Moving to Germany with family

At a glance

Extra processes

Family residence titles, dependants' insurance, school or childcare, child benefit

Usual bottleneck

Certified and translated marriage and birth certificates

Prepare abroad

Legalisation or apostille, before you leave

Language requirement

Can apply to spouses, with exceptions

School

Compulsory school attendance applies from a set age in each state

Who this applies to

• You are moving to Germany with a spouse or registered partner, children, or both.
• You hold or are applying for a residence title that permits family members to join you.
• You need to plan around school terms and childcare waiting lists, not only permits.

In what order

1. Now

   Get the family documents into accepted form

   Marriage certificates, birth certificates and, where relevant, custody decisions usually need certification (apostille or legalisation) and a certified translation. This is far easier to do in the country that issued them, before you leave.

2. Now

   Check which family route applies to your title

   Family reunification depends on the residence title the main applicant holds, and conditions such as accommodation size, income and in some cases basic German for a spouse. Confirm the requirements for your specific title before applications are filed.

3. Now

   Find accommodation that fits the family

   Family applications can be assessed against whether the home is adequate for the number of people. That makes the flat decision part of the permit process, not only a practical matter.

4. Next

   Register the whole family at the same appointment

   One landlord confirmation can list everyone. Bring passports and the family documents, and register within two weeks of moving in.

5. Next

   Add dependants to health insurance

   Family members can often be covered through the insured person's membership rather than separately. Ask the insurer what evidence they need, and do not leave children without cover in the meantime.

6. Next

   Secure school or childcare places

   School attendance is compulsory from a set age, and registration runs through the local school authority. Childcare for younger children often has waiting lists, so apply as early as the city allows.

7. Later

   Apply for child benefit

   Child benefit is applied for through the family benefits office, with the children's documents, your tax ID and proof of residence. Eligibility depends on your residence status and where the children live.

8. Later

   Align the permits' expiry dates

   Family titles are normally tied to the main applicant's title. Note every expiry date together and start renewals as one batch, roughly three months ahead.

Documents you need

• Passports for every family member
• Marriage or partnership certificate, certified and translated
• Birth certificates for each child, certified and translated
• Custody documentation where only one parent is moving
• Rental contract and landlord confirmation showing the home size
• Income evidence for the main applicant
• Health insurance confirmation covering dependants
• School or childcare registration forms from the local authority

Common mistakes

• Arriving with original certificates that have no apostille and no certified translation.
• Assuming child benefit is automatic once you are registered.
• Leaving school registration until after the move, missing the term's intake.
• Letting a dependant's permit expire because only the main applicant's date was tracked.

What happens next

• Each family member holds their own residence document, tied to the main title.
• Children are enrolled and covered by insurance; child benefit is decided in writing.
• Renewals for the whole family are handled together from then on.

Related questions

Does my spouse need German?

A basic language requirement can apply to spouses joining you, with exceptions depending on the main applicant's residence title and other circumstances. Check the requirement for your exact title before planning courses.

Can my spouse work?

Family titles frequently include permission to work, but the permission has to be printed on the document. Read the card rather than assuming.

Can the family apply at the same time as me?

Often yes, and simultaneous applications avoid a second separation period. The mission handling your case can confirm whether it is possible in your country.

Related guides

• Family Reunification Germany

  How requirements change with the sponsor's title, the relationship and the country of application.

• Health Insurance in Germany

  Compulsory cover explained: statutory versus private, rules per situation, and the proof visas and permits require.

• After Anmeldung

  The practical sequence of tasks in the weeks after registering an address: certificate, tax ID, bank, insurance, employer, and the broadcasting fee.

Related answers

• Getting a childcare place

  There is an entitlement from age one, but you still have to apply early and follow up locally.

• Kindergeld eligibility

  Residence in Germany plus, for non-EU nationals, a qualifying residence title. Where and how to claim.

• Travel insurance and permits

  Fine for the arrival gap, generally not accepted as the cover a residence permit requires.

Related situations

• Permit expiring soon

  File before the expiry date, appointment or not. How to cover the gap until the decision.

Related compare

• Public vs private insurance

  Income-based and family-friendly versus risk-priced and individual — and why the switch back is hard.

• Anmeldung vs residence permit

  One records your address, the other authorises your stay. Different offices, different documents.