Germany · Spouse visas
Germany Spouse of a resident
Spouse reunification with a foreign national in Germany, § 30 AufenthG
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a resident 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 valid at most as long as the sponsor's permit and first for at least one year, and is extended with it.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
A settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) needs 5 years on a residence permit, secured livelihood, 60 months of pension contributions, German at level B1 and knowledge of the legal order.
CitizenshipAfter 5 years of residence
Naturalisation needs 5 years of lawful habitual residence, secured livelihood, German at level B1 and a commitment to the democratic order.
Where to applyFrom abroad
Apply for the spouse family reunification visa at the German mission abroad before entering.
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 apply5
- Sponsor holds a settlement permit, EU long-term residence, a Blue Card, or has held a residence permit for two years.
- Both spouses are at least 18 years old.
- The spouse can communicate in simple German (level A1), with exceptions such as Blue Card or researcher sponsors.
- If the sponsor has several spouses, only the one living with the sponsor in Germany gets a permit.
- Sufficient living space is available for the family.
What you must show1
- The sponsor's livelihood is secured, as a rule, without public benefits.
Documents1
- Marriage certificate and the original or certified copy of the sponsor's German residence title.
Steps2
- Apply for the spouse family reunification visa at the German mission abroad before entering.
- The mission asks the immigration office at the sponsor's home for approval before it issues the visa.
After you arrive2
- The permit is issued for at most the validity of the sponsor permit and at first for at least one year.
- After a break-up of the marriage the permit can continue as an independent right if the marriage lasted 3 years.
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 spouse of a non-EU national who holds a settlement permit, long-term EU residence, Blue Card or another qualifying permit. It gives a residence permit that runs no longer than the sponsor permit, with the right to work. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
What you must show and pay
- A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Fee for issuing the residence permit, regardless of validity. 8
Requirements
- Sponsor holds a settlement permit, EU long-term residence, a Blue Card, or has held a residence permit for two years. 1
- Both spouses are at least 18 years old. 1
- The spouse can communicate in simple German (level A1), with exceptions such as Blue Card or researcher sponsors. 1
- If the sponsor has several spouses, only the one living with the sponsor in Germany gets a permit. 1
- Sufficient living space is available for the family. 2
- The sponsor's livelihood is secured, as a rule, without public benefits. 3
- Marriage certificate and the original or certified copy of the sponsor's German residence title. 4
- Apply for the spouse family reunification visa at the German mission abroad before entering. 4
- The mission asks the immigration office at the sponsor's home for approval before it issues the visa. 4
- The permit is issued for at most the validity of the sponsor permit and at first for at least one year. 5
- After a break-up of the marriage the permit can continue as an independent right if the marriage lasted 3 years. 6
Stay
- The permit is valid at most as long as the sponsor's permit, and the first permit is for at least one year; for Blue Card and similar sponsors it matches the sponsor permit.
- 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 can join under § 32.
Official sources
- AufenthG § 30 Ehegattennachzug · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG § 29 Familiennachzug zu Ausländern · 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
- AufenthG § 27 Grundsatz des Familiennachzugs · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG § 31 Eigenständiges Aufenthaltsrecht der Ehegatten · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · 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
- AufenthG section 9: settlement permit · Federal Ministry of Justice (Gesetze im Internet) · checked 2026-10-10
- Nationality Act (StAG) section 10: naturalisation after lawful residence · 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 resident and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a resident | – | – | No |
| Spouse of a citizen | – | – | 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 resident?
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 resident?
The permit is valid at most as long as the sponsor's permit, and the first permit is for at least one year; for Blue Card and similar sponsors it matches the sponsor permit.
Can I work on the Spouse of a resident?
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 resident?
Minor unmarried children can join under § 32.
Who can apply for the Spouse of a resident?
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 resident lead to permanent residence in Germany?
Time on the Spouse of a resident counts toward permanent residence in Germany, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Spouse of a resident counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence.
How are Spouse of a resident holders taxed in Germany?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a resident. 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 11 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 § 30 Ehegattennachzug · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG § 29 Familiennachzug zu Ausländern · 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
- AufenthG § 27 Grundsatz des Familiennachzugs · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2026-10-11
- AufenthG § 31 Eigenständiges Aufenthaltsrecht der Ehegatten · Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · 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
- AufenthG section 9: settlement permit · Federal Ministry of Justice (Gesetze im Internet) · checked 2026-10-10
- Nationality Act (StAG) section 10: naturalisation after lawful residence · 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.