Please make sure that you present all the documents applicable as per the checklist when taking your appointment at VFS Global/ the competent German Mission. Failure to do so may result in our inability to process your application and you having to book a new appointment.

Please prepare two identical application sets consisting of copies of the above-mentioned documents and bring all your original certificates along. Please DO NOT staple any documents.

In case a document is not set up in German or English, it has to be submitted together with a notary attested English translation.

Minors regardless of age have to be personally present when applying and have to be accompanied by their legal guardian or third person duly authorized by the legal guardian. This written authorization has to be attested by a German notary public together with a valid photo-ID or by submitting the declaration of consent.

These are the documents necessary to make a complete application:

• Valid passport, issued within the last 10 years; passports with observations regarding name, date of birth, place of birth and sex cannot be accepted; passport must have at least two empty pages
• application form, completed online with VIDEX - printed out twice and both forms duly signed by the guardian(s)
• 2 identical passport photos according to biometric specifications, not older than 6 months
• Declaration for additional contact and legal representation information - duly completed & signed
• Copy of the first and last page and all pages containing entry stamps/visas of the child’s passport (A4 size copy)
• Copy of the first and last page/ data pages and all pages containing entry stamps/visas of the parents’ passports (A4 size copy)
• If applicable, copy of the parent’s or parents’ residence permit ('Aufenthaltstitel')
  Please note:
  This is not necessary if the child applies for a visa at the same time as the parent(s).
  If both parents already have residence permits, copies of both have to be included in the application.
• Certificate of residence ('Meldebescheinigung') of the parent or the parents living in Germany, not older than 6 months
  Please note: This is not necessary if the child applies for a visa at the same time as the parent(s).
• Birth certificate issued under the “Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1969”
• If the child was born in India less than a year before the visa application to parents that already reside outside India: proof of pregnancy, such as 'Mutterpass', doctor’s letter, ultra-sound pictures or similar
• If applicable, School Certificate mentioning parentage and date of birth
• Proof of marriage of the parents:
  a) if the marriage was performed according to the Hindu Marriage Act:
  - Marriage registration certificate
  - Temple or Gurudwara or Priest certificate
  - Conversion certificate, if applicable
  - Several photographs showing that the essential rites have been performed (i.a. Pheras, Saptapadi/ Anand Karaj)
  
  b) if the marriage was performed according to Sharia Law:
  - Marriage registration certificate
  - Nikahnama
  - Conversion certificate, if applicable
  - Several photographs (i.e. bridal couple signing the Nikahnama, Qazi, witnesses)
  
  c) if the marriage was performed according to Special Marriage Act (“Court Marriage”, “Civil Marriage”)
  - Certificate of Marriage according to Section 13 Special Marriage Act
  - Photographs of marriage or function
  
  d) if the marriage was performed according to the Christian Marriage Act:
  - Marriage registration certificate, if Compulsory Registration Marriage Act is in force
  - Marriage certificate issued by licensed Church
  - Conversion certificate, if applicable
  - Photographs of marriage or function
  
  e) if the marriage did not take place in India or in Germany: marriage certificate with apostille/ legalization, if applicable
• If applicable: Divorce judgement and decree of the parents
• If applicable: Death Certificate of parent
• If the reunion is intended with only one parent in Germany and the other stays in India or in another country:
  Proof of sole custody of the parent (such as custody order in a divorce decree, custody decree) OR a declaration of consent by the parent not moving to Germany, signed in person in front of the German mission
• If the child is 16 years of age or above AND it does intend to move to Germany together with both parents or a parent with sole custody OR to a parent with German or EU citizenship:
  Acknowledged proof of knowledge of German on the level C1
  Acknowledged are certificates by Goethe Institute / Max Mueller Bhawan or telc GmbH
• Visa fee

Please note that the German Missions reserve the right to ask for additional documents or to initiate a further investigation of certificates, for which additional fees would be charged. Click here to find out about the charges for the verification.

Processing times
Processing times for applications of family reunion visa vary greatly.

If the child applies for a visa at the same time as the non-German parent who intends to work as a highly skilled employee or within six months of that visa application, a visa could be issued within a few working days after a complete application was made.

In all other cases, your application will also be forwarded to the competent immigration authorities in Germany, processing will take at least three months.

If a verification of your documents is necessary, this will lengthen the processing time by approximately two to three months.

Please ensure that the child has family health insurance through a parent. Until family coverage has been established you might want to take a travel health insurance (here you can find information on which travel health insurances are accepted).

Submission of the above-mentioned documents does not guarantee that a visa will be granted.

Submission of incomplete documentation or refusal to appear for a visa interview will delay your application and may result in the rejection of your application.

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