Germany · Spouse visas
Germany Spouse of a citizen
Residence permit for family reunification with a German (spouse), § 28 AufenthG
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for Germany. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- €100 ≈ $110
Cost, time and long term
Government fees€100 ≈ $110
- EUR 100 (≈ $110)Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity.
RenewalRenewable
The permit is extended as long as the marriage and family life continue.
Permanent residenceAfter 3 years of residence
A settlement permit is normally issued after 3 years on the permit, with continued family life and adequate German.
CitizenshipAfter 3 years of residence
Spouses of German citizens can be naturalised after 3 years of lawful residence if the marriage has lasted 2 years.
Where to applyFrom abroad
Apply for the spouse family reunification visa at the German mission abroad unless your nationality is exempt.
Presence rulesStay rule
The residence permit expires if you leave Germany and do not return within six months, unless the authority sets a longer period.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Germany, not after arriving
- Work isn't allowed on this route
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- Applicant is the foreign spouse of a German citizen whose habitual residence is in Germany.
- Both spouses are at least 18 years old.
- The spouse can communicate in simple German (level A1), with exceptions for illness, visa-free nationals and other cases.
- Family reunification is refused if the marriage was entered into only to obtain entry or under coercion.
What you must show1
- As a rule the permit is issued even if the livelihood is not secured, instead of the usual requirement of § 5.
Documents1
- Marriage certificate and the German passport of the German spouse, or a certified copy.
Steps2
- Apply for the spouse family reunification visa at the German mission abroad, unless the nationality is exempt.
- The mission sends the application to the immigration office at the German spouse's home and issues the visa only after its approval.
After you arrive2
- The residence permit is extended as long as the family life continues.
- A settlement permit is normally issued after 3 years with a permit, continued family life and adequate German.
When you become tax resident
How Germany decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
A continuous stay of more than six months counts as habitual abode from the start (section 9 AO), unless it is solely for a visit, recreation, cure or similar private purpose and lasts no longer than one year; a dwelling kept available for use creates a domicile (section 8 AO).
- Foreign-source income
Residents are taxed on worldwide income.
All tax rules for Germany Tax records checked
Full official text
For the foreign spouse of a German citizen who lives in Germany. It gives a residence permit with the right to work, and a settlement permit is normally available after three years. 1 2 3 4 5 6
What you must show and pay
- A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity. 7
Requirements
- Applicant is the foreign spouse of a German citizen whose habitual residence is in Germany. 1
- Both spouses are at least 18 years old. 1 2
- The spouse can communicate in simple German (level A1), with exceptions for illness, visa-free nationals and other cases. 1 2
- Family reunification is refused if the marriage was entered into only to obtain entry or under coercion. 3
- As a rule the permit is issued even if the livelihood is not secured, instead of the usual requirement of § 5. 1 4
- Marriage certificate and the German passport of the German spouse, or a certified copy. 5
- Apply for the spouse family reunification visa at the German mission abroad, unless the nationality is exempt. 5
- The mission sends the application to the immigration office at the German spouse's home and issues the visa only after its approval. 5
- The residence permit is extended as long as the family life continues. 1
- A settlement permit is normally issued after 3 years with a permit, continued family life and adequate German. 1
Stay
- Residence permit for family life, extended as long as the marriage continues. A settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) is normally issued after three years of holding the permit with sufficient German.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Work
Work is permitted for holders of a residence permit unless a law prohibits it.
Family
Minor unmarried children of a German and the parent of a minor German child are covered by the same section.
Official sources
- AufenthG § 28 Familiennachzug zu Deutschen · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG § 30 Ehegattennachzug · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG § 27 Grundsatz des Familiennachzugs · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG § 5 Allgemeine Erteilungsvoraussetzungen · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- Visa required for the foreign spouse of a German citizen (FAQ) · Federal Foreign Office · checked 2026-10-11
- Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) section 41: privileged nationals who may obtain the residence title after entry · Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de · checked 2026-10-12
- Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 45: fees for the residence permit, Blue Card EU and ICT card · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
- Nationality Act (StAG) section 9: naturalisation of spouses of German citizens · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG section 51: expiry of residence titles · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a citizen | – | – | No |
| Spouse of a resident | – | – | No |
| Spouse of a citizen Portugal | – | – | – |
| Spouse of a resident Spain | Needs income of €900+ a month ≈ $1,010 | – | Yes |
| Spouse of a resident Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Spouse of a citizen?
A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110). Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity.
How long can I stay on the Spouse of a citizen?
Residence permit for family life, extended as long as the marriage continues.
Can I work on the Spouse of a citizen?
No. Work is permitted for holders of a residence permit unless a law prohibits it.
Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a citizen?
Minor unmarried children of a German and the parent of a minor German child are covered by the same section.
Who can apply for the Spouse of a citizen?
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Does the Spouse of a citizen lead to permanent residence in Germany?
Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward permanent residence in Germany, which the rules allow after 3 years of residence. Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 3 years of residence.
How are Spouse of a citizen holders taxed in Germany?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a citizen. The standard rules apply: Residents are taxed on worldwide income. The 2026 tariff is zero up to EUR12,348, (≈ $13,800) rising progressively to a 42% marginal rate from EUR69,879 (≈ $78,100) and 45% from EUR277,826 (≈ $310,000).
More in Germany
Spouse and partner visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 9 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- AufenthG § 28 Familiennachzug zu Deutschen · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG § 30 Ehegattennachzug · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG § 27 Grundsatz des Familiennachzugs · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG § 5 Allgemeine Erteilungsvoraussetzungen · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- Visa required for the foreign spouse of a German citizen (FAQ) · Federal Foreign Office · checked 2026-10-11
- Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) section 41: privileged nationals who may obtain the residence title after entry · Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de · checked 2026-10-12
- Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) section 45: fees for the residence permit, Blue Card EU and ICT card · Federal Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
- Nationality Act (StAG) section 9: naturalisation of spouses of German citizens · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG section 51: expiry of residence titles · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.