As a third-country national who is a family member of a citizen of the European Union (EU) or a member state of the European Economic Area (EEA: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), you have the right, provided you meet the requirements under EU law, to move freely with your reference person within the European Union, to enter any EU or EEA member state, and to reside there. This also includes the free choice of residence.

You are a third-country national if you do not have the nationality of an EU member state, the EEA, or Switzerland.

The following persons are considered "family members":

• Spouses,
• life partners,
• direct descendants (e.g., children) of the EU/EEA citizen or spouse or life partner who are under 21 years of age or who are dependent on them for support, and
• relatives in the direct ascending line (e.g., parents and grandparents) of the EU/EEA citizen or spouse or life partner who are dependent on them for support.

For EU or EEA citizens who are students, the group of family members eligible for family reunification is limited to spouses and life partners as well as children who are dependent on them for support.

During the first three months of your stay in Germany, your residence is subject to the condition that you have a family relationship with the person entitled to freedom of movement, that you are accompanying this person, and that you are in possession of a recognized or otherwise approved passport or passport substitute.

For a stay of more than three months, you will need a residence card, which will be issued to you by the immigration office ex officio within six months.

The immigration office will check whether you meet the requirements for freedom of movement. Among other things, it will consider whether your reference person is employed or not.

Until a decision is made on the issuance of the residence card, your stay in Germany is considered legal.

The issuance of the residence card confirms that you have the right of free movement. The residence card is usually issued for five years, unless the stay of your reference person results in a shorter period.

If you are under 18 years of age, the persons entitled to care for you must consent to your planned stay in Germany.

• You are not a citizen of an EU member state, the EEA, or Switzerland.
• You are a family member of an EU or EEA citizen residing in Germany.
• You have a close family relationship with the EU or EEA citizen (you do not necessarily have to live together).
• You wish to stay in Germany for longer than three months.

• You can provide the information required to obtain a residence card when you register with the registration office. Your information will then be forwarded to the immigration office. You can also submit your information directly to the immigration office responsible for your place of residence.
• Find out whether your immigration office allows online submission or has a special form.
• If submission is only possible in person, make an appointment with the immigration office. In the case of online submission, the immigration office will contact you after receiving your information to arrange an appointment.
• During the appointment, your identity and documents will be checked (please bring your documents, preferably the originals, with you to the appointment).
• Regardless of the outcome of the immigration office's review, you will immediately receive a certificate confirming that you have provided the information required for the issuance of a residence card in order to prove that you are legally resident in Germany.
• If there are no reasons to the contrary, your fingerprints will be taken for the production of the residence card. You will also be required to provide a signature.
• The Foreigners' Registration Office will commission the Federal Printing Office to produce the residence card in credit card format with additional electronic functions. Once it has been produced, you will be notified and can collect the residence card from the relevant office. The card must be collected in person.
• The residence card is usually issued within six months.
• If the issuance of a residence card is refused, you will receive a notification.

• The procedure is usually conducted in German.
• Once the residence card has been issued, its validity may be reviewed for specific reasons. If the conditions for the right of residence are no longer met within five years of establishing residence in Germany, the residence card may be revoked.
• All information provided to the immigration authorities should be correct and complete to the best of your knowledge and belief so that the matter can be processed without major delays.
• Incorrect or incomplete information can slow down the process and be detrimental to those affected. In serious cases, incorrect or incomplete information that is not completed or corrected in time to the immigration authorities can result in the withdrawal of residence rights already granted, a fine, imprisonment for up to three years, or expulsion from the federal territory.
• If you have resided legally in Germany with your sponsor for five years, you can apply for a permanent residence card.
• The residence card is not issued to citizens of Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Different provisions apply to these persons (see "Further information").
• Due to the complexity of residence and freedom of movement law, this description is for informational purposes only and is not legally binding.

• Appeal against the decision of the immigration authority within one month of notification
• Action before the court specified in the notice of objection if the objection is not upheld

Application deadline:

To obtain a residence card, the necessary information must be submitted to the immigration authorities no later than three months after entry.

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5

Note:

The residence card is usually issued for five years, unless the residence of your reference person, from whom you derive your right of residence, results in a shorter period.

Duration (for range): approx. 6 to 6

Note for further information on processing time:

The processing time may vary depending on the workload of the immigration authorities. However, the residence card should be issued within six months at the latest.

It takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks for the Federal Printing Office to produce the electronic residence permit.

The immigration office responsible for the person's place of residence is responsible for processing the request.

• Recognized and valid identity document (e.g., passport or passport substitute)
• Visa, if required for entry
• Current biometric photo in passport format (45 x 35 mm)
• Proof of family relationship to the sponsor (e.g., marriage or birth certificate)
• Proof that the reference person is exercising their right to freedom of movement (e.g., registration confirmation, employment contract or letter of intent to hire, trade license)
• For minors: consent of all legal guardians to the planned stay (declaration of consent); if the parents with custody cannot submit the application for their child together, a written power of attorney from the absent parent is required; if only one parent has custody, the signature of that parent is sufficient

In the case of family reunification with a non-working relative, the immigration authorities may also require:

• Proof of sufficient means of subsistence
• Proof of health insurance coverage (e.g., confirmation of insurance coverage from the health insurance company or insurance policy)

When joining a relative who is studying, the immigration office may also require:

• University admission or certificate of enrollment of the reference person
• Proof of sufficient means of subsistence
• Proof of health insurance coverage (e.g., confirmation of insurance coverage from the health insurance company or insurance policy)

Please note: This proof must also be provided for third-country national children who are joining their reference person.

The documents and information must always be submitted in German. In individual cases, the immigration office may require less or more evidence.

Cost (fixed):

• 37.00 for persons aged 24 and over
• 22.80 for persons under 24 years of age

Note:

The timing and method of fee collection and payment vary depending on the authority.

Additional fees may apply for the issuance of a residence card in credit card format with additional electronic functions.

Forms available: No

Written form required: No

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance required: Yes