Getting Married after Spouse Gets Visa
Hello everyone, have a wonderful day!
I’d really appreciate if someone could help me understand how this process works. Im am from Turkiye.
My girlfriend recently received a long-term (D type) student visa under §16b of the Residence Act (AufenthG) to pursue her master's degree in Germany. She currently holds a conditional admission (Bedingte Zulassung) and is planning to start her studies in September. She hasn’t travelled to Germany yet.
We have been together for 10 years since highschool and lived together since 2023. We are planning to get married this summer, before she moves to Germany. However, I’ve read on some forums that if the marriage takes place after the visa is issued, family reunification might not be allowed — especially in the case of student visas. Others say it's still possible under certain conditions.
I’m a video editor and cameraman with around 2 years of professional and 3 years of (while school) work experience. I speak English well but not German yet. I’m trying to understand:
Will our marriage this summer still allow me to apply for a family reunification visa, even though her visa and residence permit were issued before the marriage?
If yes, what kind of requirements do we have to meet (income, housing, documents, etc.)? Additionally my sister is an Austrian citizen and has been living and working in Germany for 3 years. I’d like to know if she could possibly act as a sponsor for me in a family reunification process after marriage. I believe she meets the requirements to act as a sponsor.
Thank you in advance to anyone who takes the time to share their experience or knowledge!
Hello @Canbo , thank you for reaching out. It's great that you're looking into the family reunion process early on, as it's important to be well prepared for the steps ahead.
Family reunification is possible even if the marriage takes place after a visa has been issued.
Once you are married and your wife is already in Germany, you will need to apply for a family reunion visa. There are some requirements that your wife has to meet. For example, her flat must be big enough for both of you. You will usually need to prove that you have a basic knowledge of German (A1 level). However, if you have a university degree, you do not need to prove your German language skills. You can find out more at: https://handbookgermany.de/en/family-reunification-for-immigrants#faq_7…
Of course, your sister can sponsor you and apply for a Declaration of Commitment:
https://handbookgermany.de/de/declaration-of-commitment-national-visa
However, family reunification can take a long time and you may want to consider applying for your own visa. Please, check the requirements for other visas, e.g. skilled worker or opportunity card :
https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/
If you have any further questions, please let us know. Best Barbara