A spouse joining a German citizen or a foreign resident in Germany applies for a national D visa for family reunion. The fee is €75, most applicants must show German at A1 unless the sponsor holds an EU Blue Card or a skilled worker permit, and the sponsor must have adequate housing and income. The file is approved by the foreigners' office in Germany before the mission issues the visa, which makes three to six months a realistic plan.
Who qualifies for a German spouse visa? A spouse (both aged 18 or over) or registered partner of a German citizen, or of a foreign national holding a settlement permit, EU Blue Card, skilled worker permit or another residence permit that allows reunion. The marriage must be valid and registered. Spouses of Germans and of most residents need German at A1 before the visa; spouses of EU Blue Card holders, skilled workers under sections 18a, 18b and 18g, researchers and highly qualified workers are exempt.
What does it cost? €75 (INR 8,300) for the national visa, paid in rupees at the appointment, plus the VFS service fee and the cost of the A1 examination (Goethe-Institut Start Deutsch 1, about INR 10,000 to 14,000). Family members of EU citizens exercising free-movement rights are exempt from the visa fee. The residence permit after arrival costs €100.
How long does it take from India? The mission forwards the file to the foreigners' office of the sponsor's city, which checks housing, income and the marriage before approving. Three to six months from the appointment is typical, and longer in large cities with heavy caseloads. Portal pre-check and VFS slots add one to four weeks.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | National visa (D) for family reunion to a spouse (sections 28, 30 Residence Act) |
| Government fee | €75 (INR 8,300); exempt for family of EU citizens using free movement |
| Language | German A1 (Start Deutsch 1) unless exempt: Blue Card, skilled worker, researcher sponsors |
| Sponsor | German citizen, or foreign resident with a qualifying permit, adequate housing and secure livelihood |
| Processing | About 3 to 6 months; foreigners' office approval required |
| Work | Spouse may work without restriction from arrival |
| Where to apply | Consular Services Portal, then VFS appointment at the mission for your state |
| Settlement | Independent residence after 3 years of marriage in Germany |
Section 28 of the Residence Act covers spouses of German citizens and section 30 spouses of foreign residents. Both spouses must be 18, the marriage must be legally valid (registered under Indian law, with the certificate legalised or verified through the mission's document verification), and the couple must intend to live together in Germany. Sham-marriage checks include separate interviews of both spouses in India and Germany.
Spouses of foreign residents must show basic German at A1 (speaking, listening, reading and writing) with a certificate from the Goethe-Institut, telc, ÖSD or TestDaF. The requirement is waived where the sponsor holds an EU Blue Card, a skilled worker permit (sections 18a, 18b), a researcher or highly qualified permit, an ICT card, or where the spouse holds a university degree and is likely to integrate, and in hardship cases. Spouses of German citizens also need A1 unless an exception applies.
A foreign sponsor must have adequate living space (about 12 square metres per person over six) and a secure livelihood without public benefits, shown with pay slips and the tenancy. Sponsors who are German citizens do not have to prove income or housing in the standard case. Children under 18 can be included or follow with their own applications; children under 16 need no German.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National visa fee | €75 (INR 8,300) | Per person; €37.50 for children under 18; not refunded |
| A1 German examination | About INR 10,000 to 14,000 | Goethe-Institut Start Deutsch 1 or telc; preparatory courses extra |
| Document verification or legalisation | Set by the mission and Indian authorities | Marriage certificate apostille through MEA; verification where the mission requires it |
| Residence permit after arrival | €100 | Issued for the sponsor's permit length, up to 3 years |
| VFS Global service fee | Set by VFS | Per application |
Vistolane charges the €75 fee at the official rupee rate and shows it on the price card; exam and legalisation fees are paid directly to the providers.
| Stage | Typical time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| A1 preparation and exam | 2 to 4 months | Start before the marriage registration is complete if possible |
| Marriage certificate apostille | 2 to 6 weeks | MEA through authorised agencies |
| Portal pre-check to appointment | 1 to 4 weeks | Dependants of Blue Card holders are prioritised at some missions |
| Appointment to decision | 3 to 6 months | Foreigners' office approval; longer in Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt |
| Entry to residence permit | Within the visa validity | Spouse can work from arrival |
Where the spouse is a Blue Card or skilled worker holder, apply together or immediately after the principal's visa; family applications linked to a skilled worker file are accepted at the same appointment at most missions.
The spouse receives a residence permit tied to the sponsor's status with unrestricted access to the labour market and may attend the integration course (German to B1 and an orientation module), which is compulsory where German is below A1 on arrival for spouses of foreign residents. After three years of marriage in Germany the spouse gains an independent right of residence.
Settlement follows the sponsor's route: spouses of Germans can settle after three years with B1 German, and spouses of Blue Card holders when the principal settles. Citizenship needs five years' residence (three for spouses of Germans married for two years), B1 German and the naturalisation test; India does not permit dual citizenship, so Indian citizens surrender the Indian passport and apply for an OCI card.
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport and biometric photos | Valid for the stay; previous passports |
| Marriage certificate, apostilled | Registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, Special Marriage Act or applicable personal law; divorce decrees for earlier marriages |
| German A1 certificate | Goethe-Institut, telc, ÖSD or TestDaF; not older than one year; or evidence of exemption |
| Birth certificate | Apostilled; non-availability certificate with affidavits where none exists |
| Relationship evidence | Wedding photos, visits, communication; the mission may interview both spouses |
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport or ID and residence permit | German ID, or Blue Card, skilled worker or settlement permit |
| Registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) | Current address |
| Tenancy agreement and landlord confirmation | Size of the flat and number of occupants |
| Income evidence | Last three pay slips and the employment contract; not required for German citizens in the standard case |
No A1 certificate, an expired certificate, or an exemption claimed without evidence of the sponsor's permit type.
The fix. Pass Start Deutsch 1 or submit the sponsor's Blue Card or skilled worker permit to claim the exemption.
The sponsor's income was below the standard for the household or the flat was too small.
The fix. Submit the contract and pay slips showing secure income, and a tenancy for a flat that meets the local size rule.
Inconsistent interview answers, no shared history, or a marriage shortly before the application.
The fix. Provide a chronological relationship file and prepare both spouses for separate interviews on the same facts.
A marriage certificate without apostille, or a document the verification could not confirm.
The fix. Apostille through the MEA and use only genuine civil documents; allow time for verification.
The German office declined approval on local grounds or because the sponsor's permit does not allow reunion.
The fix. Ask the sponsor to clarify with the office and, where the permit type is the issue, wait for a qualifying permit before reapplying.
Usually yes, at A1 (Start Deutsch 1). Spouses of EU Blue Card holders, skilled workers, researchers and highly qualified workers are exempt, as are spouses with a university degree who are expected to integrate and hardship cases.
About three to six months from the appointment, because the foreigners' office in Germany must approve the file. Add two to four months to prepare for the A1 examination and legalise the marriage certificate.
Yes, without restriction from the day of arrival, in employment or self-employment.
Foreign sponsors must show a secure livelihood (income covering the household without benefits) and adequate housing. German citizens do not have to prove income or housing in the standard case.
Family routes on Vistolane go to a licence-checked immigration partner who prepares the Consular Services Portal file, checks the A1 or exemption evidence and the sponsor's documents, and tracks the foreigners' office approval; the €75 fee is shown at the official rate.