Independent index: figures taken from official tariffs, not from agents
themigrationroute.com/
Get offers
There is no single income figure — it is calculated per family

Family reunification
in Germany

The only programme in this index where the basis is not capital, work, or study — it is a family relationship. The sponsor’s income is not a fixed sum either, but a Bürgergeld-based calculation for the specific family.

Get a quote →
Sponsor income from
€1,012/mo per couple (illustrative)
Time to status
3–9 mo.
Stay requirement
continuous
Path to PR
after 3 years (2+1 for Blue Card spouses)

How the sponsor’s income is calculated

There is no official flat sum — the authority calculates it individually: base Bürgergeld rates per adult, plus actual rent, health insurance, and a buffer for the unexpected.

CALCULATION COMPONENT
2026 AMOUNT
WHAT TO KNOW
Base rate per adult (Bürgergeld)
2026 AMOUNT€563/mo
A nationwide standard, indexed annually.
Base rate for a partner
2026 AMOUNT€506/mo
Slightly lower than the first adult — €1,012/month total for a couple.
Buffer above the calculated minimum
2026 AMOUNT≈€300/mo
A narrow margin with no buffer is itself treated as a risk factor in review.
Rent, health insurance, utilities
2026 AMOUNTactual cost, not fixed
Added on top of the base and vary by city.

What the full processing cost consists of

The government fees themselves are small — the real difficulty is not the filing cost but documenting the sponsor’s income and housing.

COST ITEM
RATE
APPLIES TO
Visa fee
RATE€75
per adult family member
Visa fee
RATE€37.50
per minor child
Residence permit after entry
RATE~€100
per applicant

How the process runs

01
Confirming the sponsor’s status
The sponsor must live legally in Germany on a basis that grants a reunification right — not every status qualifies.
02
Gathering income and housing documents
Calculating income by family composition, proving floor space (roughly 12 m² per person over 6), and health insurance for everyone.
03
A1 language certificate (for spouses)
Required on the standard route — spouses of EU Blue Card holders and intra-corporate transferees (ICT) are exempt.
04
Filing at the consulate
The family member’s application is filed in their country of residence, with an interview as part of the process.
05
Review and entry
3–6 months standard, up to 9 with additional document checks.

A good fit if

A spouse, parent, or child already lives legally in Germany on a basis granting a family reunification right.
The sponsor’s income can be documented and exceeds the calculated minimum with margin (a buffer lowers refusal risk).
You have housing of adequate size and health insurance for every family member.
You can document German at A1 level (if applicable) or belong to an exempt category (Blue Card, ICT).

A poor fit if

The sponsor’s own status is temporary with no reunification right — some student visas, for example.
The sponsor’s income is close to the calculated minimum with no margin — a narrow buffer is itself a risk factor.
You lack housing of adequate size — the roughly 12 m²-per-person-over-6 standard is enforced strictly.
You need independent status not dependent on a relative — a different, non-family programme is needed then.

Who runs this programme

Your request goes to two or three firms from this list. You see exactly which ones before it is sent, and you can exclude any of them.

No matching firms in the directory for this category yet — the list is curated by hand and grows over time.

This is an independent list of firms in the market, not our partners — we do not forward requests to them or receive payment for referrals. Contact them directly via the link.

Frequent questions

Why isn’t there one exact income figure on this site?

Because the authority officially calculates income individually: Bürgergeld base per adult plus actual rent, health insurance, and a buffer. The figure shown here (€1,012/month per couple) is only the base component, without rent or insurance — not a final quote for a specific family.

Do you need German language skills?

For spouses on the standard route — yes, an A1 certificate. Spouses of EU Blue Card holders and intra-corporate transferees (ICT) are exempt.

How much housing space is required?

Roughly 12 m² per person over 6 — checked as part of confirming housing conditions.

What if the sponsor’s income is minimal but formally sufficient?

A narrow margin with no buffer is itself treated as a risk factor — a buffer of at least €300/month above the calculated minimum is recommended.

Does this programme lead to permanent residence?

Yes — the standard path is 3 years of lawful residence; shorter for spouses of EU Blue Card holders, at 2 years plus 1 more.

Does it apply to every protection category?

No — family reunification for beneficiaries of subsidiary protection (§36a AufenthG) has been suspended for 2 years, from 24 July 2025 to 23 July 2027.

Sources

§§27–33 Residence Act (AufenthG) — the legal basis of family reunification↗Jobbatical — detailed breakdown of the Bürgergeld-based income calculation for 2026↗

Figures are for reference only. Verified against official sources on 26 August 2026. A precise quote is issued by the appointed firm after document review. This material is not legal advice, a public offer or investment advice.