registration certificate)
  • Identification Card

A few days after I mailed all this in I received my federal tax identification number — this allowed me to work legally — and then a few weeks later (about three) had my final appointment at the Landratsamt. This part was easy: I showed up, they took my fingerprints, asked me how tall I was, and that was basically it. I received a piece of paper with instructions on submitting about 30 euros to a bank account to pay for my residence permit and three weeks later I got a notice from my local rathaus that I could go there to pick up my residence permit, valid for five years with the authorization for me to work in Germany.

Part 4. Notes on Required Items

The required items you need to submit raise some obvious questions, beginning with health insurance. After I submitted my application to the Landratsamt I got a letter about a week later saying I needed to submit some additional things, and the information I learned then will now be included in the following details.

Health Insurance – how much coverage do you need and for how long do you need it?

When I initially mailed in my application I had roughly a month until my current health insurance expired- it was a policy for emergency coverage of up to 55,000 euros, and cost about 35 euros a month (I found it by searching the web). I bought the same policy for the maximum amount of time my company allowed (six months), printed off the actual part of their website that said the maximum future coverage I could buy was six months, and resent this to the Landratsamt.

Proof of Income or Employment – In my case I’m self-employed so I printed out my most recent eight months of deposits from my bank account and this worked. I was actually surprised here because I thought there would be a much stricter investigation of my earnings than just a look through my deposit history.

Identification Card – This was another item I was asked to resubmit. At first I sent my home-state’s ID card which I suspected wouldn’t be accepted because it was not issued by my country’s federal government. However I didn’t want to be separated from my passport so when I got a letter asking for this I responded with a letter saying it was the law that I always keep my passport with me. I couldn’t believe this either but that worked and my application proceeded to go through.

Part 5. Terms and Vocabulary

Aufenthaltskarte – Residence Card

Einwohnermeldeamt – Municipal Registration Office, usually located in the rathaus

Rathaus – City Hall

Anmeldebestätigung – Certificate of Registration

Landratsamt’s Ordnungsamt or Rathaus’ Ausländerbehörde – Government office for your district, city, or region that manages the aufenthaltskarte application

Comment Directory

Please note that I’m just an average person who got a residence permit in Germany. Perhaps I can offer useful suggestions for you if you are in a very similar situation as myself. Otherwise, I really can’t provide you with any better information than what you would find on the BAMF website.

If you have questions about immigrating to Germany that aren’t based on my own situation (and even if you do), please check through the following links and comment directory. Feel free to ask any question, as I hope someone out there who was in a similar situation might be reading and leave you a relevant answer. I’ll periodically organize questions and sort them by category, however I can’t guarantee a response.

Most important of all, I would encourage anyone who asks a question to post back later with details about how their situation turns out. This is where we can all get the most valuable details.

[you can search for keywords on this page by pressing ctrl+f (cmd+f on an Apple)]

Helpful BAMF Website Links:

English speakers living in Germany will also find many helpful suggestions through the website Toytown Germany.

Visitor Questions:

585 thoughts on “How to get a German Residence Card (Aufenthaltskarte) through Marriage”

  1. Anonymous

    I’m a US national living in Berlin. I got married to a non-German EU-member-state woman and have an Aufenthaltskarte. I was wondering what happens after that? Can I then apply for permanent residency and not have to worry about visa appointments in the future?

    Thanks for any insights,

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator

      Hello and thanks for your question,

      You can probably find most of the answer to your question here:
      http://www.bamf.de/EN/DasBAMF/Aufgaben/Daueraufenthalt/daueraufenthalt-node.html

      You will notice there are five points on the list that apply to you to be eligible for permanent residence:

      –Having uninterrupted five-year legal residence in Germany
      securing a livelihood (including adequate health and care insurance) with long-term and regular income
      –Fulfilling tax obligations and adequate provision for old age
      –Acquiring an adequate knowledge of the German language, basic knowledge of the legal and social systems and living conditions in Germany, such as can be acquired from attending an integration course, for example
      –Representing no risk to public security and order by violating the legal system (in particular criminal law), for example, or by taking part in extremist or terrorist activities
      –Having adequate living space

      You probably don’t need to worry about most of those. There are three things that stick out: the German language requirement, health care requirement, and provisions for old age.

      As for the language requirement, this isn’t too difficult even if you never plan to learn German. The law states you need to have A1 or B1 language skills, but this is currently being debated (http://www.dw.de/european-court-overturns-law-requiring-german-language-skills-for-spouse-visas/a-17772143).  You might as well develop your skills to the B1 level just to be safe- that’s not hard, basically survival German. And maybe you even plan on learning German anyway. If you go from A1 to B1 the German government even offers an integration scholarship that will reduce the cost of your German courses by 50 percent once you have reached the B1 level.

      If you are working full-time for a German employer you will have health insurance and retirement taken care of. If not you need to get those things in order before you can apply for permanent residence.

      I was able to get the 5-year residency card with the most basic travel health insurance ($35/month) so I suspect this could also work for the permanent residence card. If you find you need German insurance this is at minimum something like 300 euros per month if you are not employed full-time by a German employer (in which case this amount or more would be taken out of your monthly salary). There are a number of private and public health insurance companies you can buy in to.

      For the retirement/pension- I recently spoke with a German social worker who said the law states you need to have been paying into a pension/retirement system for 5-7 years (5 years if you speak German and have a steady German job, up to 7 years if your German is at the B1 level and your employment isn’t totally secure). Companies will typically allow you to buy into the pension system retroactively, ie you could buy five years’ worth now. Start checking with a pension company if you aren’t already in the system. Unlike the US where your pension is taken care of by your employer/Social Security, Germany has companies that are specifically for pensions. As far as how much this would cost- I was looking into this recently and remember seeing seeing a pension plan for something like 70 euros per month. Retroactively for five years this would be around 70x12x5= 4,200 euros. If you end up moving away from Germany there may also be ways to recover this money you spent.

      Hope this helps!

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      Reply ↓
      1. nabin4me

        Really appreciate these pieces of informations.

        I have been married to EU citizen (non German). What is the next step after the marriage is registered?

        And I have 3 months valid visa left on my student residents card which I can under normal circumstances Renew after it expires as a students.

        Is it possible to apply for another residence card by submitting marriage certificate or i should wait till the current expires? What kind of documents I need to submit? I have 5000 euros in my account right now. Should I give proof that my spouse is working in germany? Or, it’s just enough showing that I am doing part-time work as a student.

        Finally ,will I apply at my own city or her city? How can I go about it?

      2. mmq

        Hello
        I am pakistani muslim women living in germany. I am working in university as research associate and i have EU blue card. My question is i am going to have a baby and i am not married. can i register my baby for resident permit on my behalf? Pakistani embassy will never give my baby passport or id bcz i am not married and their laws are not in favor of that. what should i do to register my baby in germany for resident permit and get him/her registered so he can travel and also study here too in future. I know its complicated. father of baby left and he has nothing to do with me anymore and he dont want to give his name and id. and to be honest i also dont want him near me and my baby also. is there any solution to my problem?

    2. Joan

      Hi.. My husband is a Romanian and he is living and working in Germany.. I am a Filipino having two children in my previous partner.. Is it possible I can bring my two kids in Germany? My kids is 5years old and 6years old.. If I can bring there with me at the same time what is there requirements?

      Reply ↓
      1. Administrator Post author

        Hello Joan,

        Yes, Germany’s Residence Act (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html#p0415) says you can bring your children if they are minors and you have a German residence permit.

        Here is the page from BAMF about how you can do this: http://www.bamf.de/EN/Migration/Arbeiten/Familiennachzug/familiennachzug-node.html

        Basically it says you have to have a large enough house/apartment and you must have secure income (and I assume they also consider your husband’s income as well).

        Hope this helps

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      2. Joan

        So it means I need to go in Germany first to get a residence permit before I can bring my kids?

      3. Administrator Post author

        I see what you mean- from how it reads on the website it sounds like you would have to first live in Germany before your kids could apply.

        I would imagine the government would realize it is impractical, and that you can bring your kids when you apply for a resident permit.

        I would guess that when you fill out your application for a residence card with the Landratsamt that there is a place to list your children, or you could all apply at the same time.

        Obviously you are wanting to be certain of this before you leave your country, so I would advise contacting the Landratsamt office for the region where you would be moving in Germany.

        Maybe someone else reading will also provide you with the specific method of applying for a residence card with children while in Germany.

        Good luck and hope this helps

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    3. Ashley Howard

      Hi there,

      Great post, very clear and concise.

      I am going through the very same process, however, there are changes in 2021 and the application has become an online service, which has limitations to the flexibility of the documents that need to be submitted.

      Regarding the employment, what if you are not employed? I am a non-EU citizen who is married to an eu citizen who lives in Germany. I am migrating there, however, do not have a job, and have not been employed for 2 years due to full-time study in my country of origin. I am Australian, therefore I have passage into Germany on Bi-lateral visa wavers, and can apply for residency on German soil.

      Do you know if it is possible to apply without being employed. And if it is a matter of submitting income or savings statements, what is the figure the authorities would like to see?

      Much appreciated.

      Reply ↓
  2. daniel

    Hello, and thank you for this post!, I’m in almost the same situation and this is the most direct account of the proccess that I could find online. Would you mind sharing which health insurance you chose?
    Cheers!

    Reply ↓
    2. Anonymous

      Hi, my wife is romania,am not a eu citezen ,we decide to go to live in germany,i want ask if am the right to look for job there thank you

      Reply ↓
      1. Administrator Post author

        Yes I believe you have the right to work in Germany, but for someone to hire you, you need a tax id number and probably residence permit. You get these once you register in the rathaus and apply for the residence permit. For many mini jobs the employers don’t ask for your tax id or residence permit. Good luck.

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    1. Administrator Post author

      Greetings,
      Yes, it is the same procedure for same sex marriages that took place in a foreign country.

      As of now, Germany doesn’t allow same-sex marriages, though it does allow same-sex civil partnerships. These partnerships are a legal status that brings many of the same rights as marriage (including a residence card/work permit), however and significantly, same-sex partners cannot get the same tax credits as officially married people nor can they adopt children together.

      As such, a foreign same-sex marriage is recognized in Germany as a same-sex civil partnership, and such a partnership makes you eligible for a residence card/work permit.

      Thanks for the question- I’ll make a note of this in the main body of this page above.

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  4. Anonymous

    Hello, i am a non EU citizen in possession of an Aufenthalskarte when i got a baby with an EU citizen living in Germany. The EU citizen left Germany before the expiration of my 5 year stay and the authorities asked me to leave the country. How can i sort this out?

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello,
      You have at least a few options- the first is to appeal the decision that you have to leave. You could also try to apply and extend your residence permit, and they may also make considerations for you if you are working for a German employer. For instance, if you have a suitable job and have lived in Germany for two years then you might be able to get a settlement permit.

      BAMF also has advice centers you can call or visit to get help with this, http://www.bamf.de/SiteGlobals/Functions/WebGIS/EN/WebGIS_Regionalstelle.html.

      Good luck!

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      Reply ↓
      1. Sergey

        How do the authorities check if EU citizen left Germany? Do the German authorities watch for everyone non EU family member and their spouses? Is it legal ?

      2. Administrator Post author

        Here is an article that explains visas: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/visa-information-system/index_en.htm

        Basically it says all countries within the the EU/Schengen Zone can share information about your visa, and when you enter/leave the EU/Schengen zone. However there is no way to keep track of which country you are living in within the EU/Schengen zone once you are inside.

        Within Germany you are supposed to unregister with your local municipality once you leave the country, so this is one way the German authorities could tell you left the country.

        However realistically, you could just continue living in Germany and not register yourself with the municipality- but in this case you couldn’t really access any services (register a car, register for any city services) and it might interfere with getting a job, health insurance, etc.

        If you did this you also might run into trouble when you finally did leave the EU/Schengen zone and the authorities see that you’ve been there longer than 90 days.\

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      3. Sergey

        If I (non EU family member) and my spouse (citizen EU) would register themselves in local municipality but after my spouse (citizen EU) need would go out from EU/Schengen Zone for some time.
        So how long my spouse (citizen EU) can be out of EU in order that I, (non EU family member) do not loose my right (residence card-Aufenthalskarte) be in Germany as a non EU family member?

      4. Administrator Post author

        Maybe someone else reading this will have a good answer for you- for me I can tell that my spouse (EU citizen) left Germany for four months (un-registered from our municipality) while I (non-EU citizen) remained in Germany, and it was no problem.

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  5. John

    Hello
    Please clarify Language Requirement:
    My spouse is citizen of Romania. I am non EU family member. Must I pass exam in German language if I came together with my spouse to Germany?
    I have not seen obligations pass German language for Non EU family members http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/residence/documents-formalities/non-eu-family-members-residence-card/germany/index_en.htm

    After 3 months in your host country, your non-EU family members must register their residence with the relevant authorities (often the town hall or local police station).

    To obtain a residence card, they will need:

    a valid passport
    your registration certificate as an EU national or any other proof of your residence in the country
    proof of the family relationship with you (such as a marriage or birth certificate)
    for (grand)children, proof they are under 21 or dependent on you
    for (grand)parents, proof that they are dependent on you
    for other family members, proof that they are dependent on you or there are serious health ground requiring you to take personal care of them
    for unmarried partners, proof of a long-term or durable relationship with you
    No other documents may be requested.
    http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/residence/documents-formalities/non-eu-family-members-residence-card/index_en.htm#!lightbox-uid-0

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Greetings John and thanks for your questions,

      There is no German language requirement for you in your case for a five-year residence permit (aufenthalskarte). Ironically from what I’ve read on the BAMF website, if your spouse was a German citizen who had not lived abroad you would need to be able to speak at the A1 level. (http://www.bamf.de/EN/Migration/EhepartnerFamilie/ehepartnerfamilie-node.html)

      I got my residence card without needing to fulfill any language requirement. However if you want to get a permanent residence card you need to speak German at the B1 or B2 level.

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      Reply ↓
      1. Jian

        Is there any exception to the language requirements A1 , if the foreign spouse is already in Germany and registered same address with his German spouse?

        The foreign spouse is a student and working, can understand little German but no certificate from any of these Goethe or testdaf.

  6. John

    “Proof of your income or employment, needs to be at least around 700 euros per month and can be in the form of a letter from your employer, bank statements, or adequate savings statements”
    Please explain. Should I submit only bank statement around 700 euros per month for proof of mine income? It would be very easy having just 700 euros to get Residence Card (Aufenthaltskarte) in Germany. I thought the sum must be spread for more long period of time (6 month)

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      I would say submit whatever you can to show that you have enough money (and employment) to support yourself while you live in Germany. What I did was submit my bank records showing regular deposits of around 700 euros per month, and these records stretched back six months (if you have older records that show regular income I would think that’s even better). I also submitted bank records showing my savings.

      Hope this helps!

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      Reply ↓
      1. Sergey

        What about my spouse -citizen EU? Should she submit some documents? I have known that EU citizen must do following activities: Employment, Self-employment, Study,residing with sufficient resource,lookig for job…

      2. Administrator Post author

        As far as I know if you are an EU citizen you don’t need to do anything except register with the local municipality- and that is just a procedure, they don’t ask for proof of employment or that you are looking for a job.

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      3. Sergey

        Does your Residence Card (Aufenthaltstitel) as non EU Family member let you work in Germany? Does non EU Family member have right to work with Aufenthaltstitel in Germany? Can non EU Family member to work with Residence Card (Aufenthaltstitel)?

      5. Sergey

        Please clarify. So I am non EU citizen can I submit for getting the Residence Card my bank statement from non EU Bank,for example from Russian Bank? Or can I submit payslips from my employer from Russia?

      6. Administrator Post author

        I think you can submit both. I only submitted my bank statements from a foreign bank (USA)- they were all in English too, not in German. I would say print yours out in a way that clearly shows regular deposits and savings. You could even highlight those.

        What I brought were printed off from my bank website. I also suspect a lot depends on the person who handles your case/interview.

        Good luck

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  7. Igor

    Hello and I must thank you for being a very good source of information.I would like to ask you if you might know something about my case.My girlfriend is a citizen of EU myself non-EU citizen she is studying in Germany and have registered her staying here.We are planing to get married (we are together for now 2 years). Should we do it here in Germany or elsewere (Denmark)?And will I be permitted to work? I have on my bank account 5000 euros and I will get appropriate insurance.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Igor and thanks for the question,

      I’m not sure of the exact money requirement, however you have more in savings than I did when I first got my residence card. In addition to bank savings statements I also showed that I had regular income from being self-employed of about 800 euros per month (showing bank deposits for the past six months).

      Once you are married to an EU citizen who is registered in Germany then you as a non-EU citizen can also work (it took me about two-three weeks to get my tax number once I applied). That is all included with the residence card application.

      As for getting married in Denmark or Germany, I can’t say much on either because I wasn’t married in either. I would say just get married wherever it is easiest for you both, and then get your marriage certificate officially translated into German and you will be all set.

      Best of luck to you!

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      Reply ↓
  8. Sergey

    Hello
    Have you met with demands for home size when you apply on Residence Card? Some people said that need 12 square meters per person.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Yes, I remember I needed my landlord to fill something out that said how big the place was. And yes, I believe the rule is you need 12 square meters per person (I think it is somewhat less if you are living in a dormitory).

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      Reply ↓
      1. Sophie

        Hi, I am an EU citizen (British) who has just moved to Berlin, my husband (Colombian) is applying for the family reunification visa where if approved, he will apply for the residency card once he arrives in Germany. The embassy have requested proof of my income and a rental contract, my current subcontract states the size of the apartment, do you think this is enough or will they request an extra form to be filled in regarding accommodation size? Thanks

      2. Administrator Post author

        Hi Sophie, it sounds like you will be fine if your contract states the size already.

  9. Igor

    Hi Sergey,
    Yes,she is living in a small place,but it has 25 square m. so that’s about right.I would like to know how much money we have to have and is 5000 euros enough.

    Reply ↓
  10. Mike

    Hi there. Thanks for all the info! Did the process for you exceed 90 days? I’m an Australian citizen and therefore am only eligible to be within the Schengen zone for 90 days out of a 180 day period. Slightly nervous about overrunning this duration if I start this process upon arrival in Germany (particularly late in the year with assumed delays over the holidays, and given I’ve already had a few days in Europe). Do you have any knowledge on whether starting the application process provides additional leeway on staying in the Schengen zone, or any other recommendations? Appreciate the help!

    Reply ↓
    1. Stanislav

      I can tell you what it’s like in Poland (since Poland is in the EU, I believe the same works for Germany or any other EU country as well), when you apply for a RC of whatever EU country, they put a stamp into your pasport which allows you to stay in the country till your RC is issued. Even if it takes up to 6 months. But if you’re married to an EEA/EU national you can stay in Europe for as long as you wish, the RC is not obligatory but it CAN help you prove your residence right and right to work in the EU.

      Reply ↓
      1. Mike

        Thank you, Stanislav. In the instance there is no bridging visa, would the application continue if I had to leave temporarily (and say, my wife, who is a German national, was still in the country)?

      2. Stanislav

        You can defenitely leave and move within the EU (shenghen zone, since there’re no borders), I’m not sure how it would work if you wanted to travel abroad (back to Australia) after the 3 month expiration period with just a stamp in your passport. You can do it before those 90 days expire but once this 3 month period has expired you cannot cross the border and have to wait till you get the desicion.
        I’m sure, when you come to the Office where you apply for a RC they will tell you how it works for the Australians, perhaps it will turn out that the Australians have some exceptions and more benefits, than other non-EU citizens, at last Australia is on the White List Country and on the Common Wealth List as well.

    2. Administrator Post author

      Hello Mike, yes my process went over 90 days and I just assumed I would be okay exceeding that because I was being processed. Not sure technically what the rules are though. It sounds like Stanislav has a better idea about that. Good luck
      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  11. dejan

    Hello, I have some questions,
    I am 24 years old. My Father have EU passport and my mother and sister have aufethalskarte(by my father) and now they live in Germany. I don`t have aufethalskarte and i live now in non-EU country. Can i now apply for aufenthals karte becouse i live alone in non-EU country and my family live in Germany and I am 24 old and I am unmarried? Thanks for answer.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Dejan, from reading this pamphlet it looks like you must be 18 years old or less to join your family.
      http://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/EN/Publikationen/Broschueren/bildung-und-beruf-in-deutschland.pdf?__blob=publicationFile#page=29

      However it seems like there could be an exception for your case because your family is in Germany. I’m not familiar with this area of immigration, so I would recommend checking with the German embassy or consulate in your home country. Best of luck to you, and perhaps someone else reading has better information

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
      1. Anonymous

        Check or rather go to the German embassy in your country where you live and they will guide you on what to do….. Good luck to you.

  12. Babs

    Hello? I’m a family member of EU citizen from Sweden… she came and we got married here in Germany. she went back after the marriage and I’m here in Germany.. can I apply for the resident permit as a family member of EU citizen here in Germany… or what should I do to get my resident permit pls help me?

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Babs,

      I believe you will run into problems applying for the residence permit in Germany (assuming you are a non-EU citizen) if your spouse is also not registered as living in Germany.

      This person was in a similar situation, and once the spouse left Germany this person also had to leave: (https://openbordersimmigration.com/residence-card-aufenthaltskarte-in-germany-through-marriage/#comment-115)

      If you are set on staying in Germany and getting a residence card through marriage then I think your spouse will need to register herself as living in Germany (Einwohnermeldeamt) at your local rathaus.

      Good luck!

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
      1. Babs

        Tnx for your concern.

        – How long it will take for her to registered when she comes..

        – Is she supose to work before she can registered.

        – How long I can aply for the permit. after she as registered.

        – Can I apply even if she is not working? tnx…

        Ca

      2. Administrator Post author

        Hello again Babs

        You basically just follow the process that is detailed on this page. Once you get the marriage license translated into German by an official translator you can register at the city hall immediately as a married couple. Neither of you need to be working to register at the city hall, but to get a residence permit you will have to show that you make enough to support yourself, or show that she makes enough to support you both.

        As for your other question about if she can go back to Sweden: I’m not sure how much communication the governments of Sweden and Germany have about that. Perhaps someone else reading will have something more to say on that topic.

        Hope you get it worked out

        Back to Comment Directory

      3. pammy

        Dear Sir I am from India merrige with Romania eu girl
        She is regestern in Austria I am waiting for 3 month
        Aufentaltskarte karte how long thayou took thanks a lot

      4. Arda

        Hi!! I’m a non European also at the end of my 1year freelancer permit in Germany. I’m about to marry my danish girlfriend who’s also living in Germany since 9months age and will quit her job contract in 2 months(total 11months). I just got told if we marry now, she will not be able to get her non European spouse a residence permit unless she has worked in Germany at least 12 months under insurance. How likely is this to be true? Would we have such requirements for me to live with her on Germany or in any country in Europe or she would have to prove income for me to get a permit ?
        Many thanks 🙏🏻

    2. juliud

      Hello, if you and your wife lived in Germany for more than 5 years, then you have no problem but if less than, then you will be ask to live Germany. But if you have a job and you are not receiving any social benefit, then contact a lawyer.

      Reply ↓
      1. Babs

        Tnx. Do you think she can still go back to Sweden after she have register to settled in Germany. she have a baby is she supose to register together with the baby. or you think she can live the baby in her country….

  13. John

    Hello,
    I have two passports. One passport have schengen visa but other passport do not have the visa.
    If I mail to Landratsamt the passport without schengen visa will it normal ? I do not want mail to Landratsamt the passport with the visa because the passport can be needed in any moment for movement to my home country. As I understand the Landratsamt need the passport just for identification of person, not for checking visa. Right ?
    And should I translate documents for Landratsamt into German language? Where can I find translators from Romanian or Russian language in Germany?

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello John,

      First just confírm: you are a non-EU citizen wanting to get a residence card based on your marriage to an EU citizen.

      In my experience I didn’t need to send my passport, I just took it with me to show for ID when I went to the Landratsamt for my appointment.

      However I did have a Swedish residence permit, and they requested I send this in with my application. I wrote a letter explaining that I needed to keep this residence permit because I may need to travel to another EU country, and if I did not have this then I would have no proof that I had legally overstayed my 90 days. So, perhaps you could write a similar explanation about your passports- in any case maybe you can get around sending even one in by making an appointment to show them in person. Or maybe they would accept a copy of your passport. Maybe start by writing a letter explaining your circumstance along with a copy of your passport, then if they need more they will ask.

      As for the translation of the documents: you must do that for your marriage certifícate (just search online for something like “certifíed/official German translator for Russian/Romanian,” and when you fínd someone confírm they are certifíed to translate for the German government.

      For translating bank statements to show your income/savings- I’m not sure. Mine were in English and shown in dollars, and there wasn’t much writing, just numbers (and I highlighted all deposits), so they accepted that without a translation.

      Hope that helps and good luck

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
      1. John

        Dear Administrator.
        Thanks a lot for answer.
        You wrote above about the list of documents for getting Aufenthaltskarte.
        You mentioned “Identification Card” (last in the list). Whose is the “Identification Card” ? Spouse (non EU citizen) or of the spouse (EU citizen)?

      2. Administrator Post author

        Hello again, I meant my identification card (the applicant’s)- in my case it was a driver’s license from my home state, but I would guess any official government-issued picture identification would work.

  14. ewald

    Hi

    What an informative page. I am probably asking a question that has been answered before.

    Myself (South African) and my wife (British) are arriving in Germany on the 25th of April. I have applied for a tourist visa to enter (as spouse of a EU citizen). We have a place to stay with family at first and we have enough money saved up to last a few months when we find our own place (for rent, food, health insurance, etc). Until my wife finds a job and i can legally work.

    -Does she register within 2 weeks of our arrival alone (just for herself and only says she is married with presenting our marriage certificate)?

    -Then only once she is employed, before my visa expires and 3 months have passed do I apply for a residence permit based on the fact that she is employed and we have permanent residence?

    thank you so much.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Ewald,
      The “two weeks” rule for registering actually depends on what state you are in, but I believe that is the shortest period allowed by any state. Check with the state you’ll be living in because you might actually have enough time to get your marriage certifícate translated before you both have to register.

      However, she can register as single, and then go back later and change her status from single to married once you’ve got the marriage certifícate translated.

      And for the second point, you are correct. Once she (you both) are registered as being married at the rathaus you can apply for a residence permit based on that, and you will need to show that you can support yourself (or that she can support you both). Ideally this is before your three months pass, but you also have the option to extend your visa, I believe for up to a total of six months.

      Enjoy!

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
      1. ewald

        Thank you

        We are going to Munich, Hirschgarten to be exact.

        thank you for your swift response. We are very excited for our new future in Germany with our family.

      2. Administrator Post author

        I think in Bavaria you are supposed to register within two weeks of arriving. That sounds like fun, good luck not to drink too much beer 🙂

      3. carlajess

        Hi again

        I got my visitor visa for Germany today and it is only valid for 5 weeks as those were the dates of my flights.

        Will this be enough time to register our stay and apply for RC? Is it possible?

        Will I be able to stay longer than the visa on the basis that I am married to an EU citizen?

        Obviously we are going to try and get it all done as soon as we get there.

      4. Administrator Post author

        Hello again,
        It looks like, according to the following, as long as you have applied for your residence permit soon after entering Germany, then you can stay in Germany while this is processed even if it is longer than your current visa. Of course, I’m not positive on this, but this is what the law says:

        “(3) If a foreigner who is legally resident in the federal territory and does not possess a residence title applies for a residence title, his or her residence shall be deemed to be permitted up to the time of the decision by the foreigners authority.”

        http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html#p1088

        Back to Comment Directory

      5. Fareen Shaikh

        Hi,

        This post is super helpful, but I have a couple of questions. I’m an Indian married to a Portugal citizen. We have not registered our marriage in Portugal yet as we got married in India. Since I’m short on time as I will be visiting my husband in Berlin who is an EU citizen on a tourist visa, during my visit I’m planning to apply for my residence permit . Following are my questions :

        1, How do I register our marriage and status of our marriage at the Rathaus? and how long does the registration take? What are the documents that are needed to be submitted?
        2. Is it important that we register our marriage at the Rathaus?
        2. Can I apply for my residence permit when I’m traveling on my tourist visa?
        3. Do I need to show my indian savings account to prove myself as self sufficient while applying for my RP? His monthly income is above 2000 euros.

        Awaiting your reply. I’m extremely worried .

        Thank,
        FareenH

      6. Ram

        Does your husband has a work with income of roughly more than 1400 after taxes euro. Then you come to Berlin first on tourist visa. Go to city hall or area rathous with your marrige certificate English or german translation and tell them to register you in your husband’s Berlin apartment address then the will do It in few mints and willl give you a paper confirming that.Then go to Berlin migration office together with both of your passport. Tell you want to apply for residence card. Then they will give you a paper mentionig what documents to bring. Before then they wil ask the marriage certificate with German embassy stamp in India. If you don’t have they wil ask you to pay 400-600 euro for them to check if the marrige is true and to confirm and to legalize the marriage in Germany. It will take about 3 months. Depend on your visa situation they will extend the visa or may be not most probably will extend till marrige certificate legalization finish so till it comes can stay with husband in Germany.

  15. John

    Dear Administrator,
    Could you write name company where you bought insurance for 35 per month?
    I tried find insurance equally to yours but failed.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello John, it was this company: http://www.imglobal.com/en/img-insurance/travel-medical-insurance/patriot-travel-medical-insurance.aspx

      And I should also mention: while this worked for the residence permit in my case, I’m not sure (and I actually doubt) it would work for a permanent residence permit after five years (for this you also have to show proof of medical insurance).

      Now as I try and find health insurance that will qualify me for the permanent residence permit, I’ve been told by one company that I need to buy health insurance retroactively (in other words, pay this German insurance company for the past three years) if I want to sign on.

      Anyway, I think I can get it sorted out fine, but the point is that if you plan on staying in Germany for a long time then you might as well look into getting health insurance from an German company and avoid potential future hassle. Cheers

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  16. jian

    Hi All.

    Thanks for the contributions here.

    kindly review this please;-

    – A 34 years old german citizen.

    + with four kids for two africa man (from Ghana and Niger), two kids for each
    (oldest child 17yrs, youngest – 9yrs).

    Planing to marry-

    -Another 28years-old Ghanian who is currently on student visa, of course he has no academic/studies problem whatsoever.
    with 7 months remaining visa out of 2years.

    +1.) Please is there hindrances you might think of in getting resident if the marriage will be suceesful at all?

    +2.) will he need to wait till the initial 2years is due for renewal or he can process another permit now if possible?

    considering the financial situation ;……
    The german spouse is not working, on governmental welfare and not planing to work for now.

    +2.) Do you think applying for the three years german spouse resident permit will be successful based on the fianancial requirement?
    though the foreign spouse have student work permit (450 eur basis) and working.
    but they both live in different city because of his studies.

    +3) And if the condition still remain that the german spouse not working till after three years but the student is working (maybe still part-time cos of studies 450eur ).
    is it possible to naturalize( apply for German passports) fulfilling the language requirements and other tests?.

    Thanks for your response in anticipation

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Jian, according to Section 28 of the Residence Act (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html#p0382), it looks like as your spouse he can get a resident permit and money issues don’t matter. However, this doesn’t talk about getting married in Germany, only about a foreign spouse coming to join a German citizen.

      Regarding naturalization later, this page (http://www.bamf.de/EN/Einbuergerung/InDeutschland/indeutschland-node.html) says he must have independent means of securing a living (including for family members entitled to maintenance) without resorting to welfare payments and unemployment benefits.

      Hope this helps, and hopefully others have more information to add to this based on personal experience.

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
      1. Jian

        Really appreciate these pieces of informations.

        However I will like to ask :
        What is the next step after the marriage is registered in my spouse city, will I have to register again in my city where i studied?

        And I have 7months valid visa left on my student residents card which I can under normal circumstances Renew after it expires as a students.

        Is it possible/make sense to apply for another one as a German spouse or i should wait till the current expires?

        Finally ,will I apply at my own city or her city? How can I go about it?

      2. Administrator Post author

        Hello Jian, once you get married then you can change your registration at your local city hall (where you are registered now) from single to married. They might give you a hard time if you aren’t together, but maybe if you explain your situation they will understand. Once I went to register and my wife was working that day, and they let me register as “married” even though I was by myself.

        And I think once you are married, and registered as such in your city hall, then you can apply immediately for a residence permit based on marriage- you don’t need to wait until your student residence permit expires.

        Hope that also helps and good luck

        Back to Comment Directory

  17. John

    Dear Administrator,
    This link say that non EU citizen should submit – Proof of the right to free movement of the EU/EEA citizen
    …for non-employed persons: proof of health insurance and means of subsistence
    https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324282/en/

    So in addition to my insurance I should also give insurance from my wife. Is not it ?
    Did authority demand from you health insurance of your spouse?

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello John, I only submitted insurance for myself. My wife was not required to submit insurance for my application. I see from the link you sent that it does appear this may be a requirement for an EU/EEA citizen spouse.

      Perhaps in my case it was not required because I had a stable income. In fact, at the time I applied my EU-citizen spouse was a student (not working) and did not have German health insurance- only the basic emergency health insurance that all EU-citizens have throughout the EU.

      Hope this helps- I suppose you can apply with what you have and see what happens. Good luck

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  18. Ver Bonifacio

    Hi,
    Thank you so much for posting this. As a non-EU, I find it very helpful. I hope you can help me with my situation. So, here goes.

    My boyfriend is German and I am Filipino currently living in Denmark as an aupair. My residence permit here in Denmark expires in July 2016. We are planning to get married around April or so. My first question is, where do you think is better for us to get married, in Germany or in Denmark?

    After the marriage, do I need to get a visa for Germany even though my residence permit in Denmark has not yet expired? And will I be eligible to apply for a residence permit in Germany once we are married?

    And lastly, once I move to Germany, I will not yet have any kind of work and I am only an aupair here in Denmark. Will that be a problem when it comes to applying for the residence permit? What do you recommend that I should do? My boyfriend is employed.

    Best regards,

    Verity

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Verity,
      First, I believe you can stay anywhere in the EU as long as your Danish residence permit is valid, however you will still need to register with your local city once you move to Germany (this is different from applying for a German residence permit).

      As for where to get married- one thing you may consider is that it looks like you don’t need to meet the German language requirement if your marriage took place outside of Germany. This is what the next link appears to say.

      That language requirement applies if your boyfriend has never lived in another EU country besides Germany. If not, then you may need to show you know basic German once you apply for a residence card based on marriage. More about that here: http://www.bamf.de/EN/Migration/EhepartnerFamilie/ehepartnerfamilie-node.html)

      For moving to Germany as the spouse of a German citizen: according to the law quoted below, it looks like you have the right to a German residence permit as the spouse of a German citizen. However I haven’t been able to find any information about a minimum income requirement or other related details.

      http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html#p0360

      Congratulations on your upcoming marriage and good luck

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  19. John

    Dear Administrator
    You wrote: “A few days after I mailed all this in I received my federal tax identification number, and then a few weeks later (about three) had my final appointment at the Landratsamt.”

    Did you receive federal tax identification number by post (e-mail) to your home address or you to go somewhere?
    How do you think can I mail/submit my documents for Residence card (Aufenthaltskarte) at the Landratsamt in first days of my arrival? Or I must wait 3 month and only after 3 month submit documents?
    Can I leave Germany and go to Russia while my case will be considering (3 weeks?) in the Landratsamt ?

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello John,
      I received the tax identification number by post at my home address, not email (however, you don’t need this information to apply for a residence permit).
      I believe once you have the registration from your municipality (anmeldebestätigung) then you can make an application for an residence card (aufenthaltskarte). You can do this as soon as you want, once you have your municipal registration.
      I think it’s also no problem to go anywhere else while your permit application is being processed. However once your aufenthaltskarte is approved you need to make an appointment to go and pick it up at the Landratsamt and do a few final procedures like get your fingerprints taken.

      Hope this helps

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  20. Lang

    Hi Administrator,

    My husband who is British citizen and works in Germany. I am planning to go and join him in Germany. I am currently in the UK with my student visa ( non eu citizen ).

    I would like to know if i enter Germany ( I do not require Schengen visa to enter ) and wanted to apply residence permit, do i need to prove that i have a job offer in Germany beforehand in order to apply for residence permit? As i have no jobs at the moment so i cant prove about 700 euros montly salary but i do have £4000 savings in my UK bank so i wonder if that helps towards the application to meet the financial requirements.

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Lang- if you apply for a residence permit based on being married to an EU citizen who is registered in Germany, you will need to show that you can support yourself (or have that support shared by someone else- in this case your husband). Your savings will certainly help, and I believe your husband’s income is also taken into consideration for the both of you.

      You should get your German tax number before the residence card is issued (I got my tax number after about a week, and the residence card after a month or two), and this number allows you to work which, if needed, can further help your application for a residence card.

      Anyway, I think if your husband has a full-time job then everything should be fine.

      Have fun

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  21. Ace Zee

    Hi Administrator,

    Thank you for sharing your experience with us and i appreciate your effort and time in replying numerous questions.

    I am a Non-EU citizen. Currently, i have a 1 month Tourist Visa to enter Germany. My question is:

    Can my Gay partner Register me (Civil Register) in Germany after my arrival with a month Tourist Visa?

    Regards
    Ace

    Reply ↓
  22. Engineer

    Hi,
    I’d like to move from Ireland to Germany. I am a German National and my wife a NON-EU with a 4 EUFAM Card.
    I’d like to register my wife in Germany so she can get the Aufenthaltskarte. I am still working in Ireland and my wife would stay in Germany.

    My thinking is:
    1. I register myself and wife at my moms address
    2. I go to the Ausländerbehörde and apply for the Aufenthaltskarte (for the wife)

    Can I show them my private insurance from Ireland(valid worldwide) and my Irish work contract? I earn far more than 700. Is it possible for my wife to stay in Germany while I am still in Ireland?

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Engineer- I would say your idea sounds good. I think your Irish insurance should work, when I applied I also had foreign insurance from the USA and that worked.

      I just hope they don’t ask too many questions about how you can be registered in Germany and earning money for a company in Ireland. However I would guess that as long as you are registered here they can’t say no to the application.

      Unfortunately I can’t offer you any concrete information, and sometimes there are different rules for German citizens. You could get some idea of these rules by going through the Residence Act (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/index.html).

      Good luck

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  23. Ace Zee

    Thanks for your quick reply,

    I and my partner is thinking of getting our registration done in Denmark due to long time delay (Process) of Germany Registry.

    I read on a blog that after getting the civil partnership done in Denmark, the Municipality of my Partner might not agree to grant my residence card and i will be ask to go back to my country of current residence or home country to apply for reunification visa.

    Do you have any idea about this? Also, in what city/municipality did you get your residence card done?

    Regards
    Ace.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello again Ace, I haven’t heard about this, but I haven’t read much about the subject either.

      Wikipedia mentions that a new bill was approved in October 2015 which made the rights of same-sex partnerships more clear as being equal to married persons. Perhaps what you read was posted before this ruling, and remedied by it (hopefully anyway):(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recognition_of_same-sex_unions_in_Germany#Third_Merkel_government_.282013.E2.80.93present.29).

      All I can find about inequality between civil partnerships and marriage relates to the adoption of children and taxes. Hopefully that means you won’t have any trouble getting a residence card as a non-EU citizen in a partnership with a German.

      I got my residence card from the Landratsamt in Heidelberg.

      Best of luck

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  24. Peter

    Hello Administrator.

    Do you think is possible for a citizen of another EU member state to come and get marriage to an asylum seeker in Germany here tnx???

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Peter,

      I haven’t researched this issue, but I would think that is possible. Aside from the issue of same-sex marriages, I don’t know of any laws prohibiting marriage between two people.

      Congratulations

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
    2. Sheraz Qadir

      Yess. Its Possible And Many Asylum Seekers Married With Eu Girls In Germany, And They Get Aufenthalt For Five Years

      Reply ↓
  25. Soni

    Can an illegal woman in germany and a british man (not resident in germany) get married in germany and make spouse visa application in germany or uk, please what is required

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Soni,
      The answer to your question starts with knowing what is required to get married in Germany, and that I am not sure of because I’ve never been married in Germany.

      However, I believe if you get married anywhere to an EU citizen then you can apply to stay in any EU country, assuming you meet the financial and health insurance requirements. For the UK I believe if you’re married to a UK citizen then you automatically get health insurance through the NHS (however in this case the UK citizen would need to make a certain amount of income before you would be allowed to travel to the UK as a non-EU spouse).

      From my experience in Sweden and Germany, it seems it is quite easy for an EU citizen to move to another EU country (not their native EU country- that is more difficult) and bring their non-EU spouse with them.

      So it sounds like your first order of business would be to get married somewhere. I’m not sure how your legal status would affect any future applications either.

      Best of luck

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  26. Winfred Kerford

    My name is Winfred and me and my wife who is a German Citizen got married in California on 11-20-2015 and we moved back to Weimar, Germany. They gave me temporary Resident Visa for 90 days. In June I go back to the Government office and have to show a certificate for A1 German basic language. I have a medical condition mentally that was caused by a car accident I was in, in 1986 which hinder me from learning and staying focus to learn. I recently sent off for my medical records from my doctor in California. Is there a Hardship case that will Exempt me and allow me to get My Resident permit. If so what should we do and what German Government do I present these medical records to? I have until June 6. Of this year. Please help with the correct information and answers.
    Thank You. Mr Winfred Kerford.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Mr. Winfred Kerford- congratulations on your recent marriage.

      On the German government page from BAMF it says, “proof of linguistic ability is not required if … the efforts required by the foreign spouse in order to acquire basic German skills whilst abroad are not feasible, cannot be reasonably expected or do not prove successful within a period of one year.” (http://www.bamf.de/EN/Migration/EhepartnerFamilie/ehepartnerfamilie-node.html).

      It sounds like it is possible to get a sort of hardship deferment in your case, especially if you have medical records that say you have difficulty learning a language. I would recommend notifying the Landratsamt or whichever agency wrote to you that you must take the language class.

      Feel free to post back on what you find, and best of luck.

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
      1. Rowland

        Am a NIGERIAN citizen currently rejected on my asylum by February this year but I got married to a polish citizen last year April and currently my wife is working and fully registered in Germany and I have also registered in the same address with my wife but when we applied for the residence at the auslander they didn’t grant me the residence they they they have to decide and send me a letter and properly I might be asked to go back o NIGERIAN and get a visa back to Germany maeawhile the marriage was done in Poland with a polish marriage cretic ate issued what should I do to get my residence card

  27. sonam

    my name is sonam i have austrian student visa i am recently married to german citizen and we are currently living in germany i want to ask now i have to apply for visa how can i do that do we have to go directly to visa office in germany or how what i need to prove because he has his own business .. can you please guide me..i have visa until 20 of may ..please guide us we are worried now because we don’t know how to do.
    thank you

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Sonam,

      Congratulations on your marriage. I believe what you need to do is register yourself as married at your local rathaus, then make an application for a residence card through your Landratsamt office. Has your husband ever registered as living in another EU country? If not then you will probably need to show that you can speak and understand basic German (A1) eventually in the future.

      Luckily in your case (perhaps you also speak German if you lived in Austria?) your husband can do the speaking at all the state agencies, and confirm that you are following the right procedures.

      Good luck!

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  28. sonam

    hello sorry for the inconvenience again i have question to ask that which and what kind of form i need to fill and which documents i need and my partner to take with to visa office can you tell me in details.
    thank you

    Reply ↓
  29. Anubhav Bisht

    Hi Admin,

    I am in similar situation myself. I am an Indian national married to German Citizen and we been living in UK for 6 months. Now we want to move to Germany. I can get visa without showing language proficiency. Now we will be living with her family. i have following questions:

    a) Do we need a letter from her father that we are living in his house in order to register with municipal corporation or any other proof will be required.
    b) Do i need to give any language test while i make my RC Application.
    c) Will they consider savings from UK Bank or can i show savings from my spouse bank account as well.
    d) What is processing time for this.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Anubhav Bisht,

      a) Yes, I believe you will need a letter from her father stating that you live there, or a rental contract of some kind. They will tell you at the rathaus if you need anything else on this subject.

      b) If your wife is registered as living in the UK (meaning that she also registered in Germany as living abroad – or if she has ever registered as living in another EU country before) then I believe you do not need to meet any German language requirements or show any language tests for your initial 5-year residence permit.

      c) Yes, I believe they will consider savings from all banks, from both of you (for me they considered an American bank, and I didn’t translate my bank statement summary, just highlighted the savings).

      d) Registering at the rathaus was instantaneous, and then I sent in my documents to the landratsamt. After about a week I got my tax number, then after a month or two I got the residence card.

      Good luck, it sounds like your case will be fine.

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      Reply ↓
  30. Klara Kadau

    Hello,

    I’m a German citizen who got married to a non EU citicen (an Australian) in Australia and now we want to apply for permanent residency for him. I happen to have lived abroad in England and Switzerland for 4 months each during my studies. How and to whom do I have to prove that in order for my husband not to need a German language certificate ?

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Klara Kadau,

      Sorry but I don’t know the answer to your question because I managed to escape this requirement. Hopefully someone else reading will have a better answer for you.

      As I understand (from BAMF’s website: http://www.bamf.de/EN/Migration/EhepartnerFamilie/ehepartnerfamilie-node.html) the policy is, “If a foreign national moves to Germany to join a German spouse, proof of linguistic ability is not required if the German national has previously exercised his/her right of freedom of movement within Europe”

      Good luck

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  31. Ash

    Hello,

    I have got my residence permit recently based on marriage with EU citizen. i had put my documents in to the local immigration office and got everything approved less than a month. I have now got a letter from my local immigration office and stated that because my eAT card is in production in Berlin so hence issuing a letter to confirm that i am now legal in the country and been given permission to work. I was originally been given for 5 years to stay but the validity of my passport has only 4 years left so hence my eAT will only valid for 4 years instead, the same day my passport expires.

    What puzzles me was that, unlike you and most of the researches that i did online, i haven’t been asked to provide any health insurance nor did i fill in any application to stay hence i did not pay 60euros application fee or purchase any insurances. I was first in about a month ago and explained our situation to them and asked what documents do we need. But we have brought most documents with us at the time anyway, eg bank statements, marriage certiciate, work contract, certificate of residence etc so we gave them all we have. They did not ask for more so i thought they don’t require any insurances. All the doucments provided are in English. They are happy with English and did not get asked to get them translated to German. And they do not require me to submit in my passport to them as well. All they asked for at the time was a copy of my passport and that’s it, i keep hold of my passport at all time. After everything is submitted on the first day, i was issued a temporary residence permit for a month. So just before it expired, i went in again and check what should i do because my permit expires in a few days as i have not heard anything and that is when they told me everything is approved and was asked to provide one biometric photo and they issued me a letter on the spot and said i am now got my resident permit and took my fingerprints, height and paid 28.80 euros for the issuance of the eAT card.

    Just thought i would share my one-month journey for obtaining residence permit in Germany through marriage to EU citizen.

    Reply ↓
    1. John

      Dear Ash
      You are lucky!
      I can not get Residence permit (Aufenthaltskarte) during 2 months. I submitted my documents (only in German) to Auslanderbehorde in Thuringia in March. The officials do not answer nor to my e-mails nor my letters by post.

      Reply ↓
      1. Ash

        Hi John,

        I have submitted my documents in on April and got the permission in writing in May (less than a month). The officials that i was dealing with are very friendly to us and answered all our queries as much as they can. But you will have to wait until the german foreign affairs has reviewed and approved your case before the officials can comment on your case. Like i said before, none of the documents we submitted were in German as they have no problems with English (UK) documents that we have submitted.

        I have yet to receive my Aufenthaltskarte eAT because it is in production in Berlin, hence the local officials has issued me a letter to confirm my stay and work permission in Germany until my Aufenthaltskarte eAT is ready for collection. I have also been told by the officials that at the meantime, the letter issued by them is enough to prove my stay and work permission in Germany until my eAT card is issued. Do you mind if i ask your nationality and your spouse’s nationality please? I dont see why they are holding your application that long especially i can get mine within a month.

        Hope this helps.

  32. John

    Dear All
    If I Registered my name and address with my local municipality (Einwohnermeldeamt) in land of Thuringia could I apply for Residence Card (Aufenthaltskarte) in BERLIN?

    As I see in Berlin most friendly land/city than other cities of Germany which issue Residence Card (Aufenthaltskarte). I am waiting during 2 months Residence Card (Aufenthaltskarte) in little town in Thuringia of Germany. The officials of the town or are dilettantes or they do not want to issue to me Residence Card (Aufenthaltskarte). They refuse answer by e-mails.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello John- sounds frustrating. Did you email your questions in German? I can imagine they wouldn’t respond if they weren’t in German. Otherwise I would be surprised/disheartened if they completely ignored you.

      I believe you can’t just apply anywhere; that you must apply at the Landratsamt for your state (Thuringia in your case).

      Good luck and hopefully you get a response soon.

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
      1. John

        Hello Administrator,
        I went to Auslanderbehorde. Official said that I will get Aufenthaltskarte but before that I get just some kind of visa for 6 month with right of work in Germany. As soon I get job contract then I will get Aufenthaltskarte for 5 years.
        Is it a legal? Must I get Aufenthaltskarte at once without 6 months visa?
        My wife is EU citizen. I am not EU citizen. We submited to Auslanderbehorde documents according “3. § 2 Abs. 2 Nr. 5 einen Nachweis über ausreichenden Krankenversicherungsschutz und ausreichende Existenzmittel” http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/freiz_gg_eu_2004/__5a.html

      2. Administrator Post author

        Hmm, that is different from what happened to me. It sounds like we are in the same situation, and for me I got the aufenthaltskarte valid for five years a few weeks after my work authorization and tax number came (perhaps this is the document you’re referring to that allows you to work).

        For me I was already self-employed so perhaps I avoided this requirement to find a job before I could get the aufenthaltskarte.

        However regardless of this, according to the German Residence Act, if you are a non-EU citizen married to an EU citizen then you have the right to a residence card that entitles you to work.

        This is the section that says you have the right of residence and employment: http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html#p0351

        It says you can have a residence permit to join a spouse legally living in Germany, and that you have the right to work, “residence titles … shall entitle their holders to pursue an economic activity.”

        It provides for a few exceptions to this, the main one seems to be if you or your spouse is receiving social benefits. If neither of you are though, then I don’t know why they would only give you temporary paperwork and say you need to find a job first before you can get your five-year residence permit.

        If it seems that you both meet all the requirements for the subsequent immigration of the spouse of an EU citizen, then I would say try asking (writing) the Auslanderbehorde to see why they didn’t grant you the five-year residence permit. You could also try speaking with a lawyer, or there are also free services like Caritas that can help you answer immigration questions (http://www.caritas-germany.org/).

        Good luck and hope you get it sorted out right.

        Back to Comment Directory

  33. J

    My husband is a Romanian and working and living in Germany. Is he need to apply for a residence permit in Germany? Because residence permit is requirements for getting visa(reunification) .

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Joan- I don’t believe he needs a residence permit because he is from an EU country. If you’re from a non-EU country then I believe you need a residence permit for family reunification.

      Hello Joan,

      Yes, Germany’s Residence Act (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html#p0415) says you can bring your children if they are minors and you have a German residence permit.

      Here is the page from BAMF about how you can do this: http://www.bamf.de/EN/Migration/Arbeiten/Familiennachzug/familiennachzug-node.html

      Basically it says you have to have a large enough house/apartment and you must have secure income (and I assume they also consider your husband’s income as well).

      Hope this helps

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      Reply ↓
  35. Showbaba

    Hello Sir, Please i need your enlightment on this, Im a Nigerian living on Asyl benefits in Germany , then i had a baby with Italian woman,when i applied for my Resident permit the office told me to look for a job but i am not allowed to work with my current permit …Please what can i do ?

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Showbaba,

      Are you married with the Italian woman? If not, then I don’t believe you can apply for a residence permit in Germany based on being married to an EU citizen (and if you are married then she would need to register her residence in Germany).

      Next it depends on where your baby was born, and if you have any custody of the child. Look at the law pertaining to this (Section 33, 34, and 36): http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html#p0422

      My question for you is, what is your ultimate goal here? Custody of your child? A residence permit based on marriage or a common law partnership? Something else?

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  36. sonam ikram

    hello sir

    i have question how many years or after how long you can apply or have german passport what is the requirements and which things important for a person to must have.
    i will wait for your answer
    thank you

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Sonam Ikram,

      I believe you must become a German citizen and then you can apply for a passport. I believe it takes something like seven years and you must have acceptable health insurance as well as paid into the pension and long-term-care system for at least five years. I believe in most cases you must also renounce your previous citizenship, prove you can speak B1 German (something around this level), and pass a test about knowledge of German civics.

      You can find more information here:
      http://www.bamf.de/EN/Einbuergerung/einbuergerung-node.html

      Best of luck

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  37. Kelvin

    Hello Admin, my name is kelvin, i am a student and from a non eu country. Please i have a child with a german woman i would like to know how i can change my student visa to full working permit. Secondly how do i go about getting my five years resident permit since i’m a father of a german kid. My gf is working and earning about €2000 a month. What financial reqzuirements do i need. If i change from a student permit, can i still study? I still have about 12 months left on my student permit. Thanks

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Greetings Kelvin,

      I don’t believe you can get a residence permit based on the fact that your child is German (if you are a non-EU citizen and the mother is a German citizen, see: http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html#p0440)

      However if you get married or a civic partnership then you can apply for a residence permit based on this. If you choose this route then you need to meet the requirements detailed on this page.

      You may also be able to qualify through a job or additional methods, though I’m not sure about the details on this. (check the residence act: http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/index.html)

      I believe you can always study in Germany no matter what your status is.

      Best wishes for you

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  38. Matt

    Hi im a trinidadian citizen just fot married in denmark to a german citizen is it possible for me to apply for residence permit inside german? (Note be both live outside germany before this move)

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Greetings Matt,

      Congratulations on your wedding. Yes, I believe you can apply for a residence permit once you are both registered as living in Germany. Assuming your spouse was registered as living in Denmark I also believe you don’t need to meet the German language requirement.

      Enjoy

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      Reply ↓
  39. zak

    Hello
    My name is Zak im non-Eu citizen and im willing to marry my gril friend from germany , im in germany now with a Frensh tourist visa ,1) so my question can we get married even if i have a frensh tourist visa , 2)and is it ok if im a student with a Master degree and she have the suffisant income to support us both untill i found a job , 3) if my tourist visa have ended and i did not get yet my RC can i stay n germany or i must comeback to renew my tourist visa. 4) whats the minimum income that she must have each month to support us both .

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Zak,

      1) I’m not sure about the laws Germany has for getting married within the country, but I would think your status as a tourist would not interfere with getting married in Germany.

      2) Yes, I believe as long as at least one of you can meet the income requirement for two people then it should be fine.

      3) According to the Resident Act chapter Section 81 part 3, “If a foreigner who is legally resident in the federal territory [Germany] and does not possess a residence title applies for a residence title, his or her residence shall be deemed to be permitted up to the time of the decision by the foreigners authority.” (https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html#p1088)

      4) I believe the minimum income for two is something like 1000 euros per month- honesty I’m not sure what it is now, but somewhere around there (maybe plus or minus 100 euros). When I applied my wife and I together had savings of around 1,500 euros and a combined income of around 1,000 euros per month.

      Hope this helps and enjoy

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      Reply ↓
  40. Tony Fulton

    Hello. Thanks for your amazing help above in all these matters. I do hope I’m not asking a question that has already been asked… I will marry my German girlfriend – I’m a UK citizen (and yes I’m ashamed of my country today, 24 June). We travel a lot in Europe. Given that UK will no longer be in the E.U., are there any benefits to getting married in Germany instead of UK? Should we try to do that? Or will it not matter? I’m looking ahead, thinking I will not want to live in UK. We are currently living elsewhere in Europe but may want to live in Germany one day. many thanks.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Tony Fulton,

      Yes, quite amazing to see the “out” vote prevail. As of now of course we just have to wait and see.

      I think as far as marriage goes, where you actually get married isn’t so important. You could register a marriage that took place in Bangladesh in Germany, and I believe that marriage would be just as valid as a marriage that took place in the UK or France.

      We will see what happens

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
      1. Tony Fulton

        Ok,many thanks for the reply. I guess I’m looking ahead and wondering what if any precautions we can take, if there are any benefits to my girlfriend being German, and what if anything we should do now rather than later? If you have any advice I’d be most grateful.

  41. Rony rex

    Hi I am an Non EU resident of German Citizen my German spouse is registered Married in Germany
    If I will go with family visit visa how how long time it will take for my aufenthalt card N please write me the all process for this.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Rony Rex, if you’re married to your German spouse then you can apply for a residence card once you’ve legally arrived in Germany. For me it took a month or two to get the aufenthaltskarte. You can remain in Germany while your application is being processed. To be guided I would say just follow the steps detailed on this webpage.

      Hope this helps

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      Reply ↓
  42. Douglas Hackney

    Thank you for this detailed post and your many replies to the comments and questions.

    RE: I got my residence card without needing to fulfill any language requirement.

    How were you able to do this?

    Were you already fluent or had enough German language skills that you passed via the interview?

    RE: U.S. exemption

    The news story you linked to states this exemption for U.S. citizens: “In addition, citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States also don’t have to demonstrate German-language skills.”

    [ I tried to include the link to the story but it would not accept the comment with the link]

    However, I have not seen that exemption for U.S. citizens anywhere on the German government sites.

    Thanks,
    Doug

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Douglas Hackney,

      Right now I believe the language requirement is as stated in the body of the website, and this can be confirmed here: http://www.bamf.de/EN/Migration/EhepartnerFamilie/ehepartnerfamilie-node.html

      I was able to avoid the language requirement because my EU spouse is not German.

      I also can’t find anything about the list of exempted countries linked to in that article (http://www.dw.com/en/european-court-overturns-law-requiring-german-language-skills-for-spouse-visas/a-17772143) anywhere in the German Residence Act (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/index.html). It sounds like it’s worth confirming the exemption with BAMF.

      Good luck,

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
      1. Douglas Hackney

        Thank you for the follow up, research and reply.

        I was able to find a reference to the exemption for U.S. citizens here:

        http://www.bamf.de/EN/Migration/Arbeiten/Familiennachzug/familiennachzug-node.html

        * * * * *
        Does my family have to speak German?

        As a rule, spouses have to have a basic knowledge of German to be issued with a residence permit. There are however a number of exceptions to this principle. Your spouse does not need to know any German to obtain a residence permit if

        * you yourself have an EU Blue Card,
        * you yourself work in Germany as a highly-qualified person, a researcher or self-employed person and were already married when you moved to Germany,
        * it is obvious that there is little need for integration assistance (for instance as a rule if your partner is a graduate),
        * you are a national of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zeeland or the United States of America.

        * * * * *

        My wife has dual passports, U.S. and Germany.

        In this case, in your opinion, do you think I would qualify for the language skills exemption?

        Thanks,
        Doug

      2. Administrator Post author

        Hello Doug,
        I’m still not absolutely positive you would qualify for the language skills exemption if you are American (I’m assuming you are) based on the link you sent.

        For immigration purposes, for you to qualify to live in Germany then your wife would invoke her status as a German citizen whom you are married. The link you quoted above (http://www.bamf.de/EN/Migration/Arbeiten/Familiennachzug/familiennachzug-node.html) is referring to third country nationals, ie non-German citizens who have legal residency in Germany.

        However, the other BAMF link that talks about subsequent entry of spouses for German citizens (http://www.bamf.de/EN/Migration/EhepartnerFamilie/ehepartnerfamilie-node.html) says that you, as the spouse of the German citizen, can be exempt from the language requirement if your German spouse has taken advantage of their freedom of movement “within Europe.” Perhaps if your German spouse has also exercised freedom of movement outside of Europe for an extensive time this would also be considered? That is a question for BAMF.

        The only other hope I can offer is that original Deutsche Welle article that says the German language requirement policy is against EU laws (http://www.dw.de/european-court-overturns-law-requiring-german-language-skills-for-spouse-visas/a-17772143). However how this would practically play out for you is another question for BAMF.

        I would say to be safe, have your spouse (assuming she speaks German) call/email BAMF and clarify whether or not you would qualify for the language requirement.

        Feel free to post back here on anything you find. Hopefully it works out

        Back to Comment Directory

      3. Douglas Hackney

        As a follow-up on this, I was not required to demonstrate any Germany language skills.

        Because I could not demonstrate proficiency with the language, I am required to attend the integration course, which includes a test for language proficiency and basic civics.

        The requirement for me is:
        Verpflichtung gemäß § 44a Abs. 1 Satz 1 Nr. 1 b AufenthG (keine ausreichenden
        Sprachkenntnisse)

        Which Google translates as:
        Obligation in accordance with § 44a (1) sentence 1 no. 1 b AufenthG (no sufficient
        Linguistic proficiency)

  43. M. Nasery

    Hi,

    I would appreciate if anyone can help regarding the following issue.

    I’m a none-Eu citizen married to a citizen of EU ( Bulgaria). our marriage was done outside of Germany in my county and I have the official marriage certificate translated into English. We are both registered with the local authorities in Berlin since some months ago and now I am applying for a resident card as none-EU family member. The thing is Auslanderbehorde has asked us of a document called ” Nachweis Ehe nach deutschem Recht”, which according to google translator means proof of marriage according to German law. Any idea where and how can I get this? I also went trough the Standesamt I website and couldn’t find such a document 😦

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello M. Nasery,

      That is puzzling. I haven’t heard of such a thing happening, and I can’t find that term “nachweis…” in the German version of the residence act either (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/BJNR195010004.html).

      I have heard of the government requesting proof that you are not married to multiple people (I think you can obtain this from your home country), especially in cases of people who are divorced and have re-married.

      Here is something mentioned on the website Justlanded (https://www.justlanded.com/deutsch/Deutschland/Artikel/Visa-Papiere/Ehefragen) Part 1, section a (translated in Google):

      “a) General conditions of marriage
      The marriage must be allowed in principle under the law of both partners. Just as a German partner or a German partner must demonstrate his / her capacity to marry under German law, also has a foreign partner or a foreign partner to meet the requirements for marriage under the law of the home country. These include the age of majority or an exemption from the requirement of marriageable age in individuals between 16 and 18 years. Furthermore, no impediments to marriage may preclude. Such impediments may result from kinship, an adoptive relationship or of an existing marriage.”

      So from this it looks like Auslanderbehorde wants to you get something from your home country government saying you are legally married there (meaning, when you got married you were old enough to do so, and that you are not related to your spouse by blood, and that if you are divorced and re-married, that you did this legally).

      Hope this helps. Feel free to write back with what you find out.

      Best of luck

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      Reply ↓
  44. clarakings

    Hallo,
    I’m an EU citizen married to an Australian since three year. Four months ago we moved to germany, where I’m doing an Ausbildung. My husband got his Aufenthalt permit for the next 5 years. But he got a study place at a good university in another city a couple of hours away. Are we allowed to not live together? We would be spending all weekend and holidays togethers, but because of our studies we cannot live together on the week. How will the work? Does he need to register at the burgeramt? And if so will they let him stay with the Aufenthalt permit as we would then be registered in two different places?

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Clarakings,

      Congratulations, it sounds like you have been successful with the most complicated parts. I don’t think it would cause any issue if you have separate addresses. I also don’t think the issue would come up until he needs to renew his aufenthaltskarte after five years- and even if something did come up (however unlikely it is) I think a simple explanation from you would be all that was needed (maybe after five years you will be living at the same address again anyway).

      I’m not sure if being registered at two addresses is possible. Separately, I’m not even sure if your husband would need to register with the burgeramt where his university is- especially if he is traveling to visit you each weekend. My wife is registered as living in a city in Bayern but she is still able to get a student card from a university in Baden-Wurttemberg.

      Hopefully this helps, but to know for certain I can only suggest asking at the Landratsamt.

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      Reply ↓
  45. Jons

    Yes, he can register two addresses,

    However , he will be asked to pay zwiewohnung steuer , by the second city.

    But showing proof of students/Beruf and civil union certs will exempt him from it!
    Of course you can be married in a city and work in another city,
    Hope this helps,

    Ps- I don’t think there is need to register at the second burgerburo anyway, but it’s safe again in case of any benefits or other unforeseen circumstances that may come up!

    Reply ↓
    1. Jons

      In addition, the first address will be his main address where his files and documents will always remain!

      So if he needs to talk to the foreign office, he must always come back home, or you do it for him.

      Reply ↓
  46. Steven

    I’m a US Citizen engaged to a German citizen. I’m visiting Germany the first week of August of this year to meet her family. I will be there for 7 weeks and returning to the US at the end of September. She will be flying to the US in October and we want to get married while she’s in the US and we would like to fly back to Germany together after we’re married. I would be moving into her place in Germany. This is the plan, but I know legally there are multiple things that need to be done. Please help us to make this happen.

    Reply ↓
    2. Administrator Post author

      Hello Steven,

      Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. Your situation sounds pretty straightforward.

      As long as your combined incomes are around something like 1000 euros per month (or if she is receiving social benefits, your income should be around something like 800 euros per month), then I think your biggest challenge will be translating your US marriage certificate into German with an official translator (just do a search for German government-approved translators)- and that’s not difficult.

      Once you’ve got that marriage certificate translated you just need to follow the steps: register as married at your local rathaus, then apply for a residence permit (this includes the right to work) with your Landratsamt.

      The process may be slightly different from the one detailed above because you are marrying a German citizen (in my case I was married an EU citizen), but your spouse should be able to get all the details from the government authorities when you’re applying.

      Good luck and have fun

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
      1. Fareen Shaikh

        Hi Steven,

        My husband is an EU citizen based out of Berlin while I’m an Indian. I’ll be visiting on a tourist visa, hoping to get my Residence Permit. Since I’m short on time as my visa is only for 30 days I wanted to be sure I have all the documents in place.

        * Could let me know how can I register my marriage at the Rathaus?
        * What are the documents required at the time of registering at the Rathaus?
        * How much time time does it take to register?
        * Is it one of the documents that I need to submit at the time of applying for my Residence Permit?

        Sorry for the list of questions. Just a bit anxious about the whole situation 🙂

        Hope you understand.

        Thanks,
        Fareen

  47. Steven

    Thank you for this information, I shared it with my fiancé and she said this looks pretty simple. And thank you for the congratulations on out marriage. I pray everything works out 🙂

    Reply ↓
    1. Drew Robinson

      Hi Steven,
      I’m in the exact situation as you currently. I was wondering if you were able to move over successfully. Any lessons learned, anything that I can think off?

      Reply ↓
  48. Ebony

    Hello Admin,

    I got married (non-eu) in Denmark with my German Spouse and today we registered the marriage certificate at the Rathaus today. All is OK from there and we are back home. I came into the country with Tourist visa which will last still September 2016.

    What next should i do now?
    And at what point would i have to show A1 German Certificate?

    Regards
    Ebony

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Ebony,

      Congratulations on your marriage. As long as you apply for your residence permit soon before your tourist visa expires you should be fine, even if it is processed past your visa expiration (Section 81 part 3 or the Residence Act http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html#p1088)

      Next I believe you need to apply for the residence permit at the Landratsamt. This should take a few weeks to process and I suspect it is during this time that you will need to show your German language certificate. Maybe don’t bring it up if they don’t ask- perhaps they might forget? 🙂

      Actually if your German spouse unregistered him/herself from living in Germany and registered him/herself as living in Denmark (or any other EU country) then I believe you don’t need to meet the language requirement, as your spouse has taken advantage of his/her right of free movement. http://www.bamf.de/EN/Migration/EhepartnerFamilie/ehepartnerfamilie-node.html

      Good luck

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  49. Ebony

    Less i forget, after my registration i did not receive official anmeldebestätigung, or certificate of registration.

    Will the anmeldebestätigung, or certificate of registration be send to the address i give during my registration?

    Regards.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      I’ve registered in three different cities and I think maybe once (sorry, it was a few years ago) the official registration came in the mail. If it doesn’t come in a few days then I would go ask/call about it. You need to have a copy of it to submit when you apply for a residence permit with the Landratsamt. You and your spouse registered together at the same time, correct?

      Also I should mention- I’m telling you the process how I did it as a non-EU married to a non-German EU. Your procedure might be different considering you’re married to a German citizen.

      Good luck

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  50. sidhu

    hello sir..i am asylum seeker in germany..i was marrid with Romanish girel in Austria nd aftr marrige i will come back in Germany..now my wife living in germany nd working here…is that possible i got a residency card nd how ??

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      You are still married to someone from Romania?

      If yes then I think you can qualify for a residence permit based on being married to an EU citizen who has registered her right to live in Germany, assuming you meet the requirements for that listed on this page (just follow the process detailed here too).

      I’m not sure how your status as an asylum seeker will interfere with this application, if it does at all. I suspect you may have to somehow cancel your asylum application to apply for a residence permit based on marriage. I am really guessing on this though, and recommend you speak with someone in BAMF or at the your local Landratsamt to figure out what exactly you can do.

      Feel free to post back on what you discover because you are not the first person to ask this question, and it would be good to have a confirmed answer on what to do.

      Hopefully this helps and good luck

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  51. Carlos

    Hi There Administrator, saviour and helper of those of us in need.

    I have a question indeed:
    I am a Spanish dual citizen (I was born in Latin America from a Spanish descended family and hold dual citizenship) but my wife is from a Non-Eu country (yes, a Latin American country). We have not applied yet family reunion since I just got my citizenship, but since Spain has one of the highest ratings of unemployment, and since I have some friends in south west Germany, we are seriosly thinking about moving there. I have around 9000 euro in savings and so on. My questions are:

    1.-Will there be any problem if I move to Germany and do all the processing?
    2.-is my second citizenship(besides Spanish) a problem for Germany or I will have no problems?
    3.-How can I show that I have enough money to the embassy in Latin America if I want to do family reunion in Germany with my wife?

    Thank you for your time and your help.

    Sincerely

    Carlos

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Carlos,

      When you register yourself in Germany at the rathaus I think if you just show your Spanish passport then it should be fine. I’m not sure how dual citizenship is viewed in Germany, but the only time my wife (EU citizen) had any interaction with the German government was when we registered as being married at the rathaus upon arriving in Germany, and at this time she showed her passport and that was it. It is your wife who will be having to fill out all the forms for a residence permit.

      Because you are a Spanish (EU) citizen you can move to Germany whenever you want along with your non-EU wife, and you are right to be concerned about meeting the money requirement.

      I can tell you that when I (non-EU citizen) moved to Germany I had about 2,500 euros in savings and could show that I had been earning about 1,000 euros per month (I was a freelancer and thus taking my job with me to Germany) for the last five months. At the time my wife was a student (because we registered as married the German government considers both our income combined) and that income and savings was enough for a five-year residence permit.

      The way I showed this was by printing off my bank statements and highlighting the numbers that showed monthly income in and savings. I was surprised that I didn’t need to have those bank statements translated- they were in English.

      Best of luck and enjoy Germany

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  52. Ebony

    Thanks Admin,

    You are right, since my spouse is a German, i was asked to go through German Embassy in my country or any country i have residence permit.

    I will be going to German Embassy in Skopje since i have residence from there.

    Thanks for your reply.

    Reply ↓
  53. Guenter

    I am a German citizen, living since 20 years in the Philippines, being married here for 17 years, and we decided to move to Germany. There are no visa appointments available for a family reunion visa since almost a year, and none in the near future, but there are many schengen visa appointments available. Can I get a schengen visa for my wife, travel with her to Germany, and convert it there to a residence visa anyhow? My sister would try to rent an apartment for us in advance, so we could register immediately with that address once we arrive in Germany. We are planning to sell our house here in the Philippines and purchase a new house in Germany. We are both above 50 years of age, and I do freelance worg/self employed.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Guenter,

      I can’t tell you a definite answer based on my own experience, but you can find relevant information in the Residence Act (I think the answer to your question is yes, she can enter on a tourist visa and then apply for a residence permit based on your marriage once you both arrive in Germany):

      Section 6: Visa (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html#p0071)

      Section 81: Application for the residence title (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html#p1088)

      I think you can find the best answer to your question by calling the landratsamt where your wife would be applying and asking your question.

      Good luck

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  54. John

    Dear Administrator.
    I have got Aufenthaltskarte but only for 6 month. Auslanderbehorde said that if I get a job contract then Auslanderbehorde will give me Aufenthaltskarte for 5 years. Do you think is it legally? What is happen if I can not get job-contract to the end of 6 month ?

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello John,

      I haven’t heard of someone in your situation before. I’m not sure about the legality, but you can find what is written in law about the residence card in the Residence Act (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/index.html).

      I’m not sure what will happen if you don’t find a job. Feel free to post back with information about whatever happens in your case, and best of luck finding a job (you have relatively good chances in Germany).

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  55. jodavid83

    Hello,
    Great post!
    You mention that when tou applied for a residence card, ypu showed that you was self employed…so to apply for RC you must have a job first?… The EU or the non-EU? We have registered and recieved our tax numbers and now the non-EU may have a potential job offer..can he work?
    Thankyou

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Jodavid83,

      If you have your tax numbers then I think you can work. I believe to apply for a residence card (as a non-EU married to an EU who is not German) you must show that you can support yourself, which means savings, a job, pension, and/or support from a family member/spouse.

      Good luck

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  56. Jayd

    Hello moderator.

    I am a student from Camaroun studying my masters. Presently, my normal 2 years visa will expire by end of December 2016.

    I met a lady she is Kenyian, she has a son with a German citizen and that gave her a stay in Germany. Though the normal visa for child birth is 3 years buy her’s is one year to expire by January 2017 due to her passport will expire 2016 December. Definitely she will renew to get her extra 2years.

    But presently, she is not working as she is under social and living in social apartment. But for me l do work, sometimes full time and part time.

    Please, do you think if we get married that l will be given a marriage residence permit considering she has not worked yet in Germany and she is just one year old and got her stay visa due to child birth with a German.

    Please, l need an advice before going further to the marriage.

    But sure, l know once we are married, she won’t be under social again which as a family am to take responsibility and work. (This is not a problem for me)

    But is it wise t go ahead with the marriage due to the lady has not work up to six months as somebody advised . But sure now she is doing her German classes A1 and will start work once she reach A2 to B1

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Jayd,

      I see what you are asking: if you get married to her then will you get a residence permit for Germany.

      Perhaps you can find your answer in the Residence Act (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/index.html).

      It sounds like Section 30
      
Subsequent Immigration of Spouses (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html#p0382) is particularly relevant for you (“foreigner” refers to her, and “spouse” refers to you.)

      There are several ways her residence permit can qualify you for a residence permit, so you must read through that section (and the corresponding referenced sections) to see which case could apply to you.

      I am just an amateur reading the law, but it looks like you might be able to qualify based on marriage.

      Best of luck

      Back to Comment Directory

      Reply ↓
  57. Anonymous

    hello there,
    i want to request for asylum in spain or maybe not…i have a german girlfriend and we really want to get married.i was sent back to spain because its the first EU country i came in,but i never seekrd for asylum…the question is this;
    is it possible to marry outside Germany and then present them the marriage certificate in germany?many thanks

    Reply ↓
    1. Anonymous

      Dear Anonymous!

      Don’t seek for asylum because if you seek Asylum now you have willing hand over your self to be imprison and you can not marry your girl any more until your asylum as been approved by the government and of which you are not sure if it will be approve even in 10 years to come.

      1. Did you enter Spain with visa and did you over stayed your visa?
      2. Or you enter Spain without visa (Through Sea)?

      If your answer is 2, means right now, you are undocumented migrant, no record of you that you enter Spain and no record that you are living in Spain.

      But if your answer is 1, means you will be fine at airport when checking out or be ban for entering EU for some period of time. It will take a while before you will be granted visa to enter EU zone again.

      But if your answer is 2 my advice for you is that since you have not document your self has an Asylum seeker, it better for you to return back home and re-arrange your self by getting Tourist visa then get all necessary documents for Marriage then contact Marriage registry in Denmark and after they cross check your documents and see all documents are ok, you will be giving appointment date then you and your girl can go and get married there and you can join her by applying for Family reunion visa from Germany embassy which is very easy to secure.

      Reply ↓
  58. Jian

    hi all,

    i really have a question regarding the recent changes in the registration Act (meldegesetz i think.)

    i am a foreign students and have been living alone before i met my partner in another city
    (about 150km apart but within same state) and we got married.

    and since then i have registered my address in her home as Hauptwohnung while the other room changes to
    be nebenwohnung.

    and since then i have applied for a resident permit, based on our marriage “AUFENTHALTITEL NACH 28” in her city.

    But recently after 6 months of the city registrations i recieved a message from the auslanderbehorde in her city
    that my file was sent back to my previous city because it was assumed/believed that my predominant place of residence
    is where my studies is and hence i should go and apply for my resident card there.

    Can anyone try to explain what the meldegesetz says please or does this assumptions overrule the paper works/signature.
    1.) if thats the case why will the meldeamts (burger büro register me in the city initially?) register my address as hauptwohnsitz?

    Note;
    if i go ahead to apply for my card in the other city, its like am being forced to changed my hauptwohnung again
    Does that mean married couples are automatically separated if they work in different city or they are student in different city?

    Is this where the problem is? she is not working but her ausbildung start soon, though she is on sgb2 and her kids while i pay
    part of the rent in the house every month as calculated down by the arbeitsamts since i work as a foreign student (450eur).

    2.) if my wife will come to my school`s city to register her address as nebenwohnung while my address will also be on her address
    at the other city as nebenwohnung, will this suffice for my application according to the aufenhaltsgesetz nach 28?

    since we married the arbeitsamt deducted some money up to 400eur support, cos they belief she isnt alone again.

    3.) all things being equal, can we file a case against the arbeitsamts to claim this money back, since parts of the system isnt reconising

    us living together for now?

    Reply ↓
  59. pinay

    hello.i wanna know what are the requirements renewing my residence card ?my card have been issued for two years since my passport will be valid only until end of next year.. can i still renew my residence card even my husband which is (eu) exit the germany? we have two children..3 and 5..

    Reply ↓
  60. Max

    Hi there!

    This is an amazing and by far the most helpful post on the internet.

    I have a few questions regarding this:
    – We are a same-sex couple who just got married in Germany
    – I am an EU citizen who has been working in Germany 3 years and my husband is from Lebanon.

    My question is- does he have to go back to Lebanon to get his Residence Permit started or can he just do it from here?
    2. Proof of income- he does not work because he is not authorized but I am working, does that help as well?
    And that’s it 🙂

    Thanks!
    Max

    Reply ↓
    1. Gus

      Hi Max,
      How did you solve your partner’s Residence Permit? Was he allowed to get it there without travelling back to Lebanon? When you said “married”, you mean same-sex parnertship, right?

      I am a EU citizen and I will move soon to Germany with my boyfriend (Non-EU).. So I am wondering what is the best thing we can do in order he can get a working permit.

      Thanks

      Gus

      Reply ↓
      1. Anonymous

        Hi Gus,

        Well you are in luck because we just settled this last week.

        All in all, if you and your boyfriend are here and you want him to get residence permit and work permit, then get the same-sex partnership. Once you have that, he does not have to go back, he can do it all from here 🙂

        Make sure he has all the documents they need at the Standesamt and you have yours (although as EU citizen you need your passport and 1 document and done).

  61. Claudia

    Hello!
    What a helpful website and so informative to shed some light on the immigration policies in Europe!

    Here is my Q (yes for us LGBT couples it seems to be a little more complicated) below.

    The story: I am a German citizen, came here to the US 5 years ago through the Greencard lottery and met my partner (we are both ladies) shortly after. I am currently in the process of going through US naturalization, while maintaining my German dual citizenship at the same time. Once it’s complete, we are looking to spend a few years in Spain and work there. Also, we are currently not married here in the US, only have a domestic partnership certificate.

    Q 1: Is it advisable to get married before we leave the US, to make it easier for her to get permanent residency?

    Q 2: Where do we start the process, should we go to Germany first to get her permanent residency and are then allowed to freely move/live around the EU (Spain)?

    Q 3: Are there any complications we should consider, since same-sex partners are recognized in Germany and Spain, but only Spain allows marriages?

    Thank you so much for all the help, it’s much appreciated!

    Claudia

    Reply ↓
  62. Mike

    Hello:

    My wife is a German national who has been living in the US for the past 20 years (Green Card). She accepted a job outside of Munich and we’ve all moved here as of the other day. I work for an American company which has an office in Munich. In order to continue working for said company I need to transfer to the local legal entity here in Munich. How do I get authorization to work for my company here in Munich? I’ve been married 15.5 years (married in the US). I will register with the city on Monday. What else is needed for the ability to work? This is all a bit confusing.

    Reply ↓
  63. Alex

    Hello!

    I am a non-EU citizen currently studying a master’s in Germany (student visa) and living with my girlfriend. She is a EU-citizen (swedish) and has a full time job in Germany, earning around 1600 euros/month.
    We both are fluent in German and we would like to get married (apparently the easiest is to do it in Denmark). I would like to know what should I do after we get married to change my Aufenthaltserlaubnis from student to long term.

    Thank you!

    Alex

    Reply ↓
  64. Anonymous

    Hi,
    I am working in Germany (Danish citizen) and my non-EU boyfriend is living with me here on a “looking for a job” visa. We are planning to get married. Will this marriage give him a residence permit even though he has not found a job within the time limit of his current visa?

    Reply ↓
    1. Max

      Hey!

      Actually he doesn’t have to work. If you marry, he is immediately entitled to all EU rights with you :).

      I know this from personal experience.

      Reply ↓
  65. mimi

    Hi. Thanks for the continues useful information you have provided. My question is,is it possible to extend a two week schengen visitor visa to the maximum 90 days after landing in Germany? I have searched online and i am getting the feeling that,it is only possible if the vistor is bed sick. kindly assist.

    Reply ↓
  66. Moosa khan

    Hello
    I need to ask a quick question. I have recently received a residence permit in Germany as I’m a non EU family member (husband) of EU national and my wife is Slovak national and she is excercising treaty right in Germany. The residence card I have just received is valid for only one year. I have heard that it should be valid for 5 years. Do I need to contact any authority about this matter or is it just normal?
    Thanks

    Reply ↓
  67. Anj

    Hi! My husband (an EU citizen) and I (non-EU) are planning to move to Germany to live and work there. I was wondering, since I’m required a visa to enter Germany, would I still need to register with the municipality as well?

    Reply ↓
    1. Moosa khan

      If you are traveling together with your husband than under directive you don’t need any visa and marriage certificate with valid passport is enough for travelling and you will get entry visa at external border. And yes the first and important thing is to register with local municipality.

      Reply ↓
  68. Aiger

    hello , i am a Non Eu Citizen of a third part country of Europe. Me and my wife intend to live in Germany. She is a EU Citizen. Can i have good possibilities to take the residence permit of 5 year (Aufenthaltskarte) even without finding a job first ? I have some adequate savings statements. Can these be used a good Proof or i should have monthly incoming for a Job as your case ? Because only after the residence someone can have the right to work. Looking forward to hearing from you . Thanks in Advance for your precious advices !!!

    Reply ↓
  69. teme

    Hi,

    I am a US green card holder. .
    willing to move to Germany to get married from my EU citizen boyfriend. .
    what is required to get married in Germany
    if not holding a valid passport will that be OK as long as I got my personal information in my us permanent document as well as the refugee traveling document?
    Will I get recidency permit in Germany as soon as I get married from my EU citizen partner who is not German citizen…

    Thanks

    Reply ↓
  70. Abdul

    Hello
    I am going to marry with german passport holder girl in london. I am non eu citizen. From Asia. My next plan is to go to germany in schenzen visa then i will do paper marriage in germany. Is it possible to do that? Can you please help me out about that situation.
    Thank you

    Reply ↓
  71. Lenardo

    Thanks for your great works 🙂 Seems like most informative writing regarding German Residence Card (Aufenthaltskarte) through Marriage.I have some queries, and I would be grateful if you please try to sort them out.

    I am a non-EU citizen studying and living in Germany since 2015. My girlfriend is from Poland and we have planned to get marry soon to live and work in Germany.
    1. As I am a student and already registered in Germany and to get the residence permit plus the work permit does my girlfriend need to find a work first?
    2. I have a part time jobs where I get around 800 euros per month, Can we apply for a residence permit with a bank statement? If I show enough money to live for both of us?

    Regards,

    Reply ↓
  72. Aliyan

    Hi
    I am on italy student visa and i want to marry i greek girl in germany.what documents i need to apply and after registering the marriage can we go to uk without visa or we need a visa for moving to uk

    Reply ↓
  73. Anonymous

    i am german citizen married to a south african citizen. he is coming here to visit on spouse visa. can he be able to apply for a resident card under the spouse visa while is here?

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      You South African spouse need to apply for Family reunion visa with German Embassy in Johannesburg then when he/she arrive in Germany, he/she can apply for Resident card to stay with you.

      Without Family Reunion visa (Grant) by the Embassy, She/He can not apply for resident card.
      I am also waiting for the embassy about my Family Reunion visa.

      Hope this helps.

      Reply ↓
      1. Anonymous

        thanks for your answer. even though we got married in Germany, does he still need to get he family reunion visa?

      2. Princess

        Yes, he must exist and apply for Family Reunion visa even though you get married in Germany.

        I got Married in Denmark and i went to Germany with my spouse (German) then we both went to his city rathaus and register our Marriage certificate then they told us the same thing that i have read online ” Must go through German Embassy in my country or in country i have residence “.

        Dont make mistake, after marriage, he/she should go to German Embassy for Family reunion visa.

  74. Donco Gligorovski

    Hello,
    I am EU citizen and i live in Deutschland. My wife is not EU citizen, she is from Macedonia. She came to live with me here in Deutschland but we are registrated on diferent adress because we can not find a place to live together. Could be a problem that when we go to apply for Aufenthaltskarte?

    Thanks a lot

    Reply ↓
  75. Taiwo

    Hello. Thanks for you post. My name is Taiwo from Nigeria (A non EU member state). I have a girlfriend from Norway (an EEA member state). We are planing to get married in Germany. I plan on coming to Germany with a Schengen visa. Can I do so, and can we get married on German soil. If we do so, can I get a residence permit? Please enlighten me.

    Kind regards.
    Taiwo.

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      Hey Taiwo, Has a NG that you are, it difficult to do so. First, it will take German marriage registry up to 6months if not more to approve you to marry her. Best thing for you is to go to Denmark and marry her then go to German Embassy in Lagos or Abuja (Depend on what city u are) to apply for family reunion visa. You will need Start Deutsche A1(Language certificate) along with other documents before you can get Family reunion visa. If u are on viber or whatsapp, or drop me ur email. We can talk more because am from NG and am waiting Embassy reply for my FRU visa.

      Reply ↓
      1. Agboola babtunde

        Good day
        I need advise,I am a nigerian and i have a France visa on December 2015 but I could not make the trip due to late information about the issuance of the visa till the visa expire in January 2016 but now I want reapply for the visa and my intention is to relocate to Germany and I need advise on what to do as soon as I get to Germany in other to secure my resident and work permit.
        I strongly need quality advise regarding this.
        Hope to read your reply.
        Regards.

      3. Princess

        I am happy to tell you guys i got my Family Reunion Visa today from the Embassy. I am been granted 90 days multiple entry to Germany. I will be in the city to process my residence card.

        🙂

  76. Abdul

    Hi..my wife is from
    Germany. We get married in uk in islamic marriage but not in paper. Now if i go to germany in schenzen visa can i do paper with her germany. I am
    Asian. After doing paper can i stay there?
    Please let me know

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      Abdul, Islamic Marriage certificate is not allow (Not 100% sure) better for you to get Civil Marriage certificate before you enter Germany. If not you will be ask to go back and get it.

      Reply ↓
    2. Nelly

      Hi princess congratulations i have a question please i’m from Delta state Nigeria i recently got Married with a German Woman in Denmark but i have an Italian 5 years Residence Permits. I will like you to help me regarding the questions asked in the family reunion visa application please

      Reply ↓
  77. M

    I am Dutch living in Germany married to an Indian. We decided to live in Germany as there the EU law would apply, as I am Dutch and not German, allowing my in laws to come live with us. Based on the EU free movement right (so not based on the family reunion right) my in laws (Indian) last year got the Aufenthaltskarte for 5 years valid. Then they went to India, renewed their Passport, then a family member died and there was a wedding so they stayed for more than 6 months in India, without asking prior permission cause we did not know there was a 6 months rule. It seems to us however that the 6 months rule only applies to Aufenthaltstitel and not to Aufenthaltskarte. (to us there seems to be a difference in those, as my husband has an Aufenthaltstitel cause he applied based on his job rather than based on me being EU citizen. my in-laws got Aufenthaltskarte cause they applied based on the EU free movement right)

    The Aufenthaltstitel is based on Aufenthaltsgesetz 51 abs. 1, which mentions the 6 months rule (https://dejure.org/gesetze/AufenthG/51.html).
    The Aufenthaltskarte is based on EU Freizügigkeitsgesetz/EU, which does not mention the 6 months rule (https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/freiz_gg_eu_2004/BJNR198600004.html).

    According to paragraph 6.1: Der Verlust des Rechts nach § 2 Abs. 1 kann unbeschadet des § 2 Absatz 7 und des § 5 Absatz 4 nur aus Gründen der öffentlichen Ordnung, Sicherheit oder Gesundheit…

    The Aufenthaltsamt of our Region says the Aufenthaltsgesetz also applies to the Aufenthaltskarte, and that we need to give the details of their Aufenthaltskarte so they can terminate their Karte because they have stayed outside longer than 6 months. They say that my in-laws need to re-apply in India.

    Does our interpretation seem correct, that the 6 months rule should not apply for Aufenthaltskarte based on EU free movement right?

    Reply ↓
  78. Afrim

    Hello,
    I’m Afrim from Kosovo ( Non-EU) . My fiance lives in Germany. We are planing to get married and decided to try and move to Germany. She was studying in Germany and had 3 year student visa, after that she got a job in the same place that she was doing practice work and applied for work and resident permit, got it for 3 years (November 2014- Nov 2017).

    Question is, after we get our married certificate and apply in German Embassy in my Country am I eligible to get residence permit , go there live and work ?
    If Yes
    What are sufficient monthly income that my fiance should have before i get there, and
    What is “enough room” is in terms of meter square (m2).

    Thank you in advance
    Afrim

    Reply ↓
  79. Steph

    Hello and thank you for all this information.
    I have some question about my situation.

    I’m a Canadian citizen and I’m living in Canada right now, my boyfriend is EU citizen non German living in Germany and we want to get married. I want to go in Germany to live with him as soon as I finish school here. Now I’m a student so I don’t have a lot of incomes, what means I will need to work when I got there and I have not much saved.
    I’m just really lost with all what I read on a lot of website. I ask questions to the German consulate here in Canada and I got the answer that I can apply for a residence permit within the first 90 days of my arrival and then when we are married I can ask for a family reunion.

    The problem is I don’t know what to do first cause I saw that I need the marriage certificate to have the residence permit but I need the marriage certificate to get the residence permit. Iy’s a catch 22.

    I also have the problem that I can’t show a lease of where I will be living if I go join him where he already lives, it’s his name on the lease.

    I aslo can’t have a proof of employment if I’m not allowed to work, but I can’t work if I don’t already have the paper that allow me to work.

    What should I do?

    Thank you!

    Reply ↓
    1. Steph

      I made I mistake, I mean I need the marriage certificate to have the residence permit but I need the residence permit to get married

      Reply ↓
      1. madhavajay

        Get married in the Czech Republic, its really nice, easy and way cheaper anyway. Get your Czech Marriage certificate Apostilled and translated to German and you’re good to go. I have one so I should know. 😊

  81. Alex

    Hi, I am Non-EU citizen , me and my wife ( German Citizen) got married in Denmark last year . I came to Germany on Intra-company transfer and got a 3 year resident permit based on transfer.

    I want to change this intracompany resident permit for 3 year to family reunification. Am i allowed to do this change from inside Germany ? I am working and living since last 6 months in germany. What status and permit i will get?

    Please help and suggest – Thanks
    A

    Reply ↓
  82. Jay

    I have an Aufenthaltskarte from my wife who is British. Obviously the brexit thing is throwing a lot of confusion into the air, should we consider looking at changing to a Blue Card? I have been living in Germany since 2013, but I am concerned that my right to Permanent Residency might be impacted by changing visas (iv been on two different ones previously) does anyone know about this? I have been fully employed for over well over EUR 50k a year for over 3 years but on 3 separate visa documents. Working Holiday Visa, then Sponsored Work Visa from my job, and now Aufenthaltskarte.

    Secondly, I can’t find any information on what the normal expiry conditions are for the Aufenthaltskarte? Lets say Brexit doesn’t change anything for the time being, can my wife and I leave Germany to say live in another country for a year or two and come back? The Aufenthaltskarte is valid for about 5 years.

    Any advice would be appreciated.

    Reply ↓
  83. Pham Hien Minh

    Hi Admin,

    I am a non-EU spouse of a Spanish citizen. I have Spanish residence card and we are about to move to Germany as my husband is seconded to work there by his company.
    Regarding the requested documents to apply for a residence card in Germany, I have some questions for which I would really appreciate if you could clarify:

    1. I am not working and hence no income. Can I still apply for a residence permit?

    2. I don’t have a private insurance policy as in Spain I have my own social security card that gives me access to use public healthcare. To get the German residence card, do I need to have an insurance policy?

    3. Do all of the requested documents need to be translated in German?

    Many thanks,
    Minh

    Reply ↓
  84. Anonymous

    Hello all,

    I am married to German citizen and i have right documents to live and work in Germany. I got a summer job in Scotland and Ireland, i will like to go but my husband is not going with me because he will be busy too in Germany.

    Do i need to apply for visa before going to Scotland or Ireland or not i dont need to apply?
    Do the Residence Card of a Family Member of a ( non-German ) EU citizen apply to me (non-eu)?

    I will be glad to read from anyone that understand my point.

    Regards
    P.

    Reply ↓
  85. Kimberly Horgan

    Do I have to know the basics of the language before I apply or can I just show I’ve enrolled in a course upon arrival to learn?

    Reply ↓
  86. M

    Hello, I am in Germany with a student visa valid for only 1 year. Me and my boyfriend (He is a German citizen) are planning to get married here in Germany. Would that be possible? any information is kindly appreciated. Thank you.

    Reply ↓
    1. P

      Yes, you can marry your German boyfriend in Germany but the waiting period before the approval of you to get married is longer than waiting for Family reunion visa.

      It is better you guys go to Denmark and get married then return back to Germany and do other paper work.

      Regards

      Reply ↓
  87. Steven

    Dear Administrator
    I am a retired Australian citizen receiving a good private pension. For the last 5 years I have had a living apart/together relationship with my German girlfriend. This year I plan to apply for residency in Germany so that we can be together on a more permanent basis. We do not plan to move in together at this stage in our relationship. You mentioned the 2 week requirement to register an address in Germany. It is likely going to take me longer than 2 weeks to get a permanent address and landlord contract (a lot of competition for apartments in Munich). I will be staying at a friend home for up to 6 weeks near my girlfriends apartment. Can I use this temporary address to register?

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Steven,

      To me it seemed to be a gray area about registering your address in two weeks. Do tourists who stay three weeks in Germany get in trouble for not registering? I highly doubt it. In my case I registered my address after being in Germany for around six weeks. The person in the city hall gave me a look but it turned out okay in that instance. You can even say you were traveling in France for the last month, there’s no way the person in the Rathaus can know if you were present in Germany or not.

      Best of luck

      Reply ↓
  88. faz

    hi great artical
    im in same situation but my wife is working in Germany at the moment and she’s an eu citizen . I’m in spain at the moment i want to join her there . can you tell me do i need just her registration with town hall like with marriage certificate or we both need to register on same address. Thanks

    Reply ↓
  89. Ali shah

    Hello Administrator..i am Ali currently living in italy without any residence card..i have german girlfriend from two years and she have house and job too in germany and we want to marry..so my question is if she come here and we get married is it possible that i travel with her without visa in germany with marriage certificate and live there and apply and wait till i get residence card in germany? i have enough saving and i also can speak good german..please tell if i can travel with marriage certificate to germany and do all registration in germany?
    Thankyou

    Reply ↓
  90. stella

    i have never lived in Germany,but im getting married to a germany National soon,which kind of visa do we have to apply for incase for me to stay with my husband in germany?
    And what are the requirements needed?
    Thanks

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      Hello Stella,

      I am also married to German. We got Married in Denmark and I return back to the country I am living to apply for visa.

      The visa you need to apply for is called FAMILY REUNION VISA. Every country with German Embassy as checklist for applicant, you should visit the one in your country and ask for that.

      In my own case, below are the list of documents I submitted to the Embassy and every documents as to have 2 copies each couple with the Original :

      – Application form
      – Marriage certificate
      – Int’l Passport
      – German Language certificate A1
      – Biometric passport photo
      – My spouse ID or Passport copy
      – My Spouse Registered Address document

      Note: If any of you as ever been married before and divorce, you need the “Divorce Decree” from the court of law that settle the divorce. If you or your spouse is a divorce, you need both from him and yours.

      Pictures from your marriage will be requested too.

      These are all documents I submitted to the Embassy. But make sure you contact German Embassy in your country because I lent to understand that in Africa they requested for more than what I listed above.

      Then you after you submits the documents you will have to wait 3 months for the processing before you can be granted your Family Reunion visa.

      In my case there were second interview that also involvedmy spouse too. We were both given the same time, I was at the Embassy n he was at Foreign Authority office in his city and we were been asked about our family, job, sport, house, food, how you meet etc.

      You and your spouse should know more about each other very well in other to be granted the visa.

      Wish you the best!

      Reply ↓
      1. Brendan

        Hi, i am. Nigerian and have a latvian residence permit for studies then i got married to my longterm german girlfriend in Denmark and then moved to germany. But i didnt apply for residence permit in Dresden until my latvia residence permit expired. Now they rejected my application.. Reason being that i came into Germany with the wrong visa, and that i need A1 level of german language. I want to appeal but i dont know my chances

      2. Administrator Post author

        Hello Brendan,

        As I understand you aren’t required to have A1 German if your German wife has lived abroad in Denmark or anywhere in the EU (which means she would have “unregistered” from her local rathaus in Germany, and have some kind of government documents from Denmark).

        As I understand if you legally come to Germany, which I believe includes having a student visa that allows you to travel within the EU, then you can apply for a residence permit on the basis of being married to a German citizen. However if your student visa expired while you were in Germany and you hadn’t applied yet then I’m not sure what happens. Perhaps if you registered yourselves as living in another EU country as a married couple, and then applied again when you move back to Germany, this could be a solution — this is just a quick guess on my part though. In your case I’m not sure so I would recommend talking with someone who knows about the German immigration system.

        Best of luck
        Back to comment directory

  91. Esther

    Hello thanks for this post, I am a Nigerian and my boyfriend is a German citizen, he will be coming next month for us to get married here in Nigeria. I just finished my school and I am unemployed. After the marriage are we suppose to go to the embassy together for my visa or I am to go alone? Will they demand statement of my account since I am not employed? How long would they visa processing be? Please help me on what to do and the requirements that I need to get a visa to join my husband in Germany. Thanks

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      Dear Esther,

      If your husband to be is a German and working then you don’t need to show proof of money or any statement.

      You don’t need to go to Embassy with your husband because it not require nor necessary.

      Visa processing is 3 months if you submitted all correct n complete require documents.

      Visit Germany embassy in Lagos or Abuja for Family Reunion visa Requirements. And also read above my previous post to Stella.

      Wish you the best.

      Reply ↓
      1. Nelly

        Hi thanks for the Good Works i have a question i’m from Nigeria i recently got Married with a German Woman in Denmark i have an Italian 5 years Residence Permits. She’s also working a very nice job and i have a goethe certificate A1 with 95 over 100 score I will like to know if i can apply the Residence Permits in Germany. Please i really need an urgent help God bless you

      2. Felix

        Get a the same house address then go to the foreign office you visa will be granted hope you wife earn more than 1300 Euro,if does then all is okay

      3. Princess

        @Nelly, you are already within EU with type D (Long stay visa) stay which is a national stay for the particular country you are living and it is the same type D all other EU countries recognized as a national visa.

        This type of stay (D visa) are been given to students, workers, family members (Married to EU person).

        Now that you are married with a German, all you need to do is to get your self register on your wife’s Address at the Rathaus and Health Insurance too.

        Then contact the Ausländerbehörde in your city to get appointment for submission of application (residence permit). When making the request for appointment, ask for require documents that you need to submit so you won’t go twice. And based on you already have Italian residency (5 years), you don’t need proof of German skills but when you are here, you can attend integrate course.

        Wish you good Luck

  92. Mark Hancock

    Hi, I am South African and my Wife is Portuguese, we currently live in South Africa, my company is transferring me to Germany. I have the original signed contract and it has already been approved by the German works council. So we do not have an address just yet and will be moving up like a week before my job starts. My wife will not have a job when we first arrive and will later look for one once the kids are settled in. My questions are: Is an EEA permit the best option for me? Does my wife have to register her stay first and then myself or can we do it together? I am going for a pre-trip a few months before but will probably just need a Visitors VISA first or should try get the ball rolling then?

    Any suggestions welcome

    Thanks

    Reply ↓
  93. Teresa

    Hello Administrator,
    I’m an EU citizen who plans to bring her non-EU spouse to Germany. I have a question about the requirement of having €700 income per month.
    My spouse is a creative industries’ freelancer who doesn’t get regular deposits into his bank account. The deposits are irregular, sometimes fewer than €700, sometimes much larger sums. My question is — is it enough just to have certain amount of savings (say, €5000) to be eligible for Aufenthaltskarte? Thanks.
    Amazing resource btw, keep it up!

    Reply ↓
  94. Toyin

    I have a german father but i live in Nigeria and married with a kid. Can my dad still pass his citizenship to me when i get to germany?

    Reply ↓
  95. Alan

    I am from Hong Kong and my wife is a German citizen. How can I apply an Aufenthaltskarte? Moreover, Must I pass exam in German A1 language if I came together with my spouse to Germany ? Many thanks!

    Reply ↓
  97. JERRY

    Hello,
    Im non EU married to my Spainish partner and we lived in Spain.
    I want to move to Germany because I can speak German and it’s more easy for me to get a job.
    Can I travel alone to Germany and look for Job while she will join me later.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Jerry,
      If you have a Spanish residence permit I believe this allows you free movement anywhere in the EU. To be hired in Germany I believe you would need a German tax id number and probably a German residence permit that allows you to work. You are eligible for these based on your marriage and assuming you meet the minimum income and living requirements, however to get the tax id number and residence permit you and your wife would need to register a German residence at your local rathaus. Good luck

      Back to comment directory

      Reply ↓
      1. JERRY

        Thanks
        We plan to move together 😎😎😎😎
        But now my EU spouse is Pregnant which means she can’t work for now.
        How can we do it?
        What will I do?

  98. Abid Ali

    Hallo sir,mye name is abid and i living in wollfenbütel.sorry sir i have some question i am working in hildesheim and living wolfenbüttel landkreis.i have some some problem i can in hildesheim for exampel some mye place bus not can go again i will can walking in haus can go.please say me i will changed mye haus i can go hildesheim landkreis i am asylum seeker please sir say me.

    Reply ↓
  99. Freda

    Hello, I just wanted to ask, I live in Austria, and I have three year document in Austria, but next year in April I will be getting my five years document but I want to relocate to Germany what should I do and what will I need to stay I. Germany.

    Reply ↓
  100. Cedric

    Good day Administrator, my wife is German and I am south african, she has never lived in Germany however she has a german passport. How would I go about my application? I mean, how do you work in Germany as a self employed person on a tourist Visa? Is that possible or do you need a working visa when you enter Germany before you apply as you have described?

    Reply ↓
  101. Gladys

    Hello i am a Nigerian i am married to a german for 10years now we have 2 children 5 and 8years old our children were born in uganda and we registered their birthcertificate via the kampala embassy and they both got german citizen by blood. We are registered in the german embassy in uganda. Now my husband job just transferred him to other country that we do not like and we are moving to germany next year.

    I am planning to get into Germany with tourists visa and apply for a resident permit once i arrive. My german language skills is B1. My husband is working for a international company and he will return back after 4 weeks in Germany.

    My question is 4 weeks enough to get me a resident permit in Germany.

    We are moving to dusseldolf area and we are planning to buy a house or an apartment once we get there.

    Note. We are married in Ghana and marriage certificate was verified by the German embassy in accra

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Gladys — as I understand, once you are in Germany legally and make an application for a residence permit, you’re allowed to stay while the application is being processed. I say this based on Section 81 of the German Residence Act, “(3) If a foreigner who is legally resident in the federal territory and does not possess a residence title applies for a residence title, his or her residence shall be deemed to be permitted up to the time of the decision by the foreigners authority. If the application is filed too late, deportation shall be deemed to be suspended from the time of application up to the time of the decision by the foreigners authority.”

      Good luck!

      back to comment directory

      Reply ↓
      1. Shah

        Hello. You are so nice guy and giving much beneficial information. I have question , please tell me I have a child from my partner. She is polish and child is polish. I am asylum seeker. Can I get Residence card ?

  102. Shibalal

    Hi Admin
    At first I came Germany in Student Visa. My visa was 6 months. But after five months I moved to Poland and apply for the TRC in Poland. After 4 month I received 3 years TRC card in Poland.
    Now I am planning to stay with my girlfriend in Germany so what can I do ??
    Can I get Aufenhalt in Germany with work permit? ?
    Any your suggestions we be appreciated.

    Reply ↓
  103. Kimmie

    Hello, I’m from a non-EU country planning to get married to a German citizen in Denmark. My question is after getting married can I get my residence permit right away when we go back to Germany? Or I need to go back to my home country? What if I don’t have that much money in my account cause I was studying the language course for 3months and I decided to not work on those months? Is there going to be an issue? Thanks in advance!

    Reply ↓
  104. rizwan

    We are living in UK but soon planning to go to Germany but i don’t have a Residence permit to work in the Germany I guess.

    I have searched some Residence Permit application Form as there are 2 forms, 1 need A1 Language test and other one doesn’t .

    Well i have a BBA (BA) degree from Pakistan, Will it be consider in order to exempt the A1 Language Certificate?

    And i have been living in UK since past 7 years and have a / Self Employed as a Teacher and run a Business in education.

    My question is do i still need to have an A1 language Test or is it exempted as i have a University Degree from Pakistan?

    Kindly send me a link for right application form for my visa application
    so that i would be able to complete all required documents required by the German embassy before i take an appointment.

    Many Thanks
    Kind Regards

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Rizwan,

      Are you married to a German citizen? If not, then I think you don’t have a language requirement. If you are, and your German spouse has been unregistered from Germany and registered in the UK or anywhere else in the EU for a few years (exercised her right of residence somewhere else), then I also think you are not required to meet the language requirement. Double check me on those but I think you should be okay.

      back to comment directory

      Reply ↓
  106. Maggie

    Hi.am from kenya & my husband is German we seem to have trouble with health insurance company accepting me here in Germany while its a requirement for the residence card, which company would you recommend that won’t take me in circle its like a game btwn insurance &Ausländeramt both want proof so am just stuck here waiting & frustrated

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Maggie,

      I pay about 35 euros per month and get insurance through a private foreign company: https://www.imglobal.com/travel-medical-insurance/patriot-travel-medical-insurance

      From what I’ve read this type of foreign private insurance is kind of a gray area for being accepted in Germany, and I suspect when I applied for the residence card I got lucky that the person looking at my application didn’t look too hard at my insurance.

      This insurance I linked to above is basically travel emergency health insurance so I wouldn’t recommend it for the long term, and if you use it to apply for your residence card then it’s difficult to switch to public German insurance once you get a job in Germany. I also believe this insurance I linked to won’t qualify you for a permanent/long-term residence permit after five years because it doesn’t include long-term-care (nursing home) insurance, though you may be able to find a policy for this separately from a private German company.

      This may be the most help for you: If I understand correctly, the German law says that if your spouse has a normal job contract and you earn less than 500 euros per month, then your spouse’s health insurance company must let on to your spouse’s health insurance policy. I’m not sure if this applies to private German insurance, but I believe it does apply to the “public” German health insurance companies (I think most Germans are on a “public” plan).

      This is what I’ve been able to figure out over my years of being in Germany, but take what I say with a grain of salt because I’m not an expert. Good luck!

      back to comment directory

      Reply ↓
  107. Maahme

    My fiance is a german citizen living in germany and I’m an afghan national.what are the conditions for me to inter germany and how long it will take for me to get a permanent resident card ? And work permit?

    Reply ↓
  108. Ali

    Hallo
    I’m Ali non-EU family member of romanian citizin, I am doctor and have residency card in romania do I have the right to work in germany if my wife stay in germany but she gas no work???

    Reply ↓
    1. Anonymous

      Hello

      Thank you for sharing your story.
      I have a question about the length of the spouse visa.
      I was told by my lawyer that usually the government issues 2 years of visa.
      Did you apply for 5 years term? I know that sometimes it depends on the person who takes care of your visa case at auslanderbehorde.

      Thank you

      Reply ↓
  109. Annie

    Good afternoon. I am a German citizen not living in Germany at the moment. My husband and I are due to retire soon and would like to spend six months a year in Europe. How can we go about getting a permit for him so he does not have to leave the EU every three months with a visitors Visa? I looked at the spousal permit however we would not be able to live there for five years consecutively

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Greetings Annie,

      I can think of two possibilities — the first is applying for a three-month extension of the three-month travel visa. I’ve heard this is easily approved for foreign students who come to Germany just to study the language at a volkhochschule, so perhaps in your situation it would also be no problem.

      The other is applying for a residence permit for him (valid for 5 years by default as I understand) after you arrive to Germany. If you are retired with a pension and/or savings and have basic emergency health insurance while you’re staying in Germany I think you could qualify for this. I’m fairly certain you would if you were an EU-citizen married to a non-EU-citizen, however the conditions may be different for German citizens married to non-EU-citizens.

      There may be another way that’s designed better for your specific situation as well; perhaps someone else will leave a more relevant response for you.

      Best of luck

      back to comment directory

      Reply ↓
  110. Jess

    Hello I am a Filipina moved in to Germany without acquiring German language certification and been given a visa which will expire on January 20th . I am married to a German and we have a child. What will possibly happen if I can not acquire a1 certification or learn the language. Would they send me back to the Philippines I don’t want my child to stay in Germany if the government will send me back to my country just because I can’t speak their language.

    Reply ↓
  111. allan

    hi…
    i had get married to British in Cyprus 2009 then i get 5 years non eu family member resident permit from Cyprus then we divorced after 4 years …i had renewed my residency they issued also non eu family member we are not together any more my residency are valid until 2021
    so can i apply for any kind of residency in Germany ?

    Reply ↓
  112. Rachi

    good afternoon , i am a moroccan nationality i married 10 years ago in italy , my wife she is italian a nationality , and i have italian residence permit ,my wife she is working in munchen 4 month i live with her , i whant to make a german resedence permit ,witsh decoment and way they need for that ,thank you very mutch

    Reply ↓
  113. Rachi

    good afternoon , i am a moroccan nationality i married 10 years ago in italy , my wife she is italian a nationality , and i have italian residence permit ,my wife she is working in munchen 4 month i live with her , i whant to make a german resedence permit ,witsh decoment and way they need for that ,thank you very mutc

    Reply ↓
    1. robert

      certificato di matriminio in dedesco,residenca dala comune con indirizio,piu la sigurazione di tua moglie se lei lavora avra anche la sigurazione per tuta la famigli 28.50 euro e una foto digitale

      Reply ↓
  114. Julia

    Hello, I am a German and my husband is South African. He recently moved to Germany and it takes 3 years until he gets his German citizenship. My question would be how long does he need to stay in Germany at a time as he got an indefinite job offer in another EU country?

    Reply ↓
  115. Jugjeet

    Hi,
    I am living at asylum in Germany and I am a Non-Eu national. I am doing job legally since last 2 years and now I get married with Romanian national.
    I have Romanian marriage certificate and I am living with my Romanian wife together in Germany since February.
    My question is, how I can apply German residence card?
    What documents should I have with me and what is tha processs to apply residence card.

    Regards:

    Reply ↓
    1. robert

      Jugjet you must tolk to imigration ,withdrou the asyl go back and get family long stay visa.And come to germany to have Rc 5 years .You can olso try to doit within germany but unlikly imigration will ecept.

      Reply ↓
  116. Benson

    Hi, I just got back to my home country with a Vorabzustimmung from the Auslanderbehoerde in Dresden for a family reunion visa. The problem is that the German general consulate in my country is totally booked out for long term visa. For 2 months now I have been trying to book an appointment but they keep saying booked out. Then I sent an email to the embassy in a different city and they told me to apply for a schengen visa at the consulate. Now I am confused … I don’t know if the schengen visa is ideal for my situation because I already have a preapproval of my residence permit by the Abh. I dont know if i really need to apply for a long-term family reunion visa or a schengen visa is enough. Please assist me

    Reply ↓
    1. robert

      Try around time 6 or 7 at afternon , evryday as the rule is to cancel the apointmrnt who ant show up.So works to have a free apointment for nex days.I did so and it works : ).

      Reply ↓
  117. Marc

    Hi! Thanks for the information, it is really helpful. I am a EU citizen living and registered in Germany since one month ago. I am doing several jobs interviews a week, so I hope I´ll land a job soon. My wife is Argentinian and as soon as I get the job she will go to the Foreign office to ask for the residence permit. She entered the country as a tourist, without having to ask for a visa back in Argentina, because holders of argentinian passports are able to do that. However, I have learned that citizens from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States of America are the only ones that are allowed to ask for a residence permit once they have entered the country as tourists. Do you think it is possible to get the residence permit at the Foreign office, even if you are not a national of these countries?

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Marc,
      Based on this section (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html#p1245) of the Residence Act it seems it could be possible: “(2) A residence title which may be obtained after entering the federal territory … [it] shall be applied for immediately after entry or within the period stipulated in the statutory instrument. … (3) If a foreigner who is legally resident in the federal territory and does not possess a residence title applies for a residence title, his or her residence shall be deemed to be permitted up to the time of the decision by the foreigners authority.”

      Perhaps “statutory instrument” means a visa or someone on a visa waiver program who can stay as a tourist for three months.

      A lot of people have this question so if you find the answer you can write back. Hopefully it works and good luck.

      back to comment directory

      Reply ↓
  118. Anonymous

    Hello,
    I am a Canadian and recently married a German citizen. I am already in Germany, but I have not completed the language requirement yet. I am enrolling in a German Level A1 course, but it may take a little more time than I’m allowed to stay in Germany as a non-EU citizen. What are my options? Thank you.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello,
      I’m not sure what your official options are but I can think of the two obvious ones: 1) apply and enclose proof that you’re enrolled in a language course. Maybe that would be enough (your wife can always call the Landratsamt and ask). 2) apply and don’t enclose anything about the language course. Maybe by the time they sent you a letter saying you need the language course you could have finished it?
      Also, if your wife has ever lived abroad in any EU/EEA country then I don’t think you’re required to meet the language requirement.

      Perhaps someone else who has had this experience will respond with more specific information. Good luck
      back to comment directory

      Reply ↓
  119. Medina Dizdarevic

    My family (husband, daughter under a year old, and I) are US citizens. We want to move to Germany my husband is going to Germany in 2 weeks alone to try to get a job and take a couple courses so he can apply for the residency permit. To get everything settled. I was wondering how I would go about this. Will my daughter and I automatically be able to stay in Germany longer than 3 months or would I have to apply for the residency permet as well when I get there. I will not be working because I have to be with the baby. He has a cousin that we plan on getting a house or apartment with and several other family member there. I just don’t understand the process when it comes to married U.S. couples that are not EU residents and have a baby but want to move there and make it a permanent home.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Greetings Medina Dizdarevic,

      If your husband can get a job legally that supports you and your family then I think you can be eligible for residence permits. If he’s in a field that’s in high demand this may be possible.

      Separately I believe if you go to Germany as a tourist with your family then you can stay for three months. If you enroll in German language courses at a community college (folk hochschule) then I believe you can extend your tourist stay for another three months or perhaps get a residence permit for a longer period as long as you plan to study the language.

      There may be some other special considerations made for US citizens that I don’t know about. Maybe someone else can add something to this comment.

      Good luck
      back to comment directory

      Reply ↓
  120. KS

    My wife (Dutch) and I (non-EU) live in Germany for 1 year now. I have my Aufenthaltskarte valid for 5 years. One month ago my wife had a psychological breakdown and left back to the Netherlands and registered herself there (not sure if she unregistered in Germany / or if it is necessary to do so). We are not in speaking terms at the moment. I was left behind with ‘our’ big house (rental) and all the bills. So I want to move out from here to a smaller place in a city close by but staying in the same province. My questions are: Is it better for me to stay at my current house (not move out) because of possible immigration issues OR can I relocate and register myself in the next municipality without any problems even though we are not living (registering) together anymore? And for how long can I still live in Germany (alone) but still being married to her? We are only married for 1.5yrs but not yet divorced. It has been a very difficult situation for me. Thank you for your help! Ps: I do not work here but support myself through savings.

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Sorry to hear that KS, sounds difficult. This section (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html#p0504) from the Residence Act seems like it relates to your situation.

      I can tell you from my own experience: one time I moved to a different city and my wife had to start work immediately. So the next day I went to the rathaus to register us both. They wouldn’t let me register us both, and I could only register myself temporarily; we both had to go back to the rathaus a few weeks later and register together.

      Good luck

      back to comment directory

      Reply ↓
      1. MK

        Yes, it’s a very difficult situation atm. Thanks for sharing your experience. Elaborating on your answer, could you be more specific about “a few weeks”? and can they revoke your card at the rathaus? What if you just keep your old registration and do not register at the new location, is it a (big) problem? I’m also looking for a lawyer to help me with this issues. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks again.

      2. Administrator Post author

        When I first went to the rathaus by myself it seemed they basically filled out the paperwork as much as they could with the information I provided but didn’t finalize it until about two weeks later when my wife and I both came into the rathaus. The reason I went by myself initially was that in the location where we’d moved to there was a law that said one must register one’s new address at the rathaus within two weeks of moving (I think there are similar laws for each state).

        I’m not sure if they can revoke your residence card at the rathaus. You need to show your rathaus registration for many things (library card, perhaps a job and healthcare, etc). If you don’t need those things then maybe you could make it without registering at a new address. If you could receive mail at your old address then you potentially could have few inconveniences by not registering at the new address. Maybe you could also work out a deal where the people renting at your old place would pay you for the GEZ fee. I can’t give any lawyer recommendations because I haven’t had experiences with any.
        Hope that helps
        back to comment directory

  121. Jay

    Hello,
    I recently got married(August 2017)to EU citizen and have gotten my 5 years Aufenthaltskarte in Germany. I have lived here as a student(Msc) for 5 years(Oct. 2012) and worked full time 2 years (though work not in my field of study). I now have permanent contract with the German firm I work with. Can I apply for permanent EC card since I have lived here legally for over 5 years? I have B1, i have been paying into the pension plan since 2013 when I started working part time as a student.

    Reply ↓
  122. Prav

    Hi, Firstly I would like to thank you for providing and assisting all these people with their visa queries. I hope you can also help me to understand the resident permit of Germany. I am Indian Citizen (Non-EU Citizen) and I am married to a Dutch National (an EU Citizen). we have a Dutch marriage certificate, however I am still living in India due to the tedious process of IND (Dutch Government). I would like to know if my wife moves to Germany and register herself there. How can i move there with her and apply for the resident permit?
    Please suggest, what are the requirement we both need to fulfil for the resident permit?

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Many Thanks
    Prav

    Reply ↓
  123. B. Maria

    I am US citizen marrying a German citizen. We both have work contracts to fulfill for the next few years in our respective countries. If we marry, is there a way I can obtains residence card, but still be in the US for six months a year?

    Reply ↓
    1. B.Marie

      Ultimately, we would like me (from US) to be able to stay in Germany for 4 to six months at a time, with out the 90 days in 180 days out of Germany stipulation. Any ideas are welcome. Thank you.

      Reply ↓
  124. B.John lennon

    Hi
    I have been living in Germany for 5 years and and i have completed 60 months of pension as a master student.Next year April i got to marry my eu girlfriend and register here in berlin.
    So after the marriage,can I directly apply for niederlassung or ec residence permit (permanent residence) or passport in Germany?

    I will have a full time job contract from my restaurant where I work ,after the marriage.

    Please help me regarding it.Would be grateful to you in this regard.

    Reply ↓
  126. CY

    Good morning,

    Please do need to apply a Visa to Germany for my non EU spouse living with me here in Italy?
    His Italian resident will come out around February
    I want to travel this December to Germany and take up resident.
    I’m Italian citizen
    he is a Nigerian passport
    We have our marriage certificate in Italian because we got married here in Italy

    Thanks

    Reply ↓
  127. ldky

    Dear Mr/Ms to whom it may concern,

    My spouse who is a German citizen and Singapore PR, we have been a relationship for 14 years in Singapore. As we are planning to relocate to Germany early next year. Our marriage has been registered with German authority in Berlin; via German Embassy in Singapore.

    May I know as a Singaporean citizen, would I be required to proof my German language proficiency if I were to apply for German Residence Card (Aufenthaltskarte) through Marriage” when I arrive Germany?

    I noticed there are few developed countries are exempted for having an non EU spouse to fulfill this language requirement. Is Singapore also on the list as well?

    Is there an integration government program or German language course/assistance for a spouse like me( non-EU citizen) to enroll in Germany?
    Kindly advise what is the best option for me?

    Thank you in advance for your help.

    Looking forward to hearing from you.

    Best regards,

    SingaporeGuy

    Reply ↓
  128. Zayn

    I have a question ! If someone(non eu national ) is married with eu national and he got 5 years residency Card ( a family member of European Union) and he got divorced after 4 years can he still apply for permanent resident Card or he have to leave ?

    Reply ↓
    1. Anonymous

      @Zayn yes you apply for permanent resident card but before the PRC can be approve, you must have been working for 5 years and has paid 36months tax within the past 5years as well. So if you have not pay 36 months tax, you will not be grant the PRC. If you are still in the marriage and your spouse as been working for 5 years or more, it will cover you and you will be grant.

      Reply ↓
  129. ldky

    Please assist.

    My spouse who is a German citizen and Singapore PR, we have been a relationship for 14 years in Singapore. As we are planning to relocate to Germany early next year. Our marriage has been registered with German authority in Berlin; via German Embassy in Singapore.

    May I know as a Singaporean citizen, would I be required to prove my German language proficiency if I were to apply for German Residence Card (Aufenthaltskarte) through Marriage” when I arrive Germany?

    I noticed there are few developed countries are exempted for having an non EU spouse to fulfill this language requirement. Is Singapore also on the list as well?

    Is there an integration government program or German language course/assistance for a spouse like me( non-EU citizen) to enroll in Germany?
    Kindly advise what is the best option for me?

    Thank you in advance for your help.

    Looking forward to hearing from you.

    Best regards,

    SingaporeGuy

    Reply ↓
  130. John.D

    Dear administrator:

    Firstly thanks so much for providing such informative web page.

    I am from a non-European country, already here since 3 years, currently doing a PHD in Germany with a student visa. My German girlfriend and me plan to get married soon. However my fiancee is working and living in Basel Switzerland. It’s 15 minutes from the boarder where I live. Therefore she is not registered in Germany.

    My questions are:
    1. If we get married, and I start working in Germany. Is it possible after 2 years marriage I can apply German citizenship or permanent residence, even though we registered in different country?

    2. If we get married, is it possible for me to apply for a residence permit based on marrying a German (even she is not registered in Germany )?

    Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

    Best regards

    Reply ↓
  131. branna29

    Hey just reading the list of what is required
    This is what you will need to include with your residence permit/aufenthaltskarte:

    Copy of your passport showing your name, picture, and expiration date
    Copy of your health insurance
    Two biometric photos
    Proof of your income or employment, needs to be at least around 700 euros per month and can be in the form of a letter from your employer, bank statements, or adequate savings statements
    Marriage certificate in German
    Your anmeldebestätigung (municipal registration certificate)
    Identification Card

    with the proof of income if I am applying as the spouse of a german wouldn’t it be his bank statements i need or do I need to have a job as well?

    Also and it’s probably a long shot but has anyone ever had a partner who has lived in germany but worked for a foreign company can you use the foreign wages to prove financial or does it have to be euro’s from a german bank?

    We’re considering a move to germany but it would be short term maybe a year or two but wouldn’t be longer than that, my partner is German/British/australian and our son is German/australian and I just don’t know what I need but my husband has been working for a UK company and would continue doing so from germany.

    Reply ↓
  132. branna29

    also one other question if you are living with extended family who own their property what do you need to submit if you are living with them to prove adequate living accommodation.

    Reply ↓
  133. Benson

    Hi,
    Can someone help advice me what to do. I am from Non- Eu country and married to a German citizen.. We stayed together for a while in Germany before Germany asked me to leave and apply for a National visa.. But the thing is that I was already given a Vorabzustimmung that is a pre-agreement for a family reunion visa by the Auslanderbehoerde in the city I live with my wife. They told me that it will be fast as long as I have the document I will return quickly but they actually wanted to get rid of me reall quick. The problem now is that it’s been 4 months I have been trying to get a visa appointment at the General Consulate Lagos but they keep telling me they are all booked out and I should keep checking. I have tried to contact Auslanderbehoerde they just ignore me my wife tried to contact them the same thing happened and this thing is really affecting us . Please can someone advice me on what to do.

    Reply ↓
  134. Marge

    Hi! I notice this post is quite old but very helpful for me right now. I hope you can get my question and perhaps help me out. I recently went under the same process and I obtained a Residence Card of a family member of a Union citizen. I am Colombian and my husband is Portuguese and we live together in Germany. We were planning to travel to the UK and in the Embassy they told me I was not able to entry without a visa because my Residence Card does not states clearly IN ENGLISH that it is of a family member of a Union Citizen. It says exactly the same but In Germany. So they told I need an entry visa. I read at the beginning of your post that you translated your Residence Card. Can I ask you what was the purpose of that? Did it perhaps had something to do with traveling to UK? Also, do you know if the same card can me issued in English?

    Thanks,

    Marge

    Reply ↓
  135. Lenh

    Hey,
    first of all thank you very much for this super helpful information.
    I would like to ask you a question about the living situation and the 12 m2 rule… We are Slovakian- Colombian couple planning on settling down in Germany. From what I understood first we need an official and legal accommodation and after that, we can apply for the documents, but I am concerned about the size of the place, Are they really so strict and it MUST be 12 m2 per person? What if we get such a big place only for the time when we apply and then change it to smaller? Can you do that while waiting for your residence card? Can u even change your address at all during this process? lAnd what do they check for how long is your contract for the accommodation?
    Thank you a lot for your time!

    Lenh

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Lenh,

      I’m not sure how strict they really are; it probably depends on the person who looks at your application. When I applied I lived in a very small room, but it was a shared student dormitory so taking that into consideration I was okay.

      I’m not sure about your other points; maybe someone else will know. You can always try the application with what you have and see what happens.

      Good luck!
      back to comment directory

      Reply ↓
  136. YAW

    My name is Yaw, a native of Ghana.
    My girlfriend and I are planning to get Married in Denmark. As a non EU- Citizen and undocumented resident in Berlin, Germany, I do like to request further information.
    I have the following document readily available: a valid Ghanaian Passport issued in Berlin, Birth Certificate and a Bachelor Certificate from Ghana.
    any advice from ADMINISTRATOR on how to proceed on with my situation ?
    thank you.

    Reply ↓
  137. Anonymous Girl

    hi! i am from Third World Country, came here on Family Visa with my son (Sep 2014). Got divorced after 2 years. I had Fiktionbescheinigung for 21 months.After Court’s hearing for divorce in Germany I got a letter to leave German Territory but I had taken Stay through VW Gericht. I have submitted my Documents in Standesamt to re-marry with a Romanian Guy 3 months ago. But still wiaiting for the Überprufüng Documents and Got Duldung now (Dec 2017). My Question is: If i get a marriage Date and I go to Ausländerbehorde, for how long my son and I’ll get a Visa? As I’ve been living here from last 3 years , Paying Tax since May 2015,not taking any social/financial help from Government.

    Reply ↓
  138. Jonathan Wallace

    After hours and hours of searching conflicting GOVERNMENT websites regarding if a foreigner marrying a German needs A1 German to get a residence permit, I have finally found your VERY USEFUL website.

    ****** But one question******

    HOW in the world did you find the obscure law that says: If the German national exercised their right of residence in another country, then the foreign spouse does not need A1?

    Who writes these laws anyway? (HAHA)

    Thanks for your hard work,
    Jon

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Jon,

      I got that from this page of BAMF’s website (http://www.bamf.de/EN/Migration/EhepartnerFamilie/ehepartnerfamilie-node.html): “If a foreign national moves to Germany to join a German spouse, proof of linguistic ability is not required if the German national has previously exercised his/her right of freedom of movement within Europe…”

      I looked through the English translation of the German Residence Act (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_aufenthg/englisch_aufenthg.html) and the best passages I could find that support this talk about German nationals meeting their spouses/marrying while abroad. So it is not a 100% match with what BAMF says on its website and the English translation of the laws…but then again many things are not a clear-cut match, unfortunately.

      Ideally someone will also respond to this thread who has been in this exact experience and call tell us what they’ve learned from personal experience.

      Best of luck

      back to comment directory

      Reply ↓
      1. jdlangridge

        It seems to be an EU-wide treaty right thing. In the UK if you live in another EU country, and then return to the UK later, you are treated as a non-UK EU citizen in terms of bringing your non-EU spouse with you. So you get the benefits that non-UK EU citizens have, and it makes the immigration process for your non-EU spouse a lot cheaper and easier – see the court case “Surinder Singh”. I think it’s because EU countries have to give citizens of other EU countries certain rights, but they don’t have to give the exact same rights to their own citizens, maybe.

  139. Paulo

    Hi there,

    I am a non EU citizen planning to join my partner (EU citizen) and our son in Germany.

    Although she’s got a job in Berlin already, my partner is still looking for a place to rent. Can I apply for the visa without having a registered address yet? As you may know, it’s not easy to find a place in Berlin with a child, and ideally I would get the visa before moving there.

    Thank you in advance!

    Paulo

    Reply ↓
  140. Matt

    Hi,
    Thanks for such a helpful Platform. I am a Non EU National married to a German and we have been living together in Hamburg for the past 6months now. She has been living in Hamburg for the past 1yr. I only joined her here from Ghana in July 2017. I have a 1.5yr residence permit. My question is, can i study in a different City say Kiel or Berlin whiles my Wife stays in Hamburg because the kind of Masters Programme i want to study is not done in Hamburg. ( My wife is already studying in Hamburg University and we are registered in Hamburg ).
    Thanks in advance

    Reply ↓
  141. Tim

    Hello,
    I’m a U.S. citizen married to a German citizen but we currently each live in our respective countries. It’s my understanding that if I move to Germany I can immediately get a permanent residence permit based on marriage and then apply for citizenship after 3 years.
    1) Must I live in Germany the entire 3 years, or is there a certain amount of time that I’m legally allowed to live outside of Germany in that period?
    2) I realize that when I move to Germany I must register with the local municipality (and unregister if I leave for an extended period). But if I fail to unregister when leaving Germany at anytime during the 3 years, is there any way that my absence can be officially tracked (other than maybe entry/exit stamps in my U.S. passport)?
    Thank you!

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Tim,

      I’m not sure about your questions. Hopefully someone else reading will have more definitive answers for you.

      Having said that I can at least speculate: for part 1 of your question I would suspect you could live outside of Germany for at least up to three months per year.

      I’ve also wondered about part 2 of your question. If you live within the EU there is no way they could know you’re living outside of Germany as long as you don’t unregister in Germany or register in another EU country.

      I wouldn’t be surprised if there is an EU-wide program that monitors who is inside vs outside the EU, but I’m not aware of any specifics about such a program existing for common travelers. However, whenever you leave/enter the EU you get a stamp on your passport, and when you apply for a German residence card, including permanent residence, I believe you must present your passport. How thoroughly they check your passport is another question. If you left the EU via Paris for example, I also wonder if the German system for monitoring your presence would pick that up.

      Best of luck

      Reply ↓
      1. Tim

        Thank you for this reply. It makes sense.

        I’m also a dual Canadian-American citizen with a Canadian passport.

        I imagine if I entered Germany on my US passport and had it stamped upon entry, then traveled to France and flew to Canada or the US and back to France on my Canadian passport, there would be no record of my having left Germany.

        Would you agree?

      2. Administrator Post author

        I really have no idea. I will guess, but it is truly just a shot in the dark.

        My guess would be that no one in the greater bureaucracy of the EU, France, and Germany would put two-and-two together, unless you really gave them a good reason to do so.

    2. Douglas Hackney

      Tim,

      RE: Must I live in Germany the entire 3 years, or is there a certain amount of time that I’m legally allowed to live outside of Germany in that period?

      I received a German residency permit in August 2017.

      Due to work, I must be outside of Germany for extended periods in various parts of the world.

      Consequently, this was an area of concern for me as well.

      I read through the relevant sections of the English-language-version of the German law and could not find any requirement for time-in-country for a residence permit.

      Please note that I am not an immigration attorney and am not providing you with legal advice. You should read these sections of the German law yourself and/or consult a qualified attorney well-versed in German immigration law.

      The sections I read are in the original post above in this section:
      Helpful BAMF Website Links:
      * German Residence Act (in English)

      Douglas Hackney

      Reply ↓
      1. Tim

        Thank you Douglas. Based on my own internet searches as well, I was unable to find any specific details about a time-in-country requirement regarding the residence permit. But just to avoid any ‘obvious’ interruptions in residency leading up to applying fro citizenship, I guess someone who is already a dual Canadian-American citizen could initially enter the EU via Germany on a U.S. passport, leave Germany for another Schengen nation (e.g. France) in order to exit/re-enter the EU using one’s Canadian passport, then return to Germany from France.

  142. Anonymous Girl

    hi! i am from Third World Country, came here on Family Visa with my son (Sep 2014). Got divorced after 2 years. I had Fiktionbescheinigung for 21 months.After Court’s hearing for divorce in Germany I got a letter to leave German Territory but I had taken Stay through VW Gericht. I have submitted my Documents in Standesamt to re-marry with a Romanian Guy 3 months ago. But still wiaiting for the Überprufüng Documents and Got Duldung now (Dec 2017). My Question is: If i get a marriage Date and I go to Ausländerbehorde, for how long my son and I’ll get a Visa? It could be of direct for 5 years or 3 years? As I’ve been living here from last 3 years , Paying Tax since May 2015,not taking any social/financial help from Government.

    Reply ↓
  143. Natalie W

    Health insurance is required – does that have to be a German health insurance or would my insurance I‘ve had in the US work?

    Proof of income is required – what happens if I‘ve already quit my job in the US and haven’t found a job in Germany yet? Would it be sufficient to give them a proof of my income when I still had my job?

    Thanks!!!

    Reply ↓
    1. B. Maria

      US health insurance generally is not acceptable. I have found getting traveling health insurance they also offer student and expat insurance and that may be your best option. I used
      MAWISTA.
      It is also not what you are capable of earning, but what you have to support yourself. You may want to begin looking for a job in Germany.

      Reply ↓
  144. James

    Did your EU spouse simply have to get the Anmeldung before you (non-EU spouse) could apply for a residence permit?

    Your EU spouse didn’t need to do anything else like get a residence permit (eg in Spain the EU spouse would also need to get a NIE (foreigner’s ID number), as well as registering their address like the Anmeldung)?

    Did your EU spouse need to prove they had health insurance at any point in the process?

    Thanks,
    James

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello James,

      We registered (anmeldung) at the rathaus at the same time. No, my EU spouse did not need a residence permit (not required for EU citizens), nor did my EU spouse need to prove EU health insurance. As I understand, anyone in the EU has universal emergency medical insurance anywhere in the EU.

      Reply ↓
      1. jdlangridge

        Thank you that’s good to know. I think the European Health Insurance Card is supposed to be used only by “holidaymakers and temporary visitors who need to use the state health system while in another EU country”, and should be returned to the issuing country as soon as you cease to be resident there (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-germany#health). But if you’re just studying abroad it’s valid for 12 months. In Spain I had to take out private health insurance to get the quasi-resident-permit foreigner’s ID. It’s a relief that all I need to do as an EU citizen is register my address in Germany!

  145. CY

    Hello,
    Please am Italian citizen married to non-EU from Nigeria.
    We want to move to Germany to work but I don’t know how to go about that because now am pregnant and wouldn’t be able to work.
    But my husband can speak German and English very well.
    We are waiting for his Italian Resident Permit of an Italian Citizen.
    Please

    Reply ↓
    1. CY

      Please can you reply me.
      Do i need to get Anmeldung before my spouse can work in Germany.
      He have a Resident Permit of a Family member of an Italian Citizen

      Reply ↓
      1. Princess

        @CY, Yes you need to get it then you can go with him and both of you will be register. Only him won’t be able to register.

        After that both of you will have ID and he can work.

  146. peter

    Hi,
    I am Peter and i just got an appointment for a family reunion visa at the German general consulate. I am Married to a German and we lived together for a while until i was asked to leave Germany and reapply for a long term visa but the thing is that the Auslanderbehorde of my city gave me a pre-approval (vorabzustimmung) letter of residence permit after i met their requirements, as i was told that its their decision to permit me live and work in the country and it will also help speed up the visa process. so, now i am getting ready for my visa interview what should i expect? would it still be the normal process and routine for visa application or are there any steps they might skip? how long will the Visa process take as i already have the pre-approval letter from the Abh. thanks

    Reply ↓
    1. Nelly

      Hi i have a German family reunion interview next month at the German Embassy in Rome. please can you give me some little clue of some of the questions they ask. Please your advice will really be appreciated. My email is fridayayomoh@gmail.com. Perhaps you can also comment it here thanks alot and may God bless you

      Reply ↓
  147. Anonymous

    The information is very helpful. I am a non EU Citizen and my wife is an EU citizen. We married in Denmark and she exercised her freedom to move from Denmark to Germany. We registered our apartment with local authorities, allowing me to apply for a residence card. (I am a U.s Citizen, She is Danish.)
    An appointment was scheduled at the Rathaus, showed the necessary paperwork, gave biometrics and received residence permit with permission to work in the mail. This is my question.. does that give me immediate permission to work? Do I have to register to work? She is still working in Denmark and I do believe that Germany requires me to work just in Germany. Could you give me any advice? It was not mandatory for me to take German language courses so I haven’t learned much.

    Reply ↓
    1. jdlangridge

      You have a pre-existing right to work—in fact to be treated as a German/EU national—because you are married to an EU citizen. The residence card just formally recognised your right, making it easier to prove when necessary.

      Reply ↓
  148. Tamara

    Hi, is it possible to get a resident permit even if am separated from german husband. I have a national visa already.

    Reply ↓
  149. DK

    Hello Friends,I am a Dutch Citizen and my wife is from Morocco and and she is non-eu.Last year she visited me on a schengen visa issued by Nederlands.All the documents for the long term stay at Nederlands was done.She also passed the Dutch exam A1.But before we apply for long term visa at Nederlands unfortunately I moved to Germany for a new job opportunity.I work at Germany and also registered.I exercised the freedom to move from Nederlands to Germany.
    We requested for an appointment at German Embassy Morocco to submit for the long term family reunification visa in Dec 2017 and we will get an appointment in Sep-Nov 2018 and 3 months to process.This information is from the german embassy website.I need to wait almost 1 year to bring my wife to Germany on family re-unification visa.We decided that let her visit me on short term visit visa and then go back and apply for the family reunification visa in sep-Nov 2018.They rejected the short term revisit visa also.
    I really dont know what to do.She is stuck in Morocco and I am here in Germany.Can you please suggest.Appreciate all the help

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello DK,
      You got married outside of Germany, correct? As far as I know, if she enters Germany legally — including on a tourist visa — then you can immediately apply for a residence card for her while you live together, and she can remain in Germany while her application is processed. This would be the same process I went through as a non-EU citizen with my EU citizen wife (she is also not German, and we were not married in Germany). Because you are Dutch she also doesn’t need to speak any German- as I understand the language requirement is only for non-EU spouses who want to join their German partners.

      I suspect the “family reunification” process you’ve been going through is for German citizens who want to bring their non-EU spouses to Germany.

      Hopefully this helps. It’s possible the rules have changed since I went through this process about five years ago, but from taking a quick read on BAMF’s website (http://www.bamf.de/EN/Migration/Arbeiten/EUBuerger/eu-buerger-node.html) it looks like it is still the same process I went through.

      Best of luck
      back to comment directory

      Reply ↓
      1. DK

        Thank you for the immediate response and helpful information.I think you are correct.The consulate may have consider that I am trying for family reunification process with German citizenship.As mentioned my wife has been denied short term visa to visit me.It is very stressful.She had submitted all the documents my job contract,salary slip ,german translated and apostile marriage certificate etc.,Still they denied her the short term visa.

        Now we just need to wait till Sep-Nov 2018 for the family reunification appointment and submit documents and wait 3 more months to process the visa.I am estimating that she may visit me in 2019.I also read in some forums that we can bring our non eu spouse with eu-citizen crossing the border and they need to issue the visa immediately.Anyone have a similar experience please share.

        Are there any other options or suggestions to bring my wife at the earliest.Also if possible some legal contacts that can help me.Appreciate all the help and many thanks in advance.

  150. Voşlkan

    Hello everyone, Administrator
    I have a couple of questions and my situation is this:

    My boyfriend is Turkish, he was born in Germany and has lived in Germany since then, he have residence in Germany so it means he belongs to EU? but what I understand is that he has a Turkish passport, so it means he possess Turkish nationality right? I am from Venezuela South America , So non-EU, in that case, if I marry him:
    • Do I have the right to get the residence permit to live in Germany with him?
    • Do I need to prove that I can speak German A1?
    • Can I marry him as a tourist?
    • If we marry in turkey and go to Germany after marry can I request for the residence permit?
    • Can he request for the marriage certificate in the Standesamt before I land in there so they can give us a date for marriage at time before I land in there?
    • After we marry what steps should I make for get the residence ?

    I appreciate your help it will be very helpful since I feel lost and I’m looking for answers desperately. Please and Thank you!

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Voslkan,

      . No, he does not belong to EU based on only resident permit.
      .Yes, you will get resident permit if your man to be meet up requirements.
      .Yes, you need to prove A1.
      .Yes, in country like Denmark it easy with your Schengen tourist visa.
      .Yes, you can too .
      .You dont need 2 different marriage. Only one is okay and next is to submit document with embassy for reunion visa.
      .Embassy as the rest answer. Go to Germany embassy for what to do after marry him. And even now that you aren’t marry, you can go to the embassy for list of require documents after marriage in other to join your man.

      Good luck.

      Reply ↓
  151. Voşlkan

    Update: he is German citizen but he has Turkish passport, so what does that mean ? Is he a EU member ? In which position am I to ask for residence permit?

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Voslkan, if his a German citizen he must have German passport and since he did not have. Is a Turkish citizen because he has the country passport.

      So if you are taking his country citizenship later in future, you will be Turkish too.

      Reply ↓
  152. Tuff

    HI ADMINISTRATOR.
    Am non EU married to a EU Citizen, she recently move to register her adress here in germany. in other for me to appy for a residence permit, How much salary is she suposed to earn every month. And after i apply how long will it take to get the decission.

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Tuff, last 3 months pay slip is what you need in other to apply.

      She need to earn 1,200€ after tax.

      It depends on the city you are living. Mine was 3 weeks and I applied in Altenkirchen westerwald in Rheinland-Pfalz. It’s a small city.

      Good luck.

      Reply ↓
  153. Ben

    I am living in Germany with my parents. My Dad holds an EU passport. I joined my dad here 1year 5 months ago. I came here with a German family reunion visa. I recently got my Germany residence permit 2 weeks ago. I am currently going to school. If I don’t want to live with my parents together anymore, But I don’t have a job at the moment, as I am currently going to school, where can I go for them to help me? If I’m on my own, can I also be able to renew my residence permit when the expiry date is near? Without the presence of my Dad??

    Reply ↓
  154. Criterioner

    Hello everyone i would like to inquire about how a romanian citizen who currently is working in romania could register in Germany so that the husband who is not an EU resident, could benificiate from getting the 5year stay permit in germany that ll allow him to pursue his carreer in his field of diploma studies in germany . Could anyone shed a light on this matter please ! We’re living in romania for the time being, and we’re planning to
    Move to germany next year after he obtains his diploma.

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Criterioner, Your wife and you must rent a flat in Germany and live together, use the contract from the flat to register at rathaus and get a document certifying your address. Take the document with other require documents with you and your wife to the office for the resident permit with her last 3 months pay slip from Romania.

      Both of you will get the permit and she can return back while you stay if she want.

      Reply ↓
  155. Felix

    I really appreciate you hope you can’t help me too I am non eu citizen but I am marriage to am eu citizen but my wife is not working but I am working each time I apply for a resident permit I am always turn town for different reasons the last time it was income so I want to ask is not possible to have a resident permit in Germany because your wife don’t work,so how much do I need to earn,what the minimum please help me

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Felix, if your wife is not working and you are working you can have resident permit.

      You need to earn 1,200€ monthly after tax. The which is to be okay for both of you since it only one person working.

      Reply ↓
      1. Felix

        Thanks you i appreciate but i would not have a problem because she get money from the job center just half of her rent i do the rest and her upkeep too thanks

  156. Sylvia

    hallo.. I am Sylvia

    I have a question about my visa and passport.. I am holding job seeker visa at the moment and on August 2018, I am going to marry my fiance (German Citizen). I will take his family name. My question is : should I change my passport directly after my marriage because of my new name will be change ? or is it possible to keep my old passport because my passport is still valid unitil 2021.

    I am going to do honeymoon to US on november 2018. I have US visa in my old passport. do you think it will be problem with German immigration when I will leave the country for honeymoon? or is it enough to show my marriage certificate to the immigraton employee in airport?

    thank you in advance

    Reply ↓
  157. minhal

    Dear Admin,
    Do i need a travel insurance, if i already have a travel insurance of about 11 months left from my home country (third world country) ?
    and it has only been a month since i came in germany how can i present a 6 month bank statement ?
    and do i need to present the language certificate if i already have a polish visa ? and i am already in germany right now !!! So do i still need to get a language certificate ?

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Minhal, call and ask before your appointment date about the exact insurance you have at hand because there are some insurance that does not cover anything except when you have emergency and u get an ambulance service for free based on your insurance, that type of insurance is called ” traveller insurance “. And this are kind of insurance the sell to you in Africa when applying for visa to Europe.

      To get resident permit you need insurance that cover you during sickness.

      Reply ↓
  158. Karla

    HI there,
    Thank you so much for providing all this information. And thanks everyone for sharing your experience as well.

    I apologize if this question was already answer. I did scroll through, but did not see it.

    My place of employment was closed due to natural disaster in my area and I also became my father’s primary caretaker after several seriousness afflicted him. Because of these reasons I have not been able to work in over 6 months. I am still in the US and I am not married yet. But I will marry my German partner and move to Germany in the next few months.

    Basically I am wondering about the income requirement. What happens if I have been without it for a while? Would we be able to present my partner’s income information instead? Thank you so much!

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      Yes, you can.

      Am from Africa and my partner is working while I am a student. His current last 3 months pay slip was what I presented with other require documents and I was granted resident permit.

      So do worry, you will be granted too.

      Reply ↓
      2. Nathan

        @Princess

        Thank you for your support. Just want to know you got married in Africa or in Germany?

      4. Nathan

        @princess
        I’m Asian and got married to an Italian who lives and work in germany. you mind if I ask how much your husband’s gross salary when you applying for resident card ? my wife’s salary is 1560 gross (including taxes ) will this be enough ? apartment she pay 560. appreciate your help.Thank you Princess

      5. Princess

        @Nathan, my spouse gross salary is 1750€ including tax and after tax he has 1420€ in his account. What ever you pay for house rent it shouldn’t be problem because Ausländerbehörde won’t ask you. They just want to see amount that enter the account monthly after tax. Yesterday, i submitted application again for renewing and i was told to call for pick up after 3 weeks. With the same above salary thing.

    1. Princess

      @Voslkan, if his a German citizen he must have German passport and since he did not have. Is a Turkish citizen because he has the country passport.

      So if you are taking his country citizenship later in future, you will be Turkish too.

      Reply ↓
  160. walter

    I have a German resident permit because my wife is an EU national,I want to know how long i can travel outside the EU,People told me 90days but i am not sure can anyone help please.

    Reply ↓
  161. Hans

    Hey, alot of good answers here, but how things in 2018? want to move with wife, EU cititzen myself living in Panama, Wife from Costa Rica, going to germany in 2 months, working freelance for clients online, got enough income on paypal but not on bank, using debit card, would they accept those statements? its not a official bank, but its income.

    Outside that, any place to get quick housing? got to register in 14 days i read everywhere, and a rental contract is required to register.

    Reply ↓
  162. Asim

    I am live in Grecee.. i have UNO stay paper..
    But i am belonged to pakistan..
    I want to get married to my cousin.. she lives in German and german nantionalty holder..
    What is requrierd Docoumet and who can i aplay ..?
    Or
    Can you tell language is important to learn me or not..?

    Plzzz tell me..

    Reply ↓
  163. mkjohn

    hello sir
    i am married to an EU citizen and got 6 months Residence card in Germany instead of 5 years Resident Permit. Visa officer said that there is a shortage of around 170 euros in my wife netto salary even she had 1450 euros of brutto and netto of 850 euros accomodation and 2 times meal per day was included in her job contract. According to law 700 euros per month income is enough. was someone in same condition ? need your suggestion and advice. thanks

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Mkjohn, what country are you from? What city are you living and got your 6 months ID from? Then the house and admin can answer your questions.

      Regards

      Reply ↓
      1. mkjohn

        @princess thanks for your reply. i am from pakistan and wife is eu national. we live in hessen province and behorde which issued 6 months card is happenheim

      2. Princess

        @Mkjohn, based on my own research with this type of issues. I learn to discovered that some people got 6months due to their location are been flooded by immigrants who comes in with their EU spouse in other to use the advantage of the law, while their spouse return back after or some don’t have sufficient money to sustain themselves or you / your wife is currently jobless, also, since you are from Asia this can be another reason why you got 6months. The Ausländerbehörde want to be sure who they are issuing the ID to and if the marrige is real.

        The 80% of other westerners and citizens from well developed countries get / got their 5years without doubting. But Africans and Asians are not such lucky on that.

        If you are here for real, I don’t think you should be scared of anything. With the 6months you got, you can get your self a job and 2 weeks before it expire, call the Ausländerbehörde for appoint to renew.

        Mine was a year and I did not even ask question why, am suppose to be given 5 years according to the law but I did not get that and no one give explanation why. Now it will expire on 17th and my spouse has called and I got appointment to renew again. And my spouse is a German.

        Just use what you have now and secure your self a job.

        Hope I answered your question.

  164. Steff

    Hey there! Neither me nor my parter is EU nationality, however we study and live in Germany, in which conditions can we get married here? I am unkrainian and my partner is from Kazahstan. Thank you!

    Reply ↓
    1. mkjohn

      @princess..thanks for your reply. my wife and me having job .. we both are having netto of 1125 included accomodation and food in last 2 months…these we are going to provide to soon. we didnot get any response till yet from behorde as it is the last month of my aufenthaltkarte.soon we will call them to have appointment. another information i forgot to share that we lived in Germany in feb 2017 till May 2017 but we didnot apply for visa and we moved out due to some personal problem. we came again in nov 2017 and apply for visa and i got it. we are going to submit our last 2 lohnabrechnung with netto 1125 and 3rd one with netto of 950 euro included accomodation and meal from firm … we are having secure job in the same company from the time when we applied for mine aufenthalt card. i learned German till B2 .. am i suitable to get 5 years card ??? i shared all information given to ausländerbehorde why we moved out.plus i entered in out Germany legally in past by doing anmeldung and abmeldung . i showed all documents to them.. i hope you understood my case.. need your suggestions

      Reply ↓
      2. mkjohn

        @nathan at that time was before tax. at that time she was working only. now we both are working. what i mentioned now is that what we both are working at one place plus there is another amount i forgot to mentioned what she is earning now by doing partime work at another place which is not mentioned in my previous comments. we are earning now good after tax by doing double job… my concern was about when i got first card of 6 months..

      3. mkjohn

        @nathan at that time was before tax. at that time she was working only. now we both are working. what i mentioned now is that what we both are working at one place plus there is another amount i forgot to mentioned what she is earning now by doing partime work at another place which is not mentioned in my previous comments. we are earning now good after tax by doing double job… my concern was about first time

  165. Hans

    Hey, would a monthly rental contract (sub-rental) of airbnb work? not reading anything about that anywhere, anyone knows?

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Hans, Just take the contract with you to rathaus register yourself. If it been accepted then you don’t have problem.

      Reply ↓
  166. Nathan

    Thanks a lot princess for you ever support. My wife said her gross is 1810 I think we are safe 😊. God bless you

    Reply ↓
  167. Jane

    Hi All! I’m an American citizen recently married to a South African citizen with Permanent German Residency (not an EU Citizen). I thought I would share my experience as it was a little different from others and I hope it can be helpful (I had many of the same questions above!). I arrived in Cologne on a 90 day Schengen tourist visa, we were married in Copenhagen (where received a marriage license in 5 languages including German, no additional stamps or translations/ certifications were needed), and then immediately returned to Cologne to register for my “Anmeldebestätigung”. I was worried my husbands apartment would be too small at 22 square meters but it was not an issue. After this, we contacted Health Insurance companies in Germany including the German government run insurance and they would not give me insurance until my residence permit was approved. However, when we contacted the Office for Resident Permits we were told German Health insurance was absolutely required. Ultimately we went to the Resident Permit office in Cologne and they proceeded to process my application without the health insurance but we were given a formal letter to present to the German Health Insurance company and were asked to bring back the proof of insurance. I don’t think this is holding up my permit however. I am not employed at the moment but have ample savings that I was able to prove (more than 10k Euro) so this was fine. I had to pay 100 Euro for the residence card and was told it should arrive back at that office in 3 weeks or so. I will then be contacted to pick it up. I did ask about overstaying of my 90 day tourist visa and was told to come back next week for a special form or stamp that will allow me to legally remain in Germany beyond the 90 days while my permit is being processed. The form I filled out to apply asked about German language ability but other than that, I didn’t have to prove any language. I am taking the A1 course now but haven’t completed. I’ve heard from other Americans that as long as you indicate you are taking the course or plan to, it’s fine.
    From my experience, I would advise that you do your research (this site is really helpful!) but if you run into contradictory advice from the German government like we did, go ahead to the local office and try to present what you have. It seems there is always room for debate with this process and often people in these offices can make exceptions if you ask/ explain your situation. I thought we were going to get rejected first for the size of our apartment and second for the health insurance but so far, we’ve left each visit with what we requested. If applying in Cologne, go to the office ahead of opening time so you are first in line and avoid a long wait. We didn’t have luck with making an appointment and everything had to be done in person.
    For language courses through the local government, try the local VHS. Here is the website for the one where I’m attending in Cologne. https://vhs-koeln.de/homepage. GOOD LUCK!

    Reply ↓
  168. Finallyhappy

    Hi I’m a trinidadian hoping to marry my German partner in Germany,I just completed my 90 day visa free trip to spend time with him,but I was told that I must go through the local embassy in my country in order to marry him.I’m hoping it’s not a long process as I am already very sad to leave him,can you enlighten me to the process of my specific case?Am I making it out to be an impossible long process out of ignorance ?Thank you very much

    Reply ↓
  169. mkjohn

    @princess . thanks alot for your help and advice. i have last querry. i will not bother any more 🙂 . my question is that if some one work few hours ( teilzeit) in another city where he or she is not rejistered and few kilometers away, will behorde accept the slaray slips of that work? province of anmeldung , fulltime work & another partime is same .. thanks in advance

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Mkjohn, location of your work does not matter. What matter is that you meet up the expectation of the Ausländerbehörde. You can be registered in Berlin and work in München.

      Reply ↓
  170. Naith

    Hi I’m a Srilankan still in Sri Lanka and married to EU citizen who live and works in Germany. Before I apply EU citizen family member visa I asked embassy if they can attest my marriage certificate to use in Germany they said they don’t attest Sri Lankan documents anymore. My wife when yo city hall to change her civil status single married city hall officer said need the embassy seal in marrige certificate. Now I miss streesed and stuck thinking what do… embassy say no more attest ,city hall says need. I don’t know what’ do appricate guys if you can give kind support to me 😞😞.
    Only good news I heard from embassy I can get EU citizen family member visa to enter Germany

    Reply ↓
  171. Michael

    Am married to a EU National who leaves in Germany I was given a Visa from non EU Country. Am in Germany now I have already been registered into the System I went to the Ausländer för my resident permit today for me to be told to bring drawings that shows directions to my families in country and pay some extra monies for that am worried… Do I Meer a Layer.

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Michael,
      “Drawing that shows direction to your family country”
      -What exactly does that mean?
      -How much were you asked to pay?
      -What type of visa do you have (C or D)?

      Until you make a clear message then you can get an answer from the house.

      Regards

      Reply ↓
      1. Michael

        The Type of Visa issued to me was D and they said I can pay up to 650 euros to enable them process the Documentation in Ghana.. But these same Documenta are the onces they Used in Ghana to issue me the Visa to Germany. My tax identification numver in Germany has even been posted to me in Germany.Now my Visa that I brought to Germany has expired because I have been here since March 28 -2018..I cant travel I cant work am devastated and my wife is very worried.

      2. Mike Oware

        The Visa issued to me was D and they said I can pay up to a Maximum of 650Euros to process the documents in Ghana. Meanwhile its that same documents that was Used in Ghana to issued my Visa. My tax identification number was been Posted by the German authouritiesto me, but I cant travel and I cant work either because I have been here since March 28-2018 and the 3months Visa issued to me from Ghana has already expired am devastated and a worried preson.

        Regards.

        On Jun 19, 2018 9:03 PM, “Open Borders Immigration” wrote:

        > Princess commented: “@Michael, “Drawing that shows direction to your > family country” -What exactly does that mean? -How much were you asked to > pay? -What type of visa do you have (C or D)? Until you make a clear > message then you can get an answer from the house. ” >

      3. Michael

        The Visa issued to me was D and they said I can pay up to a Maximum of 650Euros to process the documents in Ghana. Meanwhile its that same documents that was Used in Ghana to issued my Visa. My tax identification number was been Posted by the German authouritiesto me, but I cant travel and I cant work either because I have been here since March 28-2018 and the 3months Visa issued to me from Ghana has already expired am devastated and a worried preson. Directions to my Parents House and a relative directions to the school I attended Infact I am worried..
        I know someone who I came to Germany with the same Visa has been issued with her resident Card. My wife is a black Person just like myself just that See is an EU national so we really dont know why.
        Regards.

      4. Princess

        @Michael, you have the right visa.

        -Who said you can pay maximum 650euro to process documents in Ghana?
        -What documents are you processing in Ghana?
        -Why you did not apply for residence permit in March / April when you enter Germany?

        You dont have problem, all you need is to apply for your residence permit in the city you are living.

        Call the Ausländer and make appointment for residence permit then go with all the require documents. You will be charge a fee of 100euro.

        I am from Nigeria, and i was given residence permit. I applied a week after my arrival in germany. I came to Germany last year April with visa D too and i was not ask to show any direction to my family back home. And no such money was requested from me. All i pay was 100euro.

        What is the reason that makes you not apply for residence permit a week after your arrival in Germany?

        Regards

      6. Michael

        The Visa issued to me was D and they said I can pay up to a Maximum of 650Euros to process the documents in Ghana. Meanwhile its that same documents that was Used in Ghana to issued my Visa. My tax identification number was been Posted by the German authouritiesto me, but I cant travel and I cant work either because I have been here since March 28-2018 and the 3months Visa issued to me from Ghana has already expired am devastated and a worried preson.

  172. HM

    EU citizen myself, i am married to a non-eu wife, last 4 years.

    Whats the full process to obtain residency?

    I am so confused, reading everywhere she got to aplpy visa but she can enter europe for 90 days.

    Outside that, working for myself as self employed? will they accept that? can show income for last 5 years, anyway worst case, can my wife or me find a job?

    Reply ↓
    1. Abraham

      I I’m living in Germany I’m 25 years old and my mother is here can I get a resendental permit or get married to stay here in Germany

      Reply ↓
  173. allan

    hi…
    i had get married to British in Cyprus 2009 then i get 5 years non eu family member resident permit from Cyprus then we divorced after 4 years …i had renewed my residency they issued also non eu family member we are not together any more my residency are valid until 2021
    so can i apply for any kind of residency in Germany ?

    Reply ↓
  174. Zenab97

    Hi there,
    I’m a EU citizen married to a non-EU citizen that was asylum seeker and is now asked to leave Germany.

    If we want to apply for him for a residence permit, does he need to have a visa or another EU residence permit or anything else?

    Also do I need to be working to apply for him for visa?

    Reply ↓
      1. Rowland

        Am married to a polish citizen and am from Nigeria ,the marriage was done in Poland my asylum in Germany has been fully rejected currently my wife is working and registered officially in Germany also am registered in the same address what’s the possibility of getting a residence permit , we tried applying at the auslander but they said I should wait for a letter from them that properly I have to go to Nigeria and come back to Germany with a visa ,what should I do ?

  175. Anonymous

    I live in London but I’m a citizen of Germany. My ID card is about to expire. What steps do I need to take to renew my card, and what is the approximate timeline for each step/ all the steps together?

    Reply ↓
  176. Aisha Zahid Jr.

    I live in London but I’m a citizen of Germany. My ID card is about to expire. What steps do I need to take to renew my card, and what is the approximate timeline for each step/ all the steps together?

    Reply ↓
      1. mkjohn

        @princess. how long it takes to receive card?? if waiting time to receive residence card is over?? thanks alot

      2. Princess

        @mkjohn it depend on the city you are living. In my city Altenkirchen (Westerwald) in Rhienland-Pflaz here in Germany it 3 weeks. Same in Hamburg too.

      3. mkjohn

        @princess..thanks for reply. mine is also 3 weeks. I tried to call but the Officer who issued me 5 years residence permit is on vocations..

      4. Princess

        Then you have to wait for the officer to resume back to work then you can go and pick it. Normally the holiday wont pass 2 weeks. Try and call so you can know exactly when the officer will be back to work.

  177. Miro

    Hello,
    I recently got my RESIDENCE CARD FOR FAMILY MEMBER OF A UNION CITIZEN in Germany, but its Valid only for 2 years, is that fair ? Do you have any idea why ?.
    Thank you, looking forward to your answer .

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      Many none-EU family member of an EU citizen comes on this page and ask question if 6 months, 1 Year or 2 Years of Temporary Residence permit issue by German Authority is fair or not!

      Despite the fact of what you read online about EU laws regathing none-EU family member of an EU citizen on 5 Years residence permit.
      You should all know that countries as her own laws too and this are been use to protect their citizens too and also, State in each of these countries also have some kind of laws that back up there various reason for what ever action they took on ypour document.

      So if you are been issue 6 months, 1 Year or 2 Years of Temporary Residence permit, I dont see reason why it should be a problem. Unless your marriage is based only to get residence permit.

      Even if you are been granted 1 month permit, a week before it expire contact the same authority in charge and you are still in the reunion and you submitted the require documents, definately your permit will be renew.

      Why worrying your self over nothing is what i dont understand.

      I got married to German, am from Nigeria. My first residence permit was 1 year, a week before it expired, i called and i was given appoint for renew and submission of require documents. I did and i was given 2 years and 4 months. And my passport too will expired in 2 years and 4 months.

      My Points are; just use what you have and live your life. Having 6 months or less wont stop companies to employ you.

      Has a none-EU family member of an EU citizen, if you are still in the marriage for 2 years the next 3rd year of within any month you can apply for permanent and the rest of the 2 years plus on the Temporary permit issued to you is useless.

      Reply ↓
      1. moosakhansite

        The last paragraph about permanent residence only apply to family member of German national in the Germany under national law. Otherwise EU family members have to wait 5 years for permanent visa if their EU partner are exercising treaty rights (not in home country).

      2. Princess

        @Moosakhansite I don’t know about that. My spouse is German but if you can post here link of where you read it, it can help others too.

        Anyway, wish everyone looking forward to that good luck.

      1. Anonymous

        Is normal my friend some of us even got 6 mouth just work with it am sure my the end of the 2 years you get your five years permit

  178. Zahra Abdikadir mohammad

    I’m ZahraabdikadirFrom Somali but now indonesia jakarta Refugee Please Help Me my Brothers Is Sick

    Reply ↓
  179. Felix

    Hello good day i just want to to how long do you have to stay in a marriage with an eu citizen living here germany, and can one still renew when the marriage is on separation.

    Reply ↓
    1. Moosa khan

      If you divorce before acquiring permanent residence in your host country (which usually requires you to live there for 5 years) – your non-EU spouse, children and grandchildren may stay if:

      they have been living there for at least 1 year, and
      your marriage lasted for at least 3 years before divorce proceedings started
      To be able to stay, your non-EU family members must also meet the same conditions for residence as EU nationals.

      Reply ↓
      1. prince tampico felix

        Thanks you so much i appreciate. But i think you don’t understand my question.i mean if you are given 1 year resident and the marriage is under seperation can you still renew. In order word can you renew your resident when your marriage is on separation?

      2. Princess

        @Prince Tampico Felix, You were been given 1 year and before your 1 year resident expire, you and your spouse are not in good condition and want to separate.

        To renew will not be possible for you because your spouse need to sign a document that will be giving to you by the Ausländerbehörden before you can renew and if your spouse did not sign which means the marriage is not working.

        I was given 1 year last year when i joined my spouse (German) and this year the so call document was given to me for my spouse to sign and also to bring other require documents too.

        And i was given 2 years and 4 months based on the expiring date on my international Passport.

        But if your spouse sign for you, even though the marriage is under separation way, you will be able to renew.

  180. Eesha

    Hello
    I am living and married 3 years with a German national so both 3 years living and being married 3 years do I have to apply again visa or can I directly apply for passport ? Let u know been working also almost 2 years got unbefristet Arbeitsverhältnis ….almost had all the documents…language +driving license +
    Can u guide me what’s my status right now
    And what should I do further please guide
    Thank you

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Eesha, First, you need to apply for permanent permit and after you are being granted then make a request for passport. Your unbefristet Arbeitsverhältnis is not require. Once your spouse his working and has been working for over 5 years, you are cover.

      If you have the require documents, make an appointment with the Ausländerbehörde.

      Wish you the best!

      Reply ↓
      1. Eesha

        Ok thank you for your reply one more question what if he has his own Bussines I mean selbständig does this has positive effect also??

      2. Princess

        @Eesah if his self employ or working for some company is not a problem.

        The question here is : Has he been paying Tax based on the work is doing (self employ or working for company) for over 5 years?

        If your answer is Yes, then you are good to go.

        Good Luck!

  181. Pab

    I really appreciate your effort.
    I’M a Nigerian national currently living in Italy, I have 2years Italian resident permit valid all Eu. I just got married to a German , we got married in Denmark, she’s not working shes getting money from the jobcentre, I don’t know maybe that could be a problem, please i need your advise on how to get my residence permit here in Germany

    Reply ↓
    1. Felix

      My friend first step on getting a germany resident permit is to move to germany get the same house address with your wife,then go to the foreign office and apply for a resident permit, first she not working then you have to work,the foreign office will will issue a 6 month permit then will you start workings then you will have 3 years permit i am a Nigerian too i pass throw the process too few mouth back,is not a easy way bro when she get money from the job center

      Reply ↓
      1. Pab

        Thanks for your reply, I am presently with are here in Germany… Like how long do you think it will take to get the six months after putting address? so I can able to work and hope they won’t require for a language result, account statement or ask me to go back to Italy and get a visa back to Germany

      2. prince tampico felix

        Just get the same house address first then go to foreign office and see what there have to tell you don’t be scared,i will give you the breakdown after you have return 

      4. Pab

        @prince tampico felix, @princess, I have done the address registration and my wife has also started working …they told me to get a A1 certificate but what can I do if i haven’t finish the class to obtain the certificate before the next appointment? please what is the next hint? Kindly share your thoughts

      5. Princess

        @Pab in other to escape the Ausländerbehörde stress she need to get job and show proof of income for the last 3 months before your ID can be process. They want know she not is a liability to the system, you too wont be and you both can take care of each other without government support. Has she is taking money from Job center, she is a liability and you marrying her mean you are also a liability to the system. Unless you show proof you can sustain your self pending the time you will get a job.

        If you have up to 5K in your bank account, It will be fine and you wont have stress from the Ausländerbehörde. And your permit will be process.

        Or you should get job contract since you have Italian permit (If it work) then use the contract with other require documents to apply for the permit (I think it will work) but am not sure if it will work. Just give a try.

        Good luck!

  182. oli

    Hi All … My husband is a EU national(holding Portuguese passport), myself I am a non-EU national holding an Indian passport.Currently we are residing in UAE. We are planning to move to Germany next year for better prospects. I have few questions regarding ‘An EU-member registered to live in Germany’:
    1) Can we both travel at the same time to Germany and then start the process of registering to live and applying for jobs in Germany, taking into consideration that I will be on visa valid for 3 months?

    Reply ↓
  183. Pab

    @prince tampico felix, @princess, I have done the address registration and my wife has also started working …they told me to get a A1 certificate but what can I do if i haven’t finish the class to obtain the certificate before the next appointment? please what is the next hint? Kindly share your thoughts

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Pab, that is strange, you were not suppose to provide A1 certificate again because you already have Italian permit and which proof you have a D visa (national visa of one of the EU). Assuming the A1 is so much needed, you won’t be able to register an address at the Rathaus (It happened to me, i existed Germany and passed exam then apply with German Embassy for Reunion Visa which took 4 months).

      I will say, you should get a lawyer.

      But in another way, if you can attend the class and pass the exam (It’s easy, i did it too) it will be your own advantage because when it time for permanent you will need B1.

      Each of the Class is about 3 months to complete but if you are a fast learner with extra studying you can achieve it within 2 months plus.

      Wish you the best!

      Reply ↓
  184. Anonymous

    Hello,
    I would like to know the process of getting Aufenthalt in Germany.
    Actually, I came here as a student and I got married to German my bf. And I already registered as married in Rathaus. and my student visa is going to expire now. What should I have to do now?

    thank you in advance

    Reply ↓
  185. Isabella Ojiodu

    Hello
    Thanks so much for the info.
    Can i start all these processes on a tourist visa?
    I am married to a German.
    Can my travel insurance work for this too, or i have to get one in Germany.
    I also don’t have a job but have a lot of money in my savings, will my statement be accepted?
    I am yet to arrive though

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Isabella Ojiodu, you can not start the process on Tourist visa. You need to attend Goeth institute for A1 class or any other tutorial that offer German language skills and pass the A1 exam. Then you will book appointment with German embassy for family reunion visa and also, request of list of the require documents to submit for the visa. A1 German Certificate is among the require documents.

      Then after you finish with Embassy and arrive here in Germany, you can process your residence permit.

      Wish you the best.

      Reply ↓
  186. Abid

    I’m asylum seeker in Germany & my net gf from uk.she is British citizen an live in Uk,she is unemployed..we want to get married in Germany an live in Germany after marriage.is it possible to get German residence permit marrying with British woman living in Germany.

    Reply ↓
  187. Abid

    I’m asylum seeker in Germany & my net gf from uk.she is British citizen an live in Uk,she is unemployed..we want to get married in Germany an live in Germany after marriage.is it possible to get German residence permit marrying with British woman an live in Germany.
    Abid_1984@yahoo.com

    Reply ↓
  188. Fareen Shaikh

    Hi,

    This post is super helpful, but I have a couple of questions. I’m an Indian married to a Portugal citizen. We have not registered our marriage in Portugal yet as we got married in India. Since I’m short on time as I will be visiting my husband in Berlin who is an EU citizen on a tourist visa, during my visit I’m planning to apply for my residence permit . Following are my questions :

    1, How do I register our marriage and status of our marriage at the Rathaus? and how long does the registration take? What are the documents that are needed to be submitted?
    2. Is it important that we register our marriage at the Rathaus?
    2. Can I apply for my residence permit when I’m traveling on my tourist visa?
    3. Do I need to show my indian savings account to prove myself as self sufficient while applying for my RP? His monthly income is above 2000 euros.

    Awaiting your reply. I’m extremely worried .

    Thank,
    Fareen

    Reply ↓
  190. Umer Khan

    If I go to Ukraine on 1year study visaa ..
    And from there I move to Germany on Schengen visa ..
    Then can I get German Residence Card through the process u mentioned above without any problem ..??

    Reply ↓
  191. Abolaji

    Hello! I am a Nigerian citizen and I want to get married to my German fiancé. I would like to apply for a Visa tofly to Germany and get married in a Standesamt in Germany. After the marriage I will have to apply for a residence permit right? How does that work and how long will it take until I will get my residence permit and I am allowed to work in Germany?
    Thank you for your help!

    Reply ↓
  192. Eesha

    Hi there!
    I have one question I am applying for a passport everything seems good they asked me some papers but I have some question if my my partner with German passport is self employed and I also work we both don’t take job center but I do normal job not mini not full site like weekly 4/5 days with daily 6/7 hours…they asked my job contract I have permanent contract but my question is is it necessary to have full site job to apply for passport or mine is also will work??
    This is one question I have other things are complete and ok
    Thank you

    Reply ↓
  193. Giwa

    Hi All,I would like to know,what if you fail with the A1 exams,will u still be granted a family reunionification visa to visit your spouse

    Reply ↓
  194. Serina

    Hello im rin i would like to ask because i have AUFENTHALTSKARTE (residence card of a family member of a union citizen) and im japanese im living here in germany, me and my boyfriend planing to get married he is albanian (he have right to stay 3 month in germany like tourist)we dont know if he can get also a visa to live here in germany together,

    Reply ↓
  195. Carola

    Hallo! Mein Name ist Carola und ich möchte wissen welche Dokumente ich brauche weil ich will in Deutschland leben. Meine Situation ist das: ich bin bolivianerin,ich lebe hier in Bolivien und ich bin verheiratet mit mein Mann seit 6 Monaten , er kommt aus Rumänien aber er lebt in Deutschland. Ich wollte Mal fragen welche dokumente brauche ich und welche möglichkeiten hätte ich wenn ich dort flige mit eine Schengen Visum als Tourist und welche Möglichkeiten könnte ich haben dort mit mein Mann zu bleiben. ( Ich will jetzt nach Deutschland fliegen als Tourist und dort mit mein Mann leben und bleiben und ich möchte den Wohnsitz herausnehmen oder einige Aufenthaltsgenehmigung in Deutschland).Vielen Dank für ihre Aufmerksamkeit, ich warte auf ihre baldige Antwort.

    Reply ↓
  196. Radu

    Hello, i apreciate the time you guys spend to help people with answers and i have one myself.
    I am a Romanian citzen (EU ) and I live in Germany since 2014 , i work here and my girlfriend is from thailand, we already got one time a visiting visa for 2 months , and we would like to get married and we thought we should marry in Romania , but the next thing im thinking is how could she get an “aufenthaltskarte” for staying with me or what would be the possibilities ?
    Thank you and Have a nice day!

    Reply ↓
    1. moosakhansite

      Hi good luck for your marriage and don’t forget to invite me lol.
      Once you get married in Romania, your wife (non EU) will automatically get right to travel with you in whole EU and you can come to Germany without any hesitation. Once you arrived to Germany, your wife will have three months to get register with local Rathaus (she don’t need any visa for first three months). And in few days she will receive the tax number and personal identification number by post and she can start work straight away.
      And if she want to live more than three months, you have to make an appointment with local Ausländerbehörde for her to apply for aufenthalskarte. On the day of appointment, the staff in Ausländerbehörde would expect few documents from you e.g. Marriage certificate (translated to Germany), passports for both, picture of your wife, your current 3-6 payslips and work contract, Anmeldung for both, your wife payslip and work contract if she is working and €28 or something euros. And if all good, your wife will be asked to provide one finger print and after that you will receive a pin code for your aufenthalskarte by post, and once you received, you can ring Ausländerbehörde again to ask them to arrange an appointment if the card is ready to pick OR maybe you can get sticker on your wife passport on the same day of your appointment in Ausländerbehörde which is depend on them or on your need. I hope it works for you.

      Reply ↓
      1. Radu

        Okay , Haha thanks man your answer sounds so good i might invite you , Thank you so much for the information and good luck in your life ! Peace 🙂

  197. franziska

    Hello, this is the most helpful entry I have found so far doing my internet research. So at least I know that my partner does not have to prove his (non existent) German skills. I am looking for answers for following situation: I am a German citizen, currently living with my Mexican partner (not married, not registered as partnership) in the Netherlands. He got a residence permit for 5 years as family member of an EU citizen (in the Netherlands a partnership is proved by providing prove of having lived together for at least 6 months). Now we want to move to Germany. Is it necessary that we get married in order for him to be able to stay with me in Germany? Can we just move to Germany, register and apply for the residence permit or does he need to apply for a visa at the German embassy in the Netherlands?
    Thanks in advance for any helpful responses

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Hello Franziska, I believe he can travel anywhere in the EU without a visa if he has a residence permit from the Netherlands. If you plan to live in Germany then I believe he must register within two weeks (I think the time requirement depends on the city or state; but I know that it is relatively soon). The gray area is “plan to live in Germany,” because I think Germany also allows him to travel there as a tourist for up to three months without any registration.

      Fortunately as a German speaker I would advise you to call/email your local rathaus and ask, and tell all the details you told here. I don’t know how they will view your familial status, and in any case I know it can be somewhat different for a German citizen going through the process of bringing your spouse to Germany.

      Hopefully someone else will read your post and be able to answer your situation more specifically. If you do find out any information that’s not listed here please feel free to report back.
      Good luck!

      Reply ↓
  198. Wilson Klaus

    I want to thank the Admin and other members of this forum for giving a good advice for many people in some difficult situation. I will like to ask few questions which I believe I would get some useful answers here. I am a Non-EU citizen married to a German citizen in Cyprus under Civil Partnership. Though he’s working part-time in Germany but he has an apartment which he bought in Cyprus for many years. I’m currently living in our apartment in Cyprus and he visits me here every weekend. He got his Cyprus EU Residence Card on 14th May this year in order to get married to me legally in Cyprus according to Cyprus legislation. We got married on 25th May 2018 and I just got my Residence Permit for EU Family Member this month because I’m a spouse of a EU citizen living in Cyprus. So my question is, if I plan to join him in Munster and register for my German Spouse Residence Card,

    1. Do I need a language proficiency to get registered since we both have EU Residence Permits from Cyprus which is also a proof that he exercises his EU rights in another EU Member State.,

    2. Do I need to go back to my country to apply for Family Reunification Visa since I was a gay asylum seeker before I got married to him and gay Civil Partnership is not allowed in my home country. I could get killed because the officials in the German embassy are mainly local citizens of my country.

    Please I need some advice.
    Thanks.

    Reply ↓
    1. Anonymous

      @Wilson Klaus congrats. You dont need any language and you dont need to go to your country for family reunion visa.

      You are living in EU and you have resident permit. Just buy ticket and come to Germany to join your spouse then when you arrive, make appointment with the foreign authority office in your city and go with all require documents.

      You will be granted Permit.

      Wish you good luck!

      Reply ↓
      1. Wilson Klaus

        Hello and Thank you very much for your answer. Please do you know how many years of resident permit is given to German Spouses in Germany or is it the same 5 year duration they give to spouses of other EU members according to EU Directives?
        Here in Cyprus, different rules apply for spouses of Cypriots. If you are a spouse of Cypriot citizen, they issue you 1 year visitor Permit which you have to renew every year until 3 years then you can apply for Permanent Residence/Citizenship or if you have a child with the Cypriot they issue you Permanent Residence immediately and you can also apply for citizenship after 3 years at the Cyprus Immigration in Nicosia or Cyprus Consulate if you live abroad.
        I don’t know if the same rules applies to German Spouses living in Germany.

      2. Princess

        @Wilson Klaus you might be luck to get 5 years or 1 year. But be rest assure that if you are from Africa, either you get 6 months or 1 year then later you can renew.

        But if you are from America, you will get 5 years once.

        And since you are here based on marriage, whether u were been given 6 months, 1 year or either 5 years after 3 years you can apply for permanent/citizenship.

        Best of luck!

  199. Eni

    Good morning to everyone from this forum i really appreciate your help,i am in a very complicated situation in my marriage i got marriage to am e u citizen living and she was born here in germany i have been married now for 1 year 10 months move to germany since April last year i try then getting my resident last year find it very difficult because she was not working and getting money from the government, then later i got a job since last year and then after one year one mouth of working i finally got a one year resident permit intend of five years don’t know what happened but that is not a problem for i have a good job so i can always renew,now i started pay half of my rent because my money salary was not up to 1500 and them my wife stop getting money from the job center then few mouth back will had a problem then i left the for few mouth but i was still paying her the money because i still have my address on the houses but i never knew she was still getting money from the job center now i am back to at home meeting alll this problem i am due to renew in few mouths i don’t know if i will have a problem because she get money from from job center because i have ask her to stop it seems to me she want money from both side and if i stop she meant removed my address from the house i am confuse please help with advise please

    Reply ↓
  200. Eni

    move out from my house where i was staying with my wife since few mouth but i always send her money into her account as
    usual but i never knew when i was away she also have been talking money from the job center,now she has ask me not to put money in her bank account anymore that i should look for a way to give her the money not with her bank,as you already know i am surposed to renew my resident permit in few mouths ,i don’t know if the job center work together with the foreign office,don’t want any problems,please help me i don’t know what to do anymore if i stop giving her money she meant remove my address from the house and that is more problem for me,please advise me legally i am really in pain don’t know what

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Eni it will not affect you because you are working and you are already here. But when you go for renewal, foreign authority office will give you a form that your wife should sign it before you can renew your permit. I did the same that is how I knew about it but my spouse is working and not taking from job center.

      In your own case, you dont need to worry yourself because you are working and it is your monthly pay slip you will include in your renewal documents but also be in good condition with her so she will sign the form for you and your permit will be renew.

      May God heal your pains. Wish you the best!

      Reply ↓
      1. prince tampico felix

        Thank you for the respond i appreciate so i just have to make her come with me  to auslanderbehorde to sign then i Will keep given her the money then thanks 

      2. Princess

        She dont need to go with you to the Auslanderbehoende, you will go there and collect application form and the paper will also been given to you then take it home and give her to sign.

        Good Luck!

      3. mkjohn

        @princess.. Hey .. i asked few
        questions and you helped me alot..
        I have to ask 2 questions??
        1) if i am rejistered (wohnschrift, Hauptmeldung ,angemeldet )with my wife near Mannheim and found a job in Berlin , Münich or Hamburg… Than i must rejister myselves with my wife in new city where i am working and it few hundreds Kilometers away from my Hauptmeldung address where i cannot come back on the same day after working.. ?? or same address where i am rejistered with my wife is enough and no need to have second meldung??
        2) how long a marriage should last if your spouse is EU and you are Non EU citizen so that Non EU citizen can hold residency rights in Germany?? we have been married for 2 years and living in Germany for more than 1 year…

      4. Princess

        @mkjohn You are welcome.

        Regarding your questions:

        1. Your Hauptmeldung is ok, you don’t need to register another one because you are working Hamburg or Berlin. But if your employer insisted that you must register then you register in the city where you get job as second address while your main address with your wife in Munich still remain (after a month then take the second address paper you get from the Rathaus to your main address in Munich to the Rathaus in Munich and cancel the second address because if you did not, it will affect you later when you want to collect permanent through your marriage.

        My main address in Cologne and i got work in Sylt. My employer want me to register second address because i work and live in Sylt not in my main address with my spouse in Cologne. My employer gave me apartment and paper to go and make registration. I did the registration and after 1 month i took the paper to my main address rathaus in Cologne and cancelled it because i don’t want to give impression that i am not living with my spouse. If immigration knows am not living with my spouse which means we are separated and our marriage is having problem.

        2. If your Spouse is a German and you both are living here, your marriage should last 2 years (Starting from the day you get your first Aufenthaltstitel, which means if you have Aufenthaltstitel for 5 years you have used 2 years or if you have just 1 year and it finished, you have renew it and completed the second year) and you will have the right to remain in Germany without been deport. And if you want permanent, you must still be married and continue living on the 3rd year then apply for permanent with the require documents.
        But if your wife is from other other EU and you guys are living in Germany, i think you must wait 5 years but am not fully sure of this.

        Hope i answered your questions.

        Have a nice weekend!

      5. Anonymous

        @princess.. Thankyou very much for reply.. you answered my questions..
        I read on the EU website and it stated that if you are married to an EU NATIONAL and your marriage lasted for 3 years and you have lived 1 year together in Host country than you can hold your residency rights… My wife is EU Citizen and i have 5 years residence permit..First i granted 6 months and than 5 years.. Time of marriage is counted from the day of rejistration as Married couple at RATHAUS or from the day of Issue of Residence Permit???

      6. Eni

        If i understand correctly you have been married for 3 years,the marriage starts reading from the day of the marriage.if you have work up to 19 mouths then you have right to have a working resident if the marriage classes.hope that really hope.goodluck
        ..

      7. mkjohn

        @princess.. Thankyou very much for reply.. you answered my questions..
        I read on the EU website and it stated that if you are married to an EU NATIONAL and your marriage lasted for 3 years and you have lived 1 year together in Host country than you can hold your residency rights… My wife is an EU Citizen and i have 5 years residence permit..First i granted 6 months and than 5 years.. Time of marriage is counted from the day of rejistration as Married couple at RATHAUS or from the day of Issue of Residence Permit???

      8. mkjohn

        @princess . i have important question..if the owner of house cut our rejistration as me and my wife leave the house and rejister ourselves at new address after 1 week.. for 1 week we dont have any rejistration.. will this affect our marriage and will immigration take my residence card??

      9. Princess

        @mkjohn, no it wont affect you if you already make application with foreign office or if you already have your permit. But you must have register address. Without register address you can’t renew your permit.

      10. Anonymous

        You should have your registration together.it is very important to have am address here in germany for now you would not have a problem with your resident but you should have am address now while you still can.without noticed if you live here in germany without address for 12month then you will have a problem.i hope this really help.goodluck

  201. Waqas

    Hello
    I want to ask iam married with Eu bulgarian girl i have one child who was born in deutchland and i was in deutchland from last two year i have a five year residence card can you tell me when i can apply for permanent residence card

    Reply ↓
  202. Linda

    Hi,

    I have a question here as I have recently got my resident permit as a family member of EU citizen. It shows on my resident permit with validity for 2.5 years; I have heard a lot of stories usually given with 5 years and it was also stated on the official website of EU that such permit should be given for 5 years.

    Is this abnormal? Should I complain to the authorities?

    Many Thanks!
    Linda

    Reply ↓
    1. Eni

      You caught 2 and half years instead of 5 years most times its depends if you meets up with all the requirements like how long has your partner been living in germany long,hiw long has he be working,your current passport how long is it valid for things like this most would make then not Grant you the 5 years resident permit, just maintain the 2 years you have make it useful by working or schoolin,don’t complain i am sure when you go to renew you get your five years permit. Good luck and i hope it help

      Reply ↓
  203. Gulbuddin

    Hi all need suggestion
    I am from Ukraine and I will marry German but she will not live in german she will shift to Ukraine or some Asia country . But I still need german passport or eu card so I can come any times . What are basing to get passport or wu card . Need suggestion have some property in dubai and Ukraine now I want to buy some property in Frankfurt or Hamburg but when I met agent he told I have no account how can transfer money .How can open my account . If I don’t have any address proof in Frankfurt and so on . If buy house I need to transfer money from dubai or other country . There is any taxes or which way it will be .i mean if transfer money 500 k euro there will be any taxes . Because when I buy house I will pay some taxes . But if I transfer there is any taxes I want your suggestion. Last time met one agent he suggest me your bank can open account .

    Reply ↓
  204. ayk

    Hi,
    I am from Turkey and married to a Polish. Me and my wife were living in Turkey and decided to move to Berlin. I quited from my job and my wife is pregnant but still working in Turkey (she did not quit yet (currently on maternity leave and her in come is around 600 Eu). I would lik to get resident card through marriage. We have some saving (more than 15K Eu as well but I do not know how to prove our means of subsistence as un-employeed. Do I have to make blocked account or submiting bank account activities is enough?

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @ayk you dont need anything. Make reservation for place to stay. When you and you wife arrive in Berlin try your best to rent a place to live because you will use the address at the Rathaus. Your saves is ok, you dont need to have job now before you can register and you dont need German language certificate for your registration.

      Best wishes.

      Reply ↓
      1. Anonymous

        thank you for information but we have already rented a house and made registration in rathous. Now I need resident permit because I came with turistic visa. I read on some page that I have to prove/show my income or employment but I do not know whether a letter from bank is enough or not

  205. Josh

    Hi,

    I am asking on behalf of a friend. She is Cuban and is married to a German citizen and together they have a 7 month old baby. She lives in Cuba with the baby and the husband lives in Germany. Currently, she is in Germany as of a week ago. She was given the visa for Germany in Cuba for 3 months and was informed by Cuban lawyer that it takes 3 months to get the Germany residency. However, she went with her husband to see a lawyer yesterday but did not fully understand what she was being told. The husband tried translating, but she still did not understand.

    Is it possible she can obtain the German residency by being married to her husband and having the baby they have together within the 3 months she is there? What are the requirements?

    Any help would be great so I can let her know.

    Thank you,
    J

    Reply ↓
    1. Anonymous

      Good day yes it is possible you can have her resident permit on or before her 3 mouth run out,first she need to register at the ratus i mean get her address,then go to the foreign office to get her resident permit if the marriage certificate need to be translated there will be told there at the foreign office. And hope the husband is working because is much easier when he work. Goodluck hope everything goes well

      Reply ↓
      1. Josh

        Thank you so much for your quick response. The husband does work thankfully. And he is willing to help her get the residency before she needs to travel back to Cuba, but leaving it all up to her to handle. He will just sign where he needs to I suppose. Do you happen to have links to the ratus you mention and the foreign office? Any other recommendations/suggestions would be great. It is a bit of a complicated situation unfortunately, especially with a baby involved and she does not know the language nor anyone in Germany. Fortunately, she has internet and is letting me know to see if I can find out for her.

  206. Fabio Blank da Costa

    Hi Admin
    I am Brazilian and my husband is Polish, we are legally married in Brazil, we will be moving to Berlin in September, before that we will spend two months in Poland on holiday, with only one month left of my EU tourist visa stay, is it possible to get all documents to stay in Germany?
    We will rent a place and enroll in a German Language Institute in order to study, we have sufficient means to maintain ourselves, do I or my husband have to speak any German before making a move?

    Reply ↓
    1. Öz HC

      Hello Fabio,
      As you are married to Eu member, you are allowed live in Germany. First of all you need to go registration office and inform where you live and get registration document (Anmeldung). After that You should go to immigration office with an original marriage certificate (need to be international, appostiled or translated to German) and anmeldung. They will request some prove about your earning or some bank transaction. if you earn more than 395 Eu + accomudation, you will get 5 years resident permission if not they will give you 6 months valid resident permission (when you find job or prove your earning somehow they will extend your permit to 5 years)

      Here you can find details: https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324282/standort/121885/en/

      Reply ↓
  207. Anonymous

    Hi,

    I am from the middle east, non EU citizen, and planning to marry a German resident from another EU country in Germany. I will enter Germany on a tourist visa. My question is about the marriage,

    1- is it mandatory for me to register in a German municipality and provide Official Statement of Residency (Meldebescheinigung) to the Standesamt or would proof of my residence in my non EU country work as long as she is resident in Germany and can provide proof?

    2- if I do have to register in German municipality, is it possible on my tourist visa?

    3- Do I need to wait 21 days from the day I enter Germany to get married?

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply ↓
  208. Taylor

    Hi everyone thanks for all the info. I’m in stuttgart and applying for EU family member resident card next week. Can somone advise me nowadays how long it takes to to get the card to hand after apply? Thanks alot

    I like to know a roughly how long. Becus my life in risk if i don’t get the card by May 2019

    Reply ↓
  210. Anonymous

    Hello my good people a friend of mine got one year resident permit last year now is time to renew but he make a mistake my laminating the original resident
    document now he can get it out without damaging the document, please would the foreign office accept it while the lamination is still on it please he need help he has am appointment on Wednesday.thanks good people

    Reply ↓
  211. Anonymous

    My good people I finally got five years resident permit I want to know how I can get my card,where I should go and how long does it take before I get the card

    Reply ↓
  212. Jez

    Hi all,

    Just sharing my experience of renewing Aufenthaltskarte today at the Immigration Office. I was granted permission to stay in Germany in 2016 based on being married to an EU citizen with no restriction on taking up employment. My nationality (Malaysia) allows me to enter Schegen up to 90 days without visa. I was first entered Germany 2016 and was granted 3.5 years to stay (been told usually they would give 5 years) because of my passport has only had 3.5 years left at the time. Fast forward to today where i went to my local Immigration Office with my renewed passport. The whole process only took me 20 minutes, scanned our new passports, past 3 months pay slips, signed 2 paperwork, provide fingerprints, paid €28,80 and submitted biometric photograph, and was given a letter on the spot saying that my residency card is being processed and may take some time so the letter serves as a proof of my legal stay in Germany until the card arrives. Appointment was scheduled at 8am and was out of the office at 8.22am. 20 mins of the appointment and was granted another 5 years in Germany. Cant complain. Very simple and easy process. Nothing to worry about.

    Reply ↓
    1. Taniya

      Hi Thanks for sharing your experince. Would be great if you could help me with some info. I applied card today how long does it take to get the card to hand ? how long it took for you in 2016 after apply to get the card to hand.

      Thanks alot

      Reply ↓
      1. Jez

        Hi Taniya,

        When i applied for permission to stay in Germany for the first time in 2016, my case was straight forward and took about 3 weeks before the German government approved my stay. It took a further 2 weeks for the residency card to be processed in Berlin. But the card isn’t that important at that stage, the more important part is the German government approves and granting your permission to stay in Germany. The card is just a formality. You will be covered by a letter until your residency card is ready for collection. I remembered a letter was then issued to me on the spot by Immigration officer to say that i am allowed to stay and work in Germany. Officer did explain to me usually it would be 5 years permission but my passport has only had 3.5 years left so they could only give me 3.5 years. When i renewed it yesterday it was all quick and simple and 20 mins later i get another letter on the spot to say that my permission is extended for another 5 years and the card will be processed in Berlin.

      2. Taniya

        Thanks for the info again. The letter Grant of stay before card comes does it has same value as the card ? Like to go to another Europe country for few days visit with my patner. Becus we have planned a trip to go in end of May not sure card come by that time or if the paper okay to travel

        Thanks

      3. Princess

        Go back head to their office and tell them you want to travel so they will give you visa. The paper can’t be enough.

        They will give you visa

      4. Princess

        @Taniya, the paper is not enough and it can’t cover you for the travel.

        Go back to the immigration office and request for visa, let them know how many days your trip will take.

        Then you will be given visa on your passport at no cost.

    2. Amber

      Hi Jez,

      Thanks for your sharing, its very spirit lifting! I am struggling in a situation here and hopefully I can get some suggestions from you base on your case experience.
      I am a Taiwanese who just got married to a German in Denmark, as a Taiwanese I can travel freely within EU countries up to 90 days(like you). From the German State administrative authority website, it is stated that before applying for residence permit via marriage to join their German partner in Germany, the non EU spouse must apply for national visa ( not 90 days travel via) in his/her own country before coming to Germany.

      Since your case is on the contrary to what I learnt before that you actually just come here and register yourself first and then straightly went for applying residence permit. I would like to ask that it can really work like this? is it legal ? How come I cant find any information about this alternative way?

      I’d like to take your route and be very appreciated if you can reply me! Since me and my husband dont want to spend another unnecessary long separation anymore. TKS

      Reply ↓
      1. Jez

        Hi Amber,

        Sorry for the late reply.

        I have just received my Aufenthaltskarte valid for 5 years today, after 3 weeks of production in Berlin.

        I understand that as a Taiwanese (same as Malaysian), we could enter Schengen Area for up to 90 days for tourism. My case was fairly simple and straight forward involving me (non EU citizen), married to my EU citizen (non-German) partner. My partner has been exercising EU treaty rights (for example, working, study or self sustain in another EU country other than which he/she holds citizenship of). In this scenario, i could just come to Germany with our passport and our marriage certificate and once in Germany, book yourself an appointment to register both of you with your local town hall. After that once you have the paperwork, book yourself another appointment to see your local Immigration officer and they would start the process of applying your stay in Germany based on the marriage with EU citizen. I think i was lucky that I was granted to stay in Germany in about 3 weeks after the application. I am doing this the legal way, never do something illegal as it would go against your application.

        Based on your information about you married to a German citizen in Denmark, I would like to ask if whether both of you have lived in another EU/EEA country (for example him exercising his EU treaty rights in another EU country) before returning to Germany? You see, EU rules are very complex and complicated. If you have not, then it is safe to say that yes, you will be requiring to obtain national German spouse visa (which is completely different than EU spouse visa). If you both have lived in another EU country and you hold a Article 10 Residence Card for Family Member of Union Citizen, then your German husband, once returning to Germany, will be treated as EU citizen instead of German citizen under EU rules. Then you should be allowed to do the same as i did 3 years ago to apply to stay in Germany.

        Hope this help and this is only for my experience.

  213. Naidu

    Non eu married to eu (Romanian) hot five years visa. They stayed together for four years and not any more now. Did he get permenent resedent card after five years

    Reply ↓
    1. Anonymous

      In most cases I have seen Naidu the foreign office most times give them another 5 years,and not a permanent permit….

      Reply ↓
      1. Roger..

        Hello
        Iam immigrant stating in Germany I get married with Eu deutsch My wife she is leaving in other city but we was getting Married in the city where she leaving what I must to do? 6 month until now and the Auslenderbehourd they don’t like to transfer me…

  214. Afrim

    Hello,
    First of all thank you so much for all this information.Me(Albanian non eu) and my wife (British citizen) are planning to move to Germany next month.I read your story and I think that I will go through the same things myself.The problem is that for the past 8 months I haven’t been working and I don’t have any monthly income in my bank account only my savings.Is it mandatory to have monthly income?Thank you.

    Reply ↓
  215. Ish

    Hi! Thank you for this informative article. So I (a Filipino) will be joining my (Estonian) husband who is now residing in Germany. I will be travelling to Germany this 21st of May. Once I arrive there, I plan to follow all of the said information above to gain a residence permit.

    My only dilemma is I still haven’t changed my Philippine passport maiden name to my married family name and I also need to renew my passport July 2020. I plan to renew my passport in Berlin once I get settled with my residency.

    Should I be worried as once I change my family name on my passport, my residence card will still be my maiden name since I heard the RP will be for 5 years? Should I renew again my Residence card so I can change my name? I hope once I apply in the Rathuas, they will allow to change my maiden name to my married family name, instead of following my old current passport.

    Thank you! Your inputs will truly help our application!

    Reply ↓
  216. SS

    Hello administrator and all,
    Many thanks for sharing information and experience. It is really helpful, useful and informative.

    Just a question from Step 1 – Getting to Germany.

    I believe that in order to enter Germany and then apply for the Residence Card, my wife (non-EU citizen) does not need to apply for a schengen or German visa (tourism or any other) in her homeland if I (EU citizen) will travel with her from her homeland to Germany (we will have a marriage certificate with us).
    Am I right ?
    Citizens of non-EU countries are not required to have a visa to apply for a Residence Card.
    True ?

    Please share your experience and knowledge.

    Many thanks in advance.
    SS

    Reply ↓
  218. Ajay Chaudhary

    Hello I am ajay,I am kn student Visa here in Germany and I married a girl from hungary(eu) .we have register in the same apartment and we both are working trial and we have the income of approximately 1300 euro per month.this July I want to apply for residence permit .my question is that can I go alone to auslanderbehorde for applying my residence permit with all documents or my wife must also go there?please reply

    Reply ↓
  219. Bismarck

    I am an EU citizen and I have registered in Germany for 4 months now but my girlfriend who also got visa to Switzerland and the visa has expired managed to come to Germany I want to ask if there is a possibility for me to get her a permit through marriage. Thank you

    Reply ↓
  220. Isabelle

    Hello 🙂

    I have a kind of problematic question:

    My boyfriend is Mexican and I am German (born and raised).

    We finally made it that he will be here for 1 year within his PhD studies.
    Due to Mexican situation he will not get enough money (currently received 4.000,00€) which is named in the visa process.
    His research stay is not paid… (I think it is not even correct!! But we were simply happy by being given the opportunity from the hospital in Germany.)
    My salary is quite good and i could mostly cover both of us during that year.
    He will talk to his boss, government again also to gain more money and my idea was to take a credit for the gap in case we do not have any other choice.

    For us it is clear we want to marry but he doesn’t want to marry to ease the process – he says it makes him look bad but I don’t care.

    Now we consider to marry.
    But reading all information: would it really ease the process?

    Does he really need to provide a monthly minimum wage of like 700€ to be able to live here as my husband?

    I have read my eyes off but I cannot find any hint. I mean I cannot imagine that other ppl can easily cover 700€ when arriving to Germany without knowing anyone.

    In 2021 after graduation he will move to Germany to make his doctor professio (his German level is already quite good like A2-B1 even he hasn’t lived here yet).

    Thank you a lot and my kindest regards,
    Isabelle

    Reply ↓
    1. Administrator Post author

      Greetings Isabelle,
      Your situation is somewhat different than mine because you’re a German citizen. I’m guessing you’re talking about living together in Germany after a year has passed and his student visa expires. I believe he must leave Germany once his student visa expires, unless he has a job in Germany, can extend his student visa, or perhaps there’s another path for someone to remain in Germany after they’ve lived here for a year for a period of time while they look for work (I’m not positive about this last option). It sounds like he will have a job, in which case his employer could sponsor him to stay in Germany.

      If you were married then I believe he would also be able to stay and also have permission to work after his student visa expires. My understanding is that the German migration agency takes both spouses’ income into consideration, and would look to see if between the two of you you can adequately live. They would look to see if you receive social benefits of some kind due to not having enough money.

      In any case it sounds like you have some time to think about it and research it. Best of luck!

      Reply ↓
      1. Isabelle

        Hello 🙂

        thank you for your reply!

        we had a problem with the visa as they couldnt tell us which visa he should get..
        he is neither a student (doctoral programm but unpaid) nor a finished phd-student.
        but we were finally told it is a student visa as he does not get paid here in germany.
        he only stays 1 year, after 1 year of research stay he has to return for 9 months to mexico to graduate his PHD and after his PHD-graduation he will return for his residency to germany.

        he has now the money for the 1-year-stay together (government, hopsital, private), so currently it is 720 eur per month acc. to the german government to live here to have it on a blocked special bank account, without being married.

        we hope everything will be solved soon!

        thank you for your advice and assistance here!
        kind regards
        isabelle

      2. Javed

        Dear Admin,

        My Name is Javed and I am from Pakistan, i have married with EU Citizen and She is living in last 20 years in Germany, At the time of marriage she was in EU-Citizen but last year She got German Nationality
        I married in 2014 and i moved 2015 in Germany , I got 5 year Card(Valid till 2020) but after 4 year later we have some problem and She want saprate from me. So, i have few questions and it would be humble request if you suggest me.
        1. if we sparate after 4 years , is it possible Ausländerbehörde cancel my Aufenthaltstitel and send back to Pakistan ?
        2. I have done B1 certificate and integrationskurs
        3. I am working as IT Engineer in German Company as a Permanent employee and I am also paying all City Taxes and Health Insurance from last 3 years (1 years, when i was new in Germany (2015 till 2016) i got Social benifits)

        So, My question can Ausländerbehörde Cancel my Aufenthaltstitel and send me back to my home country after 4 years, if I have Permanent Job, I done B1 and integrationskurs and I am Paying all taxes and Health Insurance.

        I hope that i will get your Reply .
        Thanks in Advance,

      3. Administrator Post author

        Hello Javed and thanks for writing,
        I’m not sure about your situation so I hope someone who’s more familiar will respond. I have the impression that if you have a job with a normal contract, that might be a good route to pursue staying in the country. Even if you weren’t eligible to stay for family reasons (and I’m not sure about that in your situation) I think you could be eligible to stay based only on the fact that you have a normal employment contract. Good luck and I hope someone who is more familiar with your circumstances will offer useful information.

      4. Princess

        Hello Javed,

        1. if we sparate after 4 years , is it possible Ausländerbehörde cancel my Aufenthaltstitel and send back to Pakistan ? NO, YOU WILL BE ALLOW TO LIVE AND WORK HERE GERMANY BECAUSE YOUR MARRIAGE IS MORE THAN 2 YEARS TOGETHER BEFORE YOU BOTH DIVORCED.

        2. I have done B1 certificate and integrationskurs. B1 CERTIFICATE WILL HELP YOU TO GET GERMAN PASSPORT N PERMANENT IN GERMANY AFTER YOU LIVE, WORK AND PAY TAX FOR 5 YEARS.

        3. I am working as IT Engineer in German Company as a Permanent employee and I am also paying all City Taxes and Health Insurance from last 3 years (1 years, when i was new in Germany (2015 till 2016) i got Social benifits). YOU ARE SAFE BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE PERMANENT JOB. DONT WORRY ABOUT THE SOCIAL BENEFIT YOU GOT BEFORE. BUT DONT EVER TAKE ANOTHER AGAIN SO IT WONT AFFECT YOU WHEN YOU ARE READY TO TAKE GERMAN PASSPORT.

        You don’t need to worry your self. You are safe from German Immigration.

        Have blessed year!

  221. Jo

    First of all, thanks a lot for exposing your situation as an example and guiding us through all the paperwork. It is truly enlighting and encouraging!
    My situation is different though and I could really use any advice or insight:
    I’m Chilean and my fiance is a German national. We are planning to get married in Germany. I already bought my ticket, he has all the papers I need for the marriage (with apostilles and translations) along with his. We will make the announcement the next day after my arrival and hopefully will get a date to marry within the 90 days I’m allowed to stay. Will this scenario be too different for me to apply for a permit to stay?

    Thanks a lot for your help!

    Reply ↓
    1. Anonymous

      From what I have heard getting married in Germany is quite difficult.ny advice go to Denmark and get married case close

      Reply ↓
  222. SS

    Hello all,

    I am just wondering if you know is it possible to apply for the residence card (aufenthaltskarte) in another city, since in my current city (Dusseldorf) the waiting time is more than 6 months, but the visa validity period is only 3 months.

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @SS if you have address in another city, Yes, you can apply in that city but if you don’t have address in another city, you can’t.

      Hope this info help you.

      Reply ↓
      1. Javed

        Hello Princess,

        I am Javed and I just want to say thanks because you are giving me very useful information.
        Actually I didn’t want to take any social benefits and I am never favorable Social benefits.
        Are you sure can I abmelden from my wife House and register in new house , it’s not effected my immigration and my rights to live in Germany .

        Thanks you so much

      2. Princess

        Hello Javed,

        You can register new address. All you have to do is go with the right paper to the Auslanderbehörde and tell them you are changing your main address to the new address of your flat.

        Immediately it will be done.

        It your right to register new address since you move out of your spouse flat.

        Best of luck.

    2. Mohammad

      if u take appointment before your visa expire date,you do not have any problem till the appointment date.You can take appointment before your visa expired.Hope it will help you

      Reply ↓
      1. Anonymous

        Hello Mohammad,
        Is this advice for me . Actully, you did not mentioned the name that’s why i am confused that its for me or someone other

        With Warm Regards,
        Javed

  223. Sam

    Hello! Thank you for a very informative site. I have a question. I’m American. Wife is EU. We will be moving to Germany. I applied for a job and received an offer of employment. I have less than a month from the time I move there to when I work. When I report for work, I have to show proof that I am allowed to work. Being a spouse of an EU citizen who is using their freedom of movement rights allows me to have the same work rights from what I’ve read. Do I need the Aufenthaltskarte (residence card) to show proof? If so, that would take too long to obtain. I have one month. Or when I apply for Anmeldung and get a Steuer nummer will that be enough as proof? Or perhaps when I apply right away for the Aufenthaltskarte, I receive some paperwork saying I can work? Does anyone have the answer? Also, if you have an employment contract, would I need to show proof of insurance? My employer should pay half and not sure of the process of obtaining insurance there.

    Reply ↓
    1. Mohammad

      @sam once you are registered your domicile and marriage here in Germany ,you will become social insurance no within one week.Then you can start work directly,you don’t need any residence card or anything.Later you can apply for a residence card .Insurance you have to do after your residenc registration .hope it will help

      Reply ↓
    2. Franziska

      You don’t need the aufenthaltskarte as proof. At the appointment to apply for the aufenthaltskarte you will get a sticker in your passport where it will state that you are allowed to work at least until the official max. Time period expires that they are allowed to take to grant you the aufenthaltskarte, I think this is 6 months. So you should get an appointment before you start working (you usually can make the appointment from anywhere in the world for a specific time in the future) You will indeed be insured through your employer, however for the time until you are employed you need an insurance. This could also be a travel health insurance from an insurer from the US.

      Reply ↓
  224. Anonymous

    Thank you for the information. I live in Spain and currently have an insurance policy that will cover the entire family for 90 days Worldwide. Only thing is that it’s not in the German language. Thanks

    Reply ↓
  225. Anonymous

    Good day all,I have a little problem that has been boring me,I am married to am EU citizen living here In Germany for 2 years 5 month now recently she has told me she want a separation but the problem is the marriage is just 2 years 5 month, maybe after separation 3 years but will the germany immigration send me out of germany,can’t I get am unlimited resident permit at the end of my five years even when the marriage last for 3 years,will the immigration take my 5 years resident from me after the divorce please I need advice because I am bother thanks all

    Reply ↓
  226. Arda

    Hi, I’m a non EU citizen arrived to a EU citizne(non german) I got my 5 year card last year, but she left Germany 4 months ago and we will divorce soon. Before w shot married I was on a 1 year artist visa, do you think they would put me back on my freelancer artist visa status or they ll send me back when I report her leave if germany/ divorce?
    Many thanks

    Reply ↓
  227. Ahmad

    Hello
    I am Ukrainian citizhship born in Afghanistan . Soon I will marry in germany in court . But my wife and me will live in Ukraine . If I marry in germany what document I can get I mean any green or anything other document . If there is any lawyer can handle my case or suggest me

    Reply ↓
  228. Henry

    Hello everyone.
    I would like to have your advice on how to do about my case. Anyone who had been in my situation that can help me with information.
    I am a nonEU citizen married to a German citizen. My partner and I were living together in another EU country since 2015 and we later got married in May 2018. We also bought a flat we live in. My German Spouse and I had registered our residence there and we both have Resident Permit for EU Citizens and Family Members. As a result of that, the AUSLÄNDERBEHÖRDE didn’t ask me to provide any proof for German Language Proficiency or any German Certificate because of my previous EU Residence Permit which I already had. The immigration officer said I’m exempted because my partner has previously taken advantage of her right of movement in Europe.
    Again, when I moved to Germany last year, I was issued an AUFENTHALTESKARTE valid for 5 years and I have also started my German B1 Certificate and Orientation Course which I will finish in few months.

    My questions are:

    1. If our years of living and married together in another EU country is going to be counted in the 3-year requirements the spouse of German citizen need to fulfill in order to naturalize?
    I just read the Naturalization Law which says in Section 14[General discretionary naturalization abroad]
    “A foreigner who is ordinarily resident abroad may be naturalized subject to the other conditions of naturalization Sect. 8 and 9, if ties with Germany exist which justify naturalization e.g Sufficient Command of German Language, able to adapt to the German way of life and able to financially support himself without asking for social benefits in the future”
    and another one that says:
    8 years residency requirements can be reduced to 7 or 6 years if the candidate for naturalization has a Certificate of B1 Integration Course from any school approved by BAMF.

    2. Is this exemption also applicable to someone in my case or is it only for people with 8 years residency requirements?

    Please I would be grateful to receive information about the naturalization process if there’s any German Spouse or someone who had been in similar case like this in the past years.

    Thanks.

    Reply ↓
    1. moosakhansite

      They can not cancel your residency/work permit and can’t even deport you until divorce finalised. And if your marriage is three years old and at least you live one year together in host country (Germany) upon divorce finalised, you have rights to stay in Germany if you have permanent job, health insurance and place to live. This rule apply to those, who has residence card of family member of EU national. I hope it clarify your query.

      Reply ↓
    2. Princess

      Hello Henry,

      You need to be married and live with your German partner for 3 years here in Germany then you can apply for neutralization with require documents including german certificate B1.

      Wish you blessed year.

      Reply ↓
      1. Henry

        Thank you very much for your reply. Do you know how long it takes to get answer after application and how the process always goes?

      2. Princess

        It depend on the city you are applying from and also Nationality too. So it varies from 2 months to 2 years.

        I am about to start mine. I will take note of every steps and I will give feedback on this platform.

        Have a nice day!

      3. Henry

        Thank you very much. I would grateful to get a feedback on how your process went through.
        I wish you best of luck in your application.

  229. Gulbuddin

    Hello
    I am from Ukraine and my future wife from germany . Can you suggest if she live in Ukraine .
    1)I can get green card after marraige without living in germany .
    2)if I live in germany after Marriage in how many year I will get passport and what I need to do . If I pay tax and do business . How many days can go out of germany in one year. Do I need to learn or test german language test .

    Reply ↓
  230. Raymond

    Hello,
    Please I am about to apply for my German Passport. I want to know if it is possible for a family member of German to be exempted from B1 Language Requirement for Naturalization.

    Many thanks.

    Reply ↓
  231. Alma Ontiveros

    My wife is from India and I am German. We both live in Germany and she has a German residence permit through our marriage. We both plan to visit UK. Does she need a visa to visit UK?

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Alma Ontiveros, yes she will need Visa. She will fill the application online and the type of application to fill is the one for EEA family members Visa application, she won’t pay for this because it free for all EU and EEA spouse.

      I did it too in the year 2018 and 2019 respectively because I’m also an EEA family member. I was granted 6months on each occasion of my application which also allow me to work, I already have job here in Germany only went for holidays.

      And she don’t need much documentation, just few things to prove her marriage, permit here in Germany and work too.

      Wish you all the best!

      Reply ↓
  232. Ahmad

    Hello
    I am from Ukraine and my wife from German . We marry just last year . I want to how can I get residence card of Germany . But we both live in Ukraine . As in future we can move to Uk .

    1) marriage certificate we have of German we married in Frankfurt court
    2) how long it will take how many months I have to stay in German or can apply and live in German .
    3) as I am not living in German so I don’t know the language also .
    4) i need German insurance
    5) need any health certificate
    How much is your fees for full work . And how long will take

    Reply ↓
  233. Jane

    Hello,
    I come from Hong Kong and came to Germany in 2017 with a working holiday visa.
    Then I got married with my German husband in 2018.
    But after 2 years of marriage, my husband is having an affair now. Although he hasn’t figured out which woman he wants, he doesn’t seem to want to repair the marriage. I have to think about myself now and look for a way to stay in Germany in case he suggests a divorce.

    I have read that if only one party wants a divorce but another side does not agree, then the marriage will be invalid after 3 years (situation A). And when both sides agree a divorce, then it takes only one year (situation B). Is it correct? And for situation A, am I still qualified to apply for a permanent residence after 3 years? Any other requirements?

    For situation B, I have read that in order to get a residence permit, I have to be married for 3 years with C1 German level, working all the time here and was graduated from a German university. Are all these requirements true?
    I have already completed a German B1 exam. I have never studied in the universities here.

    My last solution would be my working contract. I have been working as a market researcher for a year (a permanent contract) but my salary is still a bit too low at the moment.

    Thank you so much for your help!

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      Hello Jane,

      After 2 years of marriage, you are safe to live in Germany and work if your husband want to divorce you. As long as the marriage is over 2 years. You won’t be ask to leave Germany after divorce. Then you will get permanent permit after 5 years of living and working in Germany, if you divorce before the marriage clock 3 years.

      In other to collect German Permanent residence permit or German Citizenship through marriage, your marriage must be 3 years and continue without court case of divorce. If the marriage is 3 years today for example you can apply for German Permanent permit or Citizenship immediately. (As for me, Immediately my marriage was 3 years, I applied for German citizenship and not permanent and to let you know, am from Nigeria.).

      You don’t need University certificate or C1. All you need is German B1 certificate, Naturalization test certificate (Einbürgerungtest), 3 months of your current pay slip, 1 photo, Copy of your passport, Insurance etc.

      Don’t be afraid to go to your Rathaus or Ausländerbehörende and request for requirements list for Naturalization, they will give it to you willing.

      Hope this info help you.

      Wish you the best.

      Reply ↓
      1. William

        Hello,

        I am married with my German spouse in the last 3 years. We got married in another EU country and I stayed in that country for one year before I moved to Germany. In August, it will make it exactly 3 years we are both married. Please I would like to know if I’m qualified for the 3 years marriage requirement for Naturalization of a German spouse and if my one year in another EU still counts. I try to find anything in the Ausländerbehörde website but I found nothing. Anyone with a similar case or has any idea.

        Thanks for your help

      2. Princess

        Hello William,

        The 1 year in another EU country will not be counted for you here in Germany.

        You need to live here in Germany for 3 years then you can apply for the Naturalization here in Germany. Your Temporary residence permit from here will proof how many years you have live here.

        So my dear, if you haven’t live here for 3 years, you can’t apply.

        Hope this help you.

  234. Sabina

    Hello I have similar issue with William but a bit different. I got married with a German in another EU country. We both had resident permits for EU Citizens and their Family Members. When I moved to Germany, I was not asked for German Language Requirement because of this residents we had before. It shows that my German spouse has exercised his EU Rights in another EU country.

    My question is if I would like to know if I’m still eligible for the three years Naturalization of German spouse or is it that our rights in Germany are still based on EU Rights even during my Naturalization?

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Sabina, yes you are.

      Live in Germany for 3 years and make your application with all required documentation afterward.

      Good luck!

      Reply ↓
  235. Alive

    I want to move to Germany with family Reunion Visa(spouse) but I got a Job to another City within Germany, for the first week I will Stay to my hubby House them will travel to my work Place ( other City )for the Second week of arriving in Germany.would like if I have to register to my husband City Address or my work place ? will that be possible? Kindly if this will work please let me know.Thankyou

    Reply ↓
      1. Alive

        Thank you for your response but we will be Staying in 2 different cities,for the First week of my arrival,I will be in his city but for the second week,I will start my work to the other city for a long Stay but will meet in Weekends, If you know any idea about where I will register,would be helpfull.stay blessed

      2. Michael

        Hi Alive,

        In Germany, it doesn’t matter how many homes you have as long as they are all registered in your MELDEBESTÄTIGUNG.
        If you meet in Weekends in your husband’s home, then it means the place is your permanent or family home.

        So, I would advise you to register in the city that your husband have in his MELDEBESTÄTIGUNG. Because after 3 years of living together in Germany with a German spouse, you can apply for Naturalization and this can only be proven by seeing that you lived together in the same home with your partner.

        As for me, we have 2 homes in different cities. In our current MELDEBESTÄTIGUNG, we registered the first home which is in his initial MELDEBESTÄTIGUNG as our main home and the other was also acknowledged as our second home.

        I hope that helps you.

      3. Alive

        Thank you so much Michael ,this is very helpful I really appreciate, would like again to ask if I will need to apply a Residence permit too to his home town or to my future Stay?.thankyou so much

      4. Michael Nnaji

        It’s better to register in his home town. Any immigration office in Germany will only accept to issue you a residence permit if they are the immigration body responsible for the main address on your MELDEBESTÄTIGUNG.

        Since your residency in Germany is based on Family Reunification, it’s better to register at his home town if that is the address he registered in his MELDEBESTÄTIGUNG. Or you can both decide and choose which home would be your main address. But it must be the same with your husband to avoid any future problem during your Naturalization.

      5. Princess

        @Alive, in your husband’s city have you register?
        If Yes, means you visited the Rathaus and you were registered.
        In this new city you are going to work, go to their Rathaus too to register your second address and Rathaus doesn’t, you will be directed to Gemeinde in the city to do so.

        Hope this helps.

  236. Alevia

    Anyone here ever applied family reunion Visa (spouse) in this period? How longtime that took to get a Visa?my friend applied it and is now almost 2 months waiting the visa, she is a bit worried.thank you

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Alevia

      After applying for family reunion visa, it takes up to 4 to 6 months before conclusion will be taken on the application which will include second interview at the embassy and after the second interview, 3 months visa will be granted.

      This 4 to 6 months means you or your spouse dont’ have any complicated issue that will delay decision that will lead to second interview.

      But if the Embassy is not able to verify some of your submitted documents or your spouse in Germany don’t have enough required room square meters or his salary not enough or he is taken social money e.t.c all this can cause complications in your application and due to that it can take longer like 1 year or more because if there is any problem, it must be solve before desicion making that will lead to second interview.

      So tell your friend to calm down and relax her mind. As long as she has submitted, she will get reply from Embassy within 4 to 6 months hopefully.

      Good luck!

      Reply ↓
      1. Alevia

        Thank you Princess,my friend’s husband is a german national,he has a Job and enough Space to live in, for me my visa process took 6weeks, she is Wondering if is not because this pandemic which is delaying the process of her visa,in her Country,they only submitt the required Documents and few questions,

      2. Princess

        @Alevia

        Yours that took 6 weeks means you are not from Africa country.

        I am from Africa and my husband is German, I was living in another country that is not yet a member of EU but in the EU continent. The process took Embassy 4 months in total I was granted.

        Depending where your friend is currently and due to this Pandemic, she should just calm down. Lot of backlogs are already in their offices waiting for attendance/approval.

        She will be ok if no complications in her / spouse documents.

        I made an application for Nautralization since March 2020 a week before the total lockdown and up till this moment no reply from them.

        It all require patient.

        Best of Luck!

      3. Alevia

        I really appreciate your response my dear, we are all from East africa Counties,you are right,some friends of mine who lives in Europe are waiting their Papers to be done for a while, hopefully you will receive your too. My friend’s husband is from a german even Mine too,but here Application for family Reunion Visas 1month and 2 months sometimes ,even some friends of mine who applied before, she has to be calm and wait.thank you so much again

      4. Alevia

        Who ever applied german national Visa?if you did how the Embassy or consulate had been informed you to collect your Passport?” Did they contact to come and get your visa? Or “come for your answer to your Visa application”?or” come to Collect your Passport”? if anyone has an idea about how the embassy used to contact you,Kindly let me know

      5. Princess

        @Alevia embassy will contact you through email to come and pick up your passport when it ready.

        Good luck!

      6. Alevia

        Jemand hat das schild ab gemacht(Address) is it possible? If anyone has any idea about this Kindly let me know.thankyou

      7. Alevia

        They have sent me email said that come to get the answer from your visa Application, am so nervous about the answer

  237. Princess

    Hi everyone,

    Like I said, my feedback about my Naturalization (Citizenship) through Marriage here in Germany.

    After my marriage clock 3 years, I visited the Rathaus to get information about what is needed in other to become German. I was given a list of requirements which are :

    * Application Form
    * Copy of my ID
    * Copy of my Passport
    * 1 Photo size
    * Copy of Sozialversicherung
    * Copy of Insurance
    * 3 Months Pay Slip from both Spouse
    * B1 Gernan Language Certificate
    * Einbürgerung Certificate
    * Marriage Certificate
    * 255€

    After submitted all of the above documents, I was told to wait for mail in my address.
    Submission was made on March 13th, 2020 and general lockdown started on 18th of March 2020. So I did not get mail not until August 10th, 2020.

    The letter was signed in July 1st, 2020 but I got it in my mailbox in August 10th, 2020.
    Then I call the Ausländebehörden (Foreign Office) to book appointment date and time.

    Ceremony did not take place due to Pandemic and that is why I was given the Citizenship Certificate at the Ausländebehörden office. And immediately my Ausweise (Temporary Residence Permit) was collected from me, my first nationality passport were not collected from me but copy was made and Naturalization Certificate was given to me and I was asked to go to Rathaus and get another Ausweise (German Citizen Permit).

    When I got to the Rathaus, I show my Certificate and I was registered again, this time I requested for both ID and Passport (German Passport) and I paid close to 100€ (Forgotten exact amount). A print out was issued and I was told to expect mail too at my address.

    3 Weeks later, I got 2 letters in my mailbox. Next day, I called Rathaus and book Appointment. Took both letters with me to the Rathaus again for collection of my ID card and German Passport but one of the letter was collected from me. My ID and Passport were given to me.

    As of September 2020, I am a German / EU Citizen.

    The whole process took less than 3 months (Don’t count Pandemic months from March 18th – May 3rd, 2020).

    Reply ↓
    1. Jonas

      Please I would like to know how long you’ve been in Germany before marriage and whether you used a lawyer to file or speed your naturalization process.
      Looking forward to your reply soon.

      Thanks.

      Reply ↓
      1. Princess

        @Jonas

        I was a student in Macedonia when I met my German spouse then we got married in Denmark in the year 2016.

        I did some learning and sat for A1 German language. I passed and I applied for Family Reunion Visa to join my spouse, the whole process took me 4 months and I was granted. Then I moved to Germany in 2017 to join my spouse.

        All the process and documentation was done without any Lawyer. The whole things were clear, so I dont need a Lawyer’s help for my application and submission.

        No one or no Lawyer can influence the Government to speed up application for residence or Naturalization. Once you provide required documentation as I mentioned above, and you follow the law according to it layout, your request will be granted without any delay.

        I did all by MY SELF. All what they want I have it and submitted it to the right authority, why should I involve a Lawyer? I took the right visa before entering Germany so I dont have any complicated issues.

        Hope it helps!

      2. Jonas

        Thank you very much.
        I am asking to know when is the right time to file my application. I think I have similar case with you. We got married in May 2018 in Ireland and I later joined her in 2019 after I finished my Master’s Degree.

        I wasn’t asked to provide A1 or to get Family Unification Visa before moving to Germany, because I already have a Residence Permit for EU Family Members in Ireland (EU Country).
        I submitted my Irish Residence Permit at Ausländerbehörde and they issued me a German Spouse Permit.

        My question is, if our one year in Ireland will be counted to my 3 years.

        At the moment, I have my B1 DTZ Certificate, Einbürgerungstest and Integration Certificate. Am I now qualified to apply this year 2021.

        Thanks

      3. Princess

        @ Jonas

        Any year or years spent outside Germany won’t be counted. Ausländerbehörde will count from the time you receive your first temporary permit from them.

        If your spouse is a German you can apply after living here in Germany with her/him for 3 years but if your spouse is from other part of EU countries, you have to live in Germany for 5 years before you can apply for Naturalization through marriage.

      4. Jonas

        I got it now.
        Next year is my 3 years of my First Aufenthaltserlaubnis in Germany. I thought it would be nice if I start now to file my naturalization application before the time reaches. Cos of their Covid19 delay.

      5. Princess

        I think you have to wait until it 3 years. But in other to be sure, you can contact the Rathaus and ask any questions.

        Your spouse can also help you to ask questions if your German skills not so strong.

  238. Laura

    Hey There!
    My Colombian boyfriend and I (EU living in Germany) Are about to get married and afterwards we want to live together in Germany.
    Colombian people do not need a visa to enter Germany as they have a tourist visa of 90 days. Can the Anmeldung be done on a tourist visa of 90 days when also showing the marriage certificate? We want to apply for a resident card but we don’t want to get a visa from Colombia which we actually don’t need and I was told that, since I am not German, we could apply after entering. But ofc I was wondering if the people doing the anmeldung will allow that?

    Also, I was told the issuing of the card might take 6-8 weeks in berlin. Do you get any confirmation after the interview that you can already work/study while waiting for it? My boyfriend would like to study but the enrolment will be before he gets the physical card.

    Thanks!!

    Reply ↓
  239. Eli

    Hi everyone,

    I have a question regarding an EU cross-boarder worker. My registered partner is an EU (non-German) working in the Netherlands. I’m a Non-EU holding a German resident permit for study purpose.

    Due to the border restriction, we just decide that he will move here and register with me in Germany. When he’s managed to register in Germany (we’re waiting for the appointment with the Rathaus), later can I also apply/change my resident permit to be for EU family member? Considering that he will continue working/paying tax to the Netherlands.

    Thank you 🙂

    Reply ↓
    1. Gulbuddin

      Hello
      I am from Russia citizen last year married in Germany in March and June we have religion marriage But because of covid marraige delay . Now the reason germany is lockdown . I am allowed to come but my family is not allowed . Even can’t do because germany all thing is closed . I ask girl family to come to Russia . But German are not allowed to go other country as red zones .

      Reply ↓
  240. Nelson

    Hello everyone! Please do anyone know any information about my issue. I have been working since August last year and have finished my B1 Integration Course. In February, I received a Bescheinigung from Agentur für Arbeit to do B2 Berufssprachkurs. My three years duration as spouse of a German will be due in September. Please I would like to know if receiving the B2 support will affect my application in September or should I go on and register the B2 Berufssprachkurs. Someone should advise me on what to do.
    Thanks

    Reply ↓
  241. Gulbuddin

    Hello
    I marry last year in court in March 2020 after corona virus come and we have religion marriage because of corona all closed . So we back to Ukraine . And wait for religion marriage . How I can get residence card how many months I have to stay in germany . Which document need . If I don’t know the language it is a problem .

    Reply ↓
  242. Muhammad Arshad Zubair

    Hello dear,

    I want some advise and help from you, i tried to find but I found your article comprehensive
    and basedd on your own personal experience.

    It would be a great act of kindness I’d you can spare a little time for me.

    So. Kindly tell how to contact you, so that I can tell the situation and some practically possible solution for this.

    Thanks and Regards,

    M.A.Zubair

    Reply ↓
    1. Princess

      @Muhammad Arshad Zubair are you addressing the site Administration or any member in particular? You need to be precise who you are referring to here.

      You can as well drop your contact to reach you with.

      Reply ↓
  243. Anonymous

    How can you have an income or employment contract since you are still applying for a resident permit. You can work without it. Employment contact is not required when you are married to EU national

    Reply ↓
      1. sfett001

        You will get a receipt that shows you applied and are just waiting for the residence card to come. Show this to the Human Resources of the work you are at and you will be allowed to work. After 3 months you show them the card and you will be allowed to continue to work.

  244. Nicki

    I am a US citizen and will be traveling to Germany in a few months to be with my fiance. He is a German citizen. Both of us are in the process of getting divorces. I plan on applying for my permit under the fiance visa clause after I arrive and register; however, am unsure if I will be accepted for my residency permit as we both will have time before we are allowed to remarry once our divorces are finalized. I will have enough income coming in, insurance, and can pass the A1 level. Have you seen this situation before?

    Reply ↓
    1. Michael

      German divorce takes at least a year to finalize known as “Trennungsjahr”. Within this period, you can do a lot of things, like sharing of property, child welfare, etc. You can extend or change your residence permit to work permit if the status of your residence is still dependable on your spouse as a family member of German. You can apply for German citizenship or Permanent Residence if you have lived and worked in Germany for up to 3 years after your marriage to a German citizen. A US Citizen who can show an adequate proof /means of his subsistence in Germany(eg, money for your stay, accommodation, private health insurance,) doesn’t need any proof of marriage or job in order to stay in Germany.

      Reply ↓
  245. RatanhouMonster

    Hello OBI team, thanks for all the updates you’ve provided throughout the years.

    I have been granted a visitor visa to Germany for pleasure, I am gonna go to Germany, pick her up and go to Denmark to get married. In Denmark they already provide you German translated marriage certificate and apostle.

    Once I am back in Germany after our marriage in Denmark, can I change my status to residence permit without going back home to apply for family reunification visitor visa? (if I already take A1 Exam before hand.)

    P.S. I am not a resident of EU. My spouse is a German national.

    Reply ↓
    1. Michael

      To answer your question, it’s better to know the type of Visa you were issued at the German Embassy. If your German Visa is a C-Visa which is issued for a Short-Term Stay and Tourism/Visit, then it’s not possible to get the resident permit.
      Unfortunately, getting married in an EU Country doesn’t guarantee someone any residence in Germany without a prior German-Family-Unification-Visa from his/her home country, which A1 German is one of the prerequisites.

      Although, there are some people who are exempted from Family Unification Visa and A1 German:

      1. Those who have lived in any EU country with their German Spouses and were issued a Resident Permit for Family Members of EU Citizens according Article 10 of the EU Directives.

      2. Those who are married to any other EU Citizens, other than German citizens. *Since your spouse is a German, you don’t fall to this category*

      3. Those who have already obtained a German National Visa known as D-Visa (eg, Studies, Work, etc)

      4. Asylum Seeker who are already residing in Germany before they got married to German citizens. They don’t need to go back to their country to apply for D-Visa or Family-Unification-Visa.

      5. Spouses of Non-EU Citizens living in Germany with EU-Blue Cards according to EU Directive 2009/50/EC

      Reply ↓
    2. Princess

      @RatanhouMonster congrats on your visa.

      To clear you about your trip to Denmark and getting married there. Germany don’t accept Denmark marriage certificate anymore.

      Secondly, as long as you are not an EU resident and you are not from one of the countries that are allowed to enter with visit visa and change it to resident permit. You must go back to your country and apply for Family reunion visa.

      Wish you the best!

      Reply ↓
      1. Michael

        Point of Correction @Princess. Germany and Denmark had a bilateral agreement concluded in 1936 to recognize each other’s marriage without additional legalization or apostille which was recently abolished because of sham marriages.

        Denmark is in the EU. According to EU Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 in amendment of (EU)No1024/2012, Germany is obliged to accept every document issued by any EU country as an authentic document as long as it bears an Apostille from the EU Country that issued the document, thereby reserving the document same rights that partain to the similar document issued in Germany. In a nutshell, Dannish marriage certificate has the same rights a German marriage certificate would have in Germany.

        The only set back is that your naturalization process will take longer than the normal procedure since they need to conduct a proper check in the country of issue for verification.

  246. Lara

    Hi there,

    thanks for sharing your experience.

    You have mentioned above the following:

    ‘If you cannot reasonably complete a course or do not pass the course after trying for a year then you are exempt from this requirement.’

    Do you have any reference to the law for this exemption?

    I am just wondering, if the partner is not successful in learning German language, would the government simply reject their application and ask them to leave country breaking the family apart (been married for over 10 years having lived in Germany for over 3 years).

    Thanks

    Reply ↓
    1. Mickey

      Hi Lara,
      There are certain things to consider before your citizenship office will issue an exemption.

      According to the German Law,

      StaG 10(4)
      “The requirement for adequate comman of language skills can be met if a minor child is under 16 years of age at the time of naturalisation, the requirements are met if the child demonstrates age-appropriate language skills.”

      StaG 10 (6)
      “The requirements for sufficient command of the German language (B1) and knowledge of the legal system society and living conditions in the Federal Republic of Germany (Citizenship Test) are waived if the foreigner is unable to fulfil them on account of a physical or mental illness or disability or on account of his or her age.”

      In summary, persons under age 16 and those who do not meet the testing requirements due to ILLNESS, DISABILITY or AGE do not have to take the test. And anyone who has graduated from a German school (Ausbildung, Abitur, Grundschule, Hauptschule, etc) or has a German higher education degree in LAW or SOCIAL, POLITICAL or ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES does not have to take the B1 or Citizenship test.

      It depends on what circumstance you want your exemption. If you can prove the reason for failing the test was due to age or illness like memory problem, insomnia, deformity, etc, then, you’re good to go. Doctor’s report is necessary.

      In Germany, naturalization offices are different when it comes to handling cases. Different workers and mindsets. Some of them aren’t aware of all the legal system except if you remind them. I witnessed the same thing. During my application for Blue Card and my German citizenship, I had to quote all the laws in all my letters before they could approve my application.

      Some citizenship offices have advice and counseling sections. I advice you to visit this section before applying for your German citizenship. You will get all the information you need.

      I hope this helps.

      If you need any more help, you can write “mickeystorm@web.de”

      Reply ↓
  247. Biruk

    Hello dear sir/madam. For residence permit i have to rent only flat 12s or i can bring hostel rental sign ? Also can i process by my self if we are not living under one roof with my son in Germany?

    Reply ↓
  248. Bex

    Hello,
    Your article is vert helpful, thank you.
    My question might have been mentioned but I couldn’t read them all, sorry!
    I’m a non EU married to EU spouse and I got the 5 year permit and it’s been 4 years now. I never got the plastic card though, only a piece of paper that was stapled onto my passport. How do I get the physical plastic card?
    Thank you and best regards,
    Bex

    Reply ↓
  250. Anonymous

    Hi Sir/Ma’am,i would like to ask for an advice what if the court who approves Aufenthalterlaubnis for the Asyl didnt believe what you are saying?i mean I have boyfriend he has gestattung,I have Aufenthalt but we live in different Bundesstaat,when I get pregnant i have Berufsverbot i didnt work for 9 mos,then now I’m on my elternzeit,I’m living with him and our child has health problem.My boyfriend tried to apply for chance Aufenthalterlaubnis but always denied and finally the court said our relationships is not true since I’m living in another Bundesstaat 5hrr drive from the City where he lives,and the court didn’t believe all the documents we have submitted,my question is what else we can do to prove that we are in a relationship and together and now we have son.that we are telling the truth.we are so hopeless.even the lawyer can’t understand why the court said that.i Hope to hear from you soon.thank you

    Reply ↓
    1. Anonymous

      The court told did not believe because both of you are not living together. Why not start oiling together so the court can believe you. Based on your message, the answer to your problem is inside the message you wrote.

      Move to your boyfriend flat.

      Reply ↓
  251. Anonymous

    I am an Indian citizen and my wife is an EU citizen. I have the German residence card (Aufenthaltskarte). We would like to move to Ireland. Can I travel along with my wife using my passport and residence card or would I require a visa?

    Reply ↓
    1. Anonymous

      Based on experience, I have always travelled with my EU partner to Ireland almost every month before I became a German citizen.

      Firstly, it depends on the type of German Residence Card you have.

      You have to check if your German Residence Card was issued according to any of the following EU Law:

      “5. Abs. 2 FreizügG/EU” (i.e Free Movement for Family Members of Union Citizen)

      or

      “EU-FAMILIEN-ANGEHÖRIGER ART 10 RL 2004/38/EG”.

      It’s written under ART DES TITELS(Type of Permit)

      If yes, then pack your belongings and book your ticket cos you don’t need Visa when travelling with your EU partner to any EU country. The same rule also applies, when you travel alone to join her if she’s already living in Ireland.

      But if your residence card was not issued based on EU Family Law, you’ll need to apply for a D-Visa in Irish Embassy Berlin to be able to travel to Ireland. Luckily, Visa application in Irish Embassy Berlin is done online. You don’t need to appear at the embassy. Your visa will be delivered to you by Post after you submit the documents and your passport. You can apply for your Visa on Irish website or through this link:
      Based on experience, I have always travelled with my EU partner to Ireland almost every month before I became a German citizen.

      Firstly, it depends on the type of German Residence Card you have.

      You have to check if your German Residence Card was issued according to any of the following EU Law:

      “5. Abs. 2 FreizügG/EU” (i.e Free Movement for Family Members of Union Citizen)

      or

      “EU-FAMILIEN-ANGEHÖRIGER ART 10 RL 2004/38/EG”.

      It’s written under ART DES TITELS(Type of Permit)

      If yes, then pack your belongings and book your ticket cos you don’t need Visa when travelling with your EU partner to any EU country. The same rule also applies, when you travel alone to join her if she’s already living in Ireland.

      But if your residence card was not issued based on EU Family Law, you’ll need to apply for a D-Visa in Irish Embassy Berlin to be able to travel to Ireland. Luckily, Visa application in Irish Embassy Berlin is done online. You don’t need to appear at the embassy. Your visa will be delivered to you by Post after you submit the documents and your passport. You can apply for your Visa on Irish website or through this link.
      https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/AVATS/VisaTypeDetails.aspx

      Good luck!!!

      Reply ↓
  252. Anonymous

    hello sir I am married to Romanian citizen my wife is Romania national and I’m not EU in Romania we plan to goto Germany and work and live there so our case will be same like yours

    Reply ↓

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