Residence permit for family members of Germans
<p><strong>Who can apply for a residence permit?</strong><br>
 Citizens of third countries. Third-country nationals are nationals from all countries with the exception of the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.</p>
<p><strong>Visa procedure</strong></p>
<p>As a rule, you will need a visa to enter Germany. This can be applied for at the <a href="https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/aamt/auslandsvertretungen-node" target="_blank">German mission abroad</a>(embassy or consulate) in your home country. Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino do not require a visa to enter Germany.<br>
 EU/EEA citizens do not need a visa, residence permit or work permit.</p>
<p><strong>After entering the country</strong></p>
<p>You must first register your place of residence at the <a href="https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/wohnsitz-anmelden-oder-ummelden/1063475/n0/" target="_blank">Citizens Office</a>. There you will receive a confirmation of registration. This confirmation is often requested by other authorities or institutions as proof that you are registered in Munich.<br>
 You can then apply for your residence permit at the Foreigners Office.</p>
<p><strong>Application</strong></p>
<p>Before your visa/residence permit expires, you must apply for a residence permit. If you can enter the country without a visa for this purpose, you must apply for a residence permit at the Foreigners Office within 90 days of entering the country. Please submit the <a href="https://stadt.muenchen.de/dms/Home/Stadtverwaltung/Kreisverwaltungsreferat/fachspezifisch/HA-II/Auslaenderbehoerde/Dokumente/antragaufenthaltstitel.pdf" target="_blank">application form</a> and the required documents <a href="https://service.muenchen.de/intelliform/forms/01/02/02/kontaktabhfamiliennachzug/index" target="_blank">online</a> or by post. After submitting your online application, you can download a completed document as a PDF for your records. The document will confirm your application and the authorisation/continuation of your previous residence. Once we have checked your application, you will receive an appointment for a personal interview.</p>
<p><strong>Period of validity</strong></p>
<p>The residence permit is usually issued for one year.</p>
<p>The residence permit will be extended upon application if the requirements are met. If the family partnership is terminated, it is generally not possible to extend the residence permit.</p>
<p><strong>Employment opportunities</strong></p>
<p>With the residence permit for family reunification, any gainful employment or self-employment is permitted. This information is stated on the electronic residence permit or the supplementary sheet.</p>
Confirmation Continue Countries Electronic Exceptions Extend Extended Familiennachzug Family reunification Gainful Iceland Institutions Life partner Load Norway Partnership Permitted Purpose Registered Registered life partners Residence Reunification Same-sex partners Spousal Spousal reunification Spouse Spouses Supplementary Third confirmations country embassy period periods procedure purposes

# Residence permit for family members of Germans

## Summary

Foreign family members of Germans receive a residence permit for family reunification.
## Description

**Who can apply for a residence permit?**  

Citizens of third countries. Third-country nationals are nationals from all countries with the exception of the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

**Visa procedure**

As a rule, you will need a visa to enter Germany. This can be applied for at the [German mission abroad](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/aamt/auslandsvertretungen-node)(embassy or consulate) in your home country. Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino do not require a visa to enter Germany.  

EU/EEA citizens do not need a visa, residence permit or work permit.

**After entering the country**

You must first register your place of residence at the [Citizens Office](https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/wohnsitz-anmelden-oder-ummelden/1063475/n0/). There you will receive a confirmation of registration. This confirmation is often requested by other authorities or institutions as proof that you are registered in Munich.  

You can then apply for your residence permit at the Foreigners Office.

**Application**

Before your visa/residence permit expires, you must apply for a residence permit. If you can enter the country without a visa for this purpose, you must apply for a residence permit at the Foreigners Office within 90 days of entering the country. Please submit the [application form](https://stadt.muenchen.de/dms/Home/Stadtverwaltung/Kreisverwaltungsreferat/fachspezifisch/HA-II/Auslaenderbehoerde/Dokumente/antragaufenthaltstitel.pdf) and the required documents [online](https://service.muenchen.de/intelliform/forms/01/02/02/kontaktabhfamiliennachzug/index) or by post. After submitting your online application, you can download a completed document as a PDF for your records. The document will confirm your application and the authorisation/continuation of your previous residence. Once we have checked your application, you will receive an appointment for a personal interview.

**Period of validity**

The residence permit is usually issued for one year.

The residence permit will be extended upon application if the requirements are met. If the family partnership is terminated, it is generally not possible to extend the residence permit.

**Employment opportunities**

With the residence permit for family reunification, any gainful employment or self-employment is permitted. This information is stated on the electronic residence permit or the supplementary sheet.

## Responsible Department

KVR
## Required Documents

* Fully completed [application form](https://stadt.muenchen.de/dms/Home/Stadtverwaltung/Kreisverwaltungsreferat/fachspezifisch/HA-II/Auslaenderbehoerde/Dokumente/antragaufenthaltstitel.pdf)
* Valid passport or passport substitute
* Biometric [passport photo](https://www.bundesdruckerei.de/system/files/dokumente/pdf/Fotomustertafel-72dpi.pdf)(you will find photo machines at the Foreigners Office)
* Valid visa for entry for the purpose of family reunification (if required)
* Current notification from the Sozialbürgerhaus, if you receive benefits according to the Social Security Code II or XII

Further documents (depending on the purpose of residence):

**In the case of a marriage/same-sex civil partnership with a person of German nationality**

* Original marriage certificate (if necessary with certified translation, apostille or legalisation),
* Proof of basic German language skills level A1
* Personal appearance with partner at the appointment

**For a minor, unmarried child of a German national**

* Original birth certificate (if necessary with certified translation, apostille or legalisation),
* Proof of custody of the child,
* Personal appearance with the parent for the appointment

**for a parent of an unmarried, underage German citizen**

* Original birth certificate (if necessary with certified translation, apostille or legalisation),
* Child's passport of the German child,
* Proof of custody of the German child, proof of maintenance payments made in the last 12 months, if applicable

Further documents may be required in individual cases.

## Prerequisites

The main purpose of residence must be to live in a family partnership with a person of German nationality (German spouse or partner, German parent or German unmarried minor child) who has their habitual residence in Germany.

* **Both spouses or same-sex partners must be of legal age**. Both spouses or same-sex partners must have reached the age of 18.

* **Basic German language skills.** The foreign national must have basic German language skills (A1).

* The main residence of the partnership must be in Munich

## Please Note

The residence permit for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a family partnership with a German living in Germany is a temporary residence permit. It is issued for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years and can be extended.

## Fee Range

**Adults:****up to 100 euros  

Children and young people:****up to 50 euros**

**Turkish nationals authorised to associate pay a maximum of 28.80 euros**

**Foreign nationals****who support themselves****with****benefits****in accordance with Social Security Code****II or XII or****the****Asylum Seekers Benefits Act are exempt from the fees. A current notification from the Job Centre or****the Sozialbürgerhaus****must be presented****.**

## Legal Basis

§ Section 28 Residence Act

## Further Links

* [Online information Processing status](https://www17.muenchen.de/EATWebSearch/)
* [General Data Protection Regulation](https://stadt.muenchen.de/infos/dsgvo-datenschutzgrundverordnung.html)
* [Family reunification for relatives of Swiss nationals](https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/1063773/n0/)
* [Family reunification for EU citizens and nationals from Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein](https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/1063767/n0/)
* [Application for a residence permit](https://stadt.muenchen.de/dms/Home/Stadtverwaltung/Kreisverwaltungsreferat/fachspezifisch/HA-II/Auslaenderbehoerde/Dokumente/antragaufenthaltstitel.pdf)
* [Federal Foreign Office](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de)
* [Submit an application](https://service.muenchen.de/intelliform/forms/01/02/02/kontaktabhfamiliennachzug/index)
* [Contact form](https://service.muenchen.de/intelliform/forms/01/02/02/abhkontakt/index)

## Keywords

* Confirmation
* Continue
* Countries
* Electronic
* Exceptions
* Extend
* Extended
* Familiennachzug
* Family reunification
* Gainful
* Iceland
* Institutions
* Life partner
* Load
* Norway
* Partnership
* Permitted
* Purpose
* Registered
* Registered life partners
* Residence
* Reunification
* Same-sex partners
* Spousal
* Spousal reunification
* Spouse
* Spouses
* Supplementary
* Third
* confirmations
* country
* embassy
* period
* periods
* procedure
* purposes
