For UK residents planning to join family in Germany, this guide explains the application process for a German Dependant Visa, which allows you to live, work, or study with your loved ones during their stay.
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A Germany Dependant Visa is a long-term visa that allows immediate family members of legal residents or citizens in Germany to live with them. This visa is usually given to spouses, registered partners, and minor children of foreign nationals who are working, studying, or living in Germany.
It helps families stay together and ensures that dependants can legally live in Germany as long as the primary visa holder. Dependants may also be allowed to work, study, and use public services in Germany, which varies based on the relationship and type of visa.
A Germany Dependant Visa lets families reunite and live together legally if a member works, studies, or lives in Germany. It gives spouses, partners, and kids a safe, legal way to join their relatives and share in Germany's social, economic, and cultural life.
Germany provides several visa types for dependants, based on their relationship to the sponsor and the sponsor's status. The primary types of Germany Dependant Visa are:
The Germany Spouse or Registered Partner Visa lets a legally married spouse or registered life partner of a foreign national living in Germany come live with them for a while. This visa falls under Germany’s family reunification program and is for cases where the sponsor is a German citizen, EU national, or a third-country national with a valid residence permit.
Individuals applying need to show proof of an actual and legally accepted relationship and usually need to have basic German language skills (A1 level). If approved, spouses or partners can usually live and work in Germany as long as their sponsoring partner's residence permit is valid.
The Germany Dependant Child Visa is a permit that allows unmarried children under 18 to live with their parents in Germany. It helps families stay together, letting children live with their parents, study in Germany, and access healthcare.
To get this visa, the parent in Germany needs to have a valid residence permit, sufficient money and housing, and proof that they are related to the child, like a birth certificate. Once approved, children can go to public schools and get medical care. This shows Germany cares about childre well-being and education.
The German visa for other family members is a specific type of family reunification visa. It is for relatives outside the immediate family, like adult children, parents, grandparents, or other Dependants. This visa is only given in unusual situations, usually for humanitarian reasons, medical needs, or cases of great difficulty.
Individuals applying must show credible proof that they are required in Germany for the emotional, physical, or financial support of the family member who lives there. The dependants can apply for work permits for legal employment in Germany.
To be eligible for a Germany Dependant Visa, those living legally in the UK can apply to live with a close family member in Germany. This includes UK citizens and foreign people who have permission to live in the UK. Those who can apply are usually spouses, registered partners, and unmarried children under 18 of German citizens; EU citizens who live in Germany; or people from other countries who have permission to live in Germany.
Candidates applying must prove they have a legal family relationship with their sponsor in Germany, as a spouse, registered partner, or Dependant child. They also need to have legal permission to live in the UK, like citizenship, indefinite leave to remain, or a valid visa. It is vital to meet the requirements and submit all documents completely and correctly for the application to go well.
The eligibility criteria to apply for Germany Dependant Visa are given below.
Spouses may need to show basic German language skills (A1 level).
The documents required to apply for a Germany Dependant Visa are given below.
Detailed information about the fees for Germany Dependant Visa is given below.
| Visa Category | Applicant Type | Fee (EUR) |
| Spouse or Registered Partner Visa | Adult | € 75 |
| Dependant Child Visa | Child under 18 | € 37.50 |
| Other Family Members Visa | Adult | € 75 |
| Other Family Members Visa | Child under 18 | € 37.50 |
| Biometric Collection (if required) | All applicants | Included |
Detailed information about the processing time for Germany Dependant Visa is given below.
| Visa Type | Average Processing Time |
| Spouse or Registered Partner Visa | 3 to 6 months |
| Dependant Child Visa | 3 to 5 months |
| Other Family Members Visa | 4 to 8 months |
The process to apply for a Germany Dependant Visa from the UK is given below.
Step 1: Determine the type of Germany Dependant Visa you want to apply for.
Step 2: Organize the required documents to apply for the German Dependant Visa.
Step 3: Submit the duly filled visa application form.
Step 4: Attend the visa interview and submit the biometric information.
Step 5: Receive your Germany Dependant Visa.
Yes, dependant visa holders can work or study in Germany. Spouses or partners generally have open access to the German job market and can work without needing a special permit. Children who are Dependants can attend kindergarten, primary, and secondary schools without tuition. For university studies, a student visa or permit might be needed, depending on the program and how long they plan to stay.
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Some of the common reasons for German spouse visa rejection are as follows:
To get a German Dependant Visa, you must be the spouse, registered partner, or child (under 18) of someone living in Germany legally. That person needs to have a valid permit for work, study, or settlement. You’ll need to prove your family relationship with official papers. In special cases, other family like Dependant parents might be able to apply. Both the person in Germany (sponsor) and the applicant need to meet certain money and housing requirements. Usually, spouses must know basic German (A1 level), but there are exceptions.
Spouses and partners may have to show they know basic German (A1 level) to get a German Dependant Visa. This helps them get used to living in Germany and talk to people every day. But, you might not need to if the person you're joining has an EU Blue Card, is a researcher, or a highly skilled worker. You also don't need it if you can't learn the language because of health issues. Kids under 16 usually don't need to know German, but older kids might need to prove they can speak German, depending on their age and what they plan to study.
Yes, if you are a spouse or registered partner with a German Dependant Visa, you can usually work without any limits once you get your residence permit. This means you can work full-time, part-time, or be self-employed. If you are allowed to work, it usually depends on the immigration status of the person who is sponsoring you and the rules of their residence permit. Children who come with their parents on this visa can go to school for free. Later, young people can apply for their own work or study permits if they qualify.
A German Dependant Visa usually lasts as long as the residence permit of the person sponsoring you. For example, if they get a two-year work permit, your dependant visa will probably be for the same amount of time. You can extend this visa when the person sponsoring you extends their permit. Family members could also get permanent residency if they meet the requirements for fitting in, living in Germany, and knowing the language. While the visa is valid, you have to follow local rules and keep your health insurance and legal residence status up to date.
Yes, kids with a German Dependant Visa can go to public schools in Germany. Once they get their residence permit, kids who are old enough have to go to primary or secondary school, depending on their age. Germany has quality public education and helps people who don't speak German with language support. Parents need to register their child at the local town hall and sign them up for a school nearby. Children can also get health care, social support, and youth services, which help them have a good education while they're living there.
To apply for a German Dependant Visa, you must submit the following documents.
Any documents that are not in German or English need to be certified and translated. Make sure your application is complete and correct so you don't have delays or get rejected.
Yes, once you get your German residence permit with the dependant visa, you can travel without a visa in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days every 180 days. This includes places like France, Italy, Austria, and Spain. But, Germany must be where you live most of the time, and being away from Germany for too long could make it harder to renew your visa or get permanent residency later on. Always take your residence card and passport when you travel in the Schengen zone in case you need to show them.
The processing time for Germany Dependant Visas is given below.
| Visa Type | Average Processing Time |
| Spouse or Registered Partner Visa | 3 to 6 months |
| Dependant Child Visa | 3 to 5 months |
| Other Family Members Visa | 4 to 8 months |
Yes, candidates applying for a dependant visa in Germany need health insurance. You have to prove you have coverage that meets the standards of the German public health system. If the sponsor is employed and part of a public health fund, the person applying might be covered under family insurance for free. If not, they need to get private health insurance plans that are approved in Germany. Coverage must start when they arrive and stay active as long as the visa is good for. You need to show proof of insurance when you apply for both the visa and the residence permit.
Yes, you can extend your German Dependant Visa or renew it as long as the person sponsoring you still has a valid residence status and you meet all the requirements of the visa. You have to apply to extend it before your current permit ends, and you need to keep showing you have enough income, good housing, health insurance, and, in some cases, language skills. After living in Germany for 5 years, adapting to German society, and not requiring funds from the German government, dependants can apply for German permanent residency.
