Bringing your family: what German law asks of you
Facts as of 08/2026 · reviewed every 6 months · by Benjamin Farmer
The short answer
Yes. Spouses come under Section 30 of the Residence Act, children under Section 32. As a rule your spouse must show basic German at A1 before entering — but that requirement falls away entirely if you hold an EU Blue Card, an ICT Card or one of several other highly qualified permits. Beyond language, you as the person already in Germany must show sufficient living space and secure means of support for the family. Children under 16 are generally admitted where both parents, or the parent with sole custody, hold a residence permit; for 16- and 17-year-olds the authority additionally looks at whether integration appears likely.
- Spouse
- § 30 AufenthG
- Children
- § 32 AufenthG
- Standard language rule
- spouse needs A1 German before entry
- Blue Card exemption
- no language certificate required (§ 30 (1) s. 3 no. 5)
- You must show
- sufficient living space (§ 2 (4)) and secure means of support (§ 5 (1))
- Children under 16
- generally admitted if both parents or the sole-custody parent hold a permit
- Children 16–17
- additionally require a positive integration prognosis
The language rule, and the exemption that quietly removes it
Under § 30 AufenthG a spouse joining you in Germany normally has to prove basic German at A1 before entering the country. For many couples this is the single obstacle that delays reunification by a year or more.
The exemption is therefore worth knowing precisely. Under § 30 (1) sentence 3 no. 5 AufenthG the language requirement does not apply where the person already in Germany holds an EU Blue Card, an ICT Card, or one of several further highly qualified permits. If you are choosing between residence titles and your family matters to you, this single provision can outweigh a good deal else.
The European Court of Justice has also held that the A1 requirement is not absolute: hardship cases have to be taken into account. That is not a general escape hatch, but it does mean a flat refusal on language grounds is worth questioning.
What you have to show — and who 'you' is
Two requirements apply regardless of language, and they fall on you, the person already living in Germany — not on your spouse abroad:
- Sufficient living space for the family under § 2 (4) AufenthG.
- Secure means of support under § 5 (1) AufenthG — the family must be able to live without public assistance.
Children: the line runs at sixteen
§ 32 AufenthG treats children in two groups, and the boundary matters more than most people expect.
Under 16: reunification is as a rule to be granted where both parents, or the parent with sole custody, hold a residence permit. This is the straightforward case.
16 and 17: the same basis applies, but the authority additionally assesses a positive integration prognosis — essentially whether the young person is likely to find their footing here. The practical implication is uncomfortable but worth saying plainly: if you have a fifteen-year-old and are weighing whether to move this year or in two years, the answer changes the legal test that applies to them.
Language after arrival, not before
In many family reunification cases connected to skilled workers, family members may acquire German after arriving rather than beforehand. Combined with the Blue Card exemption, this is what makes it realistic to move as a family rather than in two stages separated by a year of language courses.
It is also the point most often missed by people planning alone, because the general rule — A1 before entry — is what everything on the internet repeats.
How the application runs
Family members normally apply at the German embassy or consulate in their country of residence. Expect to provide passports, marriage or birth certificates, proof of your residence title, and evidence of housing and income — plus a language certificate where one is actually required. Processing times differ substantially by country and time of year, so treat any single figure you read as indicative rather than reliable.
Working out which permit gives your family the easiest path is part of what we sort out with you and your employer. That work is free for you; the employer pays our fee.
Common mistakes
- Booking an A1 course before checking whether the Blue Card exemption removes the requirement entirely.
- Assuming the housing and income requirements fall on the spouse abroad, when they are checked against you in Germany.
- Waiting past a child's sixteenth birthday, which adds the integration prognosis to their case.
- Treating a refusal on language grounds as final, when the ECJ has held that hardship must be considered.
- Choosing a residence title purely on salary without weighing what it means for family reunification.
- Relying on a processing time quoted for another country; they vary widely by mission and season.
Free tool
Blue Card check
Four questions tell you whether the EU Blue Card is realistic for you — the permit that also removes your spouse's language requirement. Free, no sign-up.
Benjamin Farmer
Executive German coach and licensed § 34d broker in Bavaria. I place international professionals with German employers — free for candidates — and walk them through exactly these steps every week.
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This guide is general information for orientation — not legal, tax or insurance advice. Rules, fees and thresholds change; the facts above were last verified 08/2026 against the sources listed below and are reviewed every six months. For decisions about your specific case, rely on the responsible authority or on qualified professionals — legal questions are handled by our partner immigration lawyers, tax questions by cooperating tax advisors.
Sources: § 30 AufenthG — spouse reunification · § 32 AufenthG — reunification of children · BAMF — family reunification with third-country nationals