Family Reunification with Residence Permit Holders: The General Rules (§§ 29–32, 36 AufenthG)

Not every sponsor is a German citizen, a Blue Card holder or a skilled worker. This page sets out the general framework that applies when the person in Germany holds an "ordinary" residence title — a settlement permit, a humanitarian permit, a study or research permit, or another Aufenthaltserlaubnis. The rules are found in §§ 29–32 and 36 AufenthG, and the details vary considerably with the sponsor's title.

The Sponsor's Side (§ 29 AufenthG)

Reunification requires that the sponsor holds a qualifying residence title — among others a settlement permit (§ 9 AufenthG), an EU long-term residence permit (§ 9a AufenthG), an EU Blue Card, an ICT Card or a residence permit. For holders of temporary permits, additional conditions may apply depending on the title; some categories, such as students, face restrictions or waiting periods. In addition, the sponsor must have adequate housing (§ 29 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 AufenthG) for the enlarged household.

The Standard Requirements

Across most constellations, three requirements do the heavy lifting:

• Secured livelihood (§ 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 AufenthG): the household must cover its needs, including health insurance, without public funds.
• Spousal conditions (§ 30 AufenthG): both spouses at least 18, and as a rule proof of basic German (A1) before entry — subject to a substantial catalogue of exemptions, including spouses of Blue Card holders and skilled workers, nationals of visa-free countries, medical grounds and hardship.
• Children (§ 32 AufenthG): minor unmarried children join their parents; children over 16 moving separately face additional integration requirements unless an exemption applies.

Family members can receive unrestricted access to work once here.

Two Important Special Cases

Other family members — § 36 Abs. 2 AufenthG. Beyond spouses, minor children and (in defined cases) parents, reunification is only possible to avoid extraordinary hardship — a deliberately strict standard: adult children, siblings or grandparents qualify only in exceptional circumstances, typically involving serious illness and the absence of any care alternative.

Suspended: reunification with beneficiaries of subsidiary protection — § 36a AufenthG. Family reunification with persons holding subsidiary protection has been suspended since 24 July 2025 for two years (until 23 July 2027). During the suspension, entry is possible only in narrow exceptional cases under §§ 22 and 23 AufenthG.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my spouse need German before entry? As a rule, A1 — but the exemptions are wide. Spouses of nationals of visa-free countries (including the US, UK and Canada), spouses of Blue Card holders and skilled workers, and cases of medical impossibility or hardship are exempt. Whether you fall under one is often the first question we resolve.

How much living space counts as "adequate housing"? The benchmark follows local standards; as a rule of thumb, authorities look for roughly 12 square metres per family member over six, with lower figures for younger children.

Can family members work after arrival? Yes — family reunification permits normally carry unrestricted access to employment and self-employment.

My relative is neither my spouse nor my minor child. Is there any route? Only the extraordinary-hardship route of § 36 Abs. 2 AufenthG — narrow, but not hopeless in genuinely compelling cases. These applications stand or fall with the evidence. It can be worth seeking other alternatives, such as the relative's own path to immigration instead of as a dependent.

The general rules leave real room for case-by-case argument — used well, that room decides applications. Book a consultation →

Last reviewed: August 2026 — RAin Fiona Macdonald