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Family reunion of a minor child to a parent in Germany
General information
Children can either join both parents in Germany or only one parent if the latter has custody of the child. Generally, children can only join their parents as long as they are minors (i.e. not yet 18 years old).
Minors aged 16 and over must prove that they have a sufficient knowledge of the German language. Further information can be found below.
Canadian citizens as well as citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States of America can apply for a residence permit after entering Germany at the local immigration authority, without applying for a visa beforehand.
Processing of the visa application in Canada can take several months, depending on approval from German authorities.
Necessary documents
Please do not staple the documents!
- Completed and signed application form:
Please fill out the online application (VIDEX) form, print it out, sign it and submit it along with the other documents. Please ensure that the barcode is printed in high quality. - Printed and signed Declaration Use of Mail Services
- Printed and signed Visa Declaration
- Valid national passport (issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival in Germany, with 2 subsequent blank pages) - original plus 1 copy of the data page
- Recent biometrical passport photograph, stamped (35 x 45 mm, front facial view, white background, not older than 3 months). Digitally altered pictures will not be accepted. - please do not attach the photo to the application form
- For non-Canadian citizens: Proof of Canadian residence permit, e.g. PR card, work/study permit - original plus 1 copy of the data page
- Prepaid self-addressed Xpresspost envelope (Canada Post only), Regional standard to Ontario or National standard to all other provinces (shipment to a Canadian address only). Please note that the German Missions will not be held responsible for any loss or damage of passports due to postal or courier service delivery.
- Proof of housing, e.g. hotel/hostel/AirBnB (min. for the first week) with full address
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To be provided prior to final approval of the visa application:
Proof of sufficient health/travel insurance coverage valid in Germany (including details about coverage: at least € 30,000 and including repatriation costs. Please highlight relevant passages in the insurance terms and print only the relevant pages)
- Visa fee: see here
- Child's birth certificate - original plus 1 copy or 1 certified copy
- Evidence of parent´s registration (“Meldebescheinigung”) not older than 6 months if not moving together to Germany
- Proof of parent living in Germany
- Passport of the parent – original plus 1 copy or 1 certified copy
- Copy of residence permit, if applicable - Proof of custody - further information below -
- Consent form of parent, if applicable - further information below -
- Proof of sufficient language skills, if applicable - further information below –
Depending on the family situation, additional documents regarding the custody or additional declarations of consent (Verlinkung unseres pdf-Dokuments oder Hinterlegung des Dokuments) may be required in the context of childs reunification.
You can find further information here:
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OR Original court order with a copy of the complete withdrawal of custody including a translation by a translator recognized in Germany or Canada. |
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custody, but one parent remains in Canada (for the moment) and the child/children travel with the other parent OR the other parent is already in Germany |
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Children aged 16 and over must prove that they have a sufficient knowledge of German (level C1). Proof must be provided in the form of a recognized language certificate.
This currently applies to the following language certificates:
- Certificates of Goethe-Institute e.V.
- Certificates of telc GmbH
- Austrian language diploma (ÖSD)
- “TestDaF” of the TestDaF Institutes e. V.
Exemption 1:
If the child is moving to Germany together with both parents or with the parent with sole custody, proof of language proficiency is not required. This also applies if the child is only moving to Germany with one parent who has custody and the other parent has given their consent.
Exception 2:
If the parent living in Germany or their spouse has one of the following residence permits, no proof of language proficiency is required either:
- Residence permit according to § 18c Abs. 3 AufenthG
- EU Blue Card (§ 18g AufenthG)
- ICT-Card/Mobile-ITC-Card
- § 18a, § 18b Abs. 1, § 18d or § 18f AufenthG
- § 19c Abs. 1 AufenthG as manager, business specialist, scientist or member of a research team
- § 19c Abs. 2 or Abs. 4 AufenthG
- § 21 AufenthG
If you believe that an exemption applies to you, you must prove the existence of the respective reason for this exemption when submitting your application.
Useful Links:
Please note that all documents other than in German or English must be translated into German language.
Incomplete application may result in the rejection of your application. You might have to come again for a new appointment.
Please note that you may be asked to present additional documents. Submission of the required documents does not guarantee that a visa will be granted.
- If your spouse and/or children are going to accompany you, you must submit a complete set of application documents for each family member. Please provide the original and one copy of the marriage certificate and the children's birth certificate.
- Upon your arrival the border authorities may examine whether the requirements for your entry continue to be valid. Entry may be refused by the border authorities although you are in possession of a valid visa. We advise you to carry with you documents giving evidence to the purpose of your stay.
- Once you have obtained your visa please check carefully that all entries are correct and in accordance with your application. Please inform the visa section immediately if there are any mistakes.
- Your entry visa will allow you to travel within the Schengen area. However please be aware that you will be still subject to the 90 days within 180 days rule outside of Germany.
All Canadian residents need to apply at the Consulate General in Toronto in person. You will have to prepare all the necessary documents (see above) and book an appointment online.
Checking the authenticity of your submitted documents is part of the processing of your visa application. Foreign certificates are often only recognized by the German authorities or courts if their authenticity has been verified in a special procedure.
The authenticity of public certificates is verified by affixing an apostille, legalization or a document verification procedure.
You can simplify and speed up the visa procedure if you present all official certificates in the appropriate form when submitting your application. This can avoid inquiries from the responsible foreigners authority as well as longer processing times in individual cases.
Please refer to the website of the German diplomatic mission in the country in which the document was issued for information on the relevant procedure.