Your spouse and children under 18 can join you in Germany on a family reunion visa if you hold a valid residence permit, can support them and have health insurance. Blue Card holders and skilled workers get the easiest route: no A1 German test for the spouse and work rights from day one.
The person already in Germany (the sponsor) needs a residence title that allows family reunion. For most Indians that is one of these:
Who counts as family: your spouse (both partners must be at least 18), your unmarried minor children and, in limited cases, your parents. Parents of a skilled worker can join only if the sponsor's first residence title as a skilled worker was issued on or after 1 March 2024, and the sponsor must cover their living costs and health insurance. Siblings and adult children have no regular route.
Under §30 AufenthG, a spouse normally has to show basic German (A1) before entry, usually with a Goethe-Institut Start Deutsch 1 certificate or telc/ÖSD equivalent. Goethe-Institut (Max Mueller Bhavan) runs A1 exams in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Pune; book early because slots fill weeks ahead.
No A1 is required if the sponsor:
Other exemptions include a spouse with a recognisable university degree, illness or disability that makes learning impossible, or nationals of certain countries (India is not one of them). If your sponsor is on a student permit or Chancenkarte, plan for A1.
Even when exempt, starting German early helps your spouse find work. See learning German from India.
Income. The sponsor must show that the family can live without social benefits (Bürgergeld). There is no single published figure: the Ausländerbehörde compares your net income after rent with the benefit level for your family size. A Blue Card salary is usually accepted without detailed calculation. Bring your contract and last three payslips.
Health insurance. Every family member needs cover from the day of entry. If you are in public insurance (TK, AOK, Barmer etc.), a spouse without income and children are covered free under Familienversicherung; ask your insurer for a confirmation letter. If you are privately insured, each person needs their own policy. Compare options with the health insurance calculator.
Living space. For Blue Card holders and spouses or minor children of skilled workers, proof of 'sufficient living space' is no longer required. Other sponsors still need a flat that meets local standards (often around 12 m² per adult and 10 m² per child under 6; rules vary by city). In practice you still need a registered address, so send your rental contract and Meldebescheinigung anyway. Check your budget with the rent affordability calculator.
The German missions in India publish separate checklists for spouses and children. Typical items:
German missions in India can have Indian civil documents checked by a lawyer (document verification), which adds about 2–3 months. Germany does not accept Indian apostilles (it objected to India joining the Apostille Convention), so an MEA apostille does not replace this check. Take the originals of your marriage and birth certificates with you: German registry offices and the Familienkasse often ask for them later, sometimes with a fresh verification. Use the document checklist generator to build your list.
Family reunion visas are filed through VFS Global for the German missions in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata, according to your state of residence. The family member applies from India; the sponsor does not need to travel. Since 2024–2025 many national visas, including family reunion, start on the Auswärtiges Amt digital portal (digital.diplo.de), where you upload documents and then get an appointment invitation.
After the biometrics appointment the mission usually sends the file to the Ausländerbehörde in the sponsor's city for approval. If the sponsor holds a Blue Card and the family applies within six months of the sponsor's visa, a simplified procedure applies. A sponsor can also apply at their Ausländerbehörde for pre-approval (Vorabzustimmung) or use the fast-track procedure (§81a, €411) if the family moves together with a new skilled worker.
Fees are paid in rupees at VFS at the current exchange rate, plus a VFS service charge.
The D visa is usually valid for 3–6 months. Within 14 days, register the address (Anmeldung), then book the Ausländerbehörde to convert the visa into a residence permit. The spouse's permit normally runs as long as the sponsor's.
Work. A spouse joining a foreign resident may take any job or self-employment, no separate work permit needed. Your spouse can also apply for degree recognition and later their own Blue Card.
Children. Children under 16 join without language conditions. Children aged 16 or 17 must normally speak German at C1 level or show they will integrate well, unless they move with both parents and the sponsor holds a Blue Card or similar title. Apply before the 18th birthday. Claim Kindergeld (€259 per child per month) once the child is registered and has a tax ID.
Permanent residence. Family members usually get a settlement permit after 3–5 years; see the PR timeline tool.
No. Spouses of EU Blue Card holders are exempt from the pre-entry German requirement, and so are spouses of most skilled workers on §18a/§18b permits.
Yes. A spouse joining a foreign resident may take any employment or be self-employed without a separate work permit.
The German missions in India state at least three months after the appointment when the Ausländerbehörde must approve, plus about 2–3 months if documents are verified. Appointment wait times come on top.
Only in narrow cases. Parents can join a skilled worker whose first skilled-worker title was issued on or after 1 March 2024, if you cover their living costs and health insurance. Otherwise a long-stay route for parents is very difficult.
It is possible but harder: you must show enough money for the whole family and the decision is discretionary. Spouses of students normally need A1 German.
Checked against these sources on 14 October 2026. Rules and fees change; confirm with the authority before you apply.
