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Family Reunion Visa Germany — Documents to Translate.
A family reunion visa (Familiennachzug) under §§27–36 AufenthG requires your marriage, birth and family documents as certified German translations before the German mission abroad will process the file. Sworn, court-authorised German translators produce them with a certification statement, and for spouses the A1 German-language proof applies alongside. Fixed price from €59 per document, including certification and shipping.
- Sworn translatorswith certification note
- Valid nationwideauthorities & courts
- Marriage, birth, income proofcomplete set
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§§27–36 AufenthG · marriage & birth certificates · A1 for spouses · court-authorised translators · DIN EN ISO 17100
Short & clear
Which documents need a certified translation for a family reunion visa?
For a family reunion visa (Familiennachzug) the German mission abroad and the immigration authority require certified German translations of the documents that prove the family relationship — above all the marriage certificate and each person's birth certificate, plus passports and, for a spouse, usually proof of A1 German. These sit alongside the sponsor's residence and income papers on the German side.
Family reunification is governed by Sections 27 to 36 of the Residence Act (AufenthG). Spouse reunification (Section 30) as a rule requires the joining spouse to show basic German at level A1 before the visa, evidenced by a certificate such as the Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1. A certified translation does not replace that language proof — it makes your civil-status documents acceptable. This guide sets out both sides.
Step by step
How does the family reunion visa process work?
The visa is applied for at the German mission in your home country, then confirmed by the immigration authority in Germany. Certified translations are needed at the first step.
1 · Sponsor in Germany
Your relative in Germany must hold a qualifying residence title and, for most categories under §§27–36 AufenthG, show adequate housing and secure livelihood.
2 · Language (spouses)
For spouse reunification (§30) the joining spouse usually proves basic German at A1 before the visa — with a recognised certificate such as Start Deutsch 1.
3 · Certified translations
Marriage and birth certificates and related documents are translated into German by a court-authorised translator, with certification note and stamp.
4 · Apply at the mission
You book an appointment at the German embassy or consulate, submit the originals with certified translations, and the immigration authority in Germany decides.
Who counts as family under §§27–36 AufenthG?
Primarily spouses (§30), minor children (§32) and, in defined cases, parents of a minor or other relatives in hardship (§§28, 36). Registered partnerships are treated alike. Each person joining needs their own certified civil-status documents; we translate a family set together so names, dates and places match across every certificate.
Documents you must translate
The family reunion document checklist.
The mission's checklist is decisive, but these are the documents almost every family reunion file contains. Each foreign-language item needs a certified German translation; each is linked to the page that handles it.
| Document | Why the mission needs it | Handled by |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage certificate | Proof of the spousal relationship (§30 AufenthG) | Certified translation |
| Birth certificate (each person) | Identity, parentage, child reunification (§32) | Birth certificate guide · certified translation |
| A1 German certificate (spouse) | Basic language requirement before the visa (§30) | Certified translation if not in German/English |
| Certificate of no impediment / single status | Capacity to marry, where the marriage is recent | Certified translation |
| Custody / sole-custody documents | Consent of the other parent for a child to join | Legal translation |
| Divorce decree / death certificate (if any) | Prior civil status, name history | Legal · certified |
| Passports & national ID | Identity and the reference spelling of names | Certified translation |
Apostille & legalisation
Do family reunion documents need an apostille or legalisation?
Very often — and it is the step applicants underestimate most. German missions usually require the marriage and birth certificates to be authenticated so their genuineness is established. For countries in the Hague system this is an apostille, issued only by the competent authority in the issuing country — never by a translation agency. The FÜD does not issue apostilles; we translate the document and the apostille once you obtain it.
For a number of countries the German mission instead requires full legalisation, sometimes after a document-verification procedure — the embassy will state which. If a document comes from another EU state, Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 may remove the apostille and offer a multilingual standard form. Always follow the checklist of the specific German mission you apply to — requirements differ by country.
Languages & origin countries
Which countries do family reunion applicants come from?
Family reunion is one of the most common routes to Germany, and the documents arrive from a recognisable set of origin countries. FÜD assigns a native-speaker, court-authorised translator for each — and 70+ languages besides.
Common pitfalls
What causes family reunion visas to be delayed?
Because two authorities and a foreign document trail are involved, family reunion files are unusually sensitive to inconsistency. These are the recurring translation problems and how a certified, court-authorised translation prevents them.
| Pitfall | Why it goes wrong | How the FÜD solves it |
|---|---|---|
| Names differ between spouses' documents | The marriage certificate and the two birth certificates spell a name three ways, so the mission cannot confirm the relationship. | We translate the family set as one project with a single passport-matched spelling for each person. |
| Certificate not authenticated | A flawless translation is filed but the underlying marriage or birth certificate carries no apostille or legalisation. | We flag the authentication route for your country in advance and translate the apostille once added. |
| A1 requirement misunderstood | Applicants assume the translation covers the language rule; §30 requires a separate A1 certificate before the visa. | We explain the A1 proof clearly and translate the certificate if the mission needs it in German. |
| Only part of the document translated | Back pages, stamps or registrar notes are omitted; the mission cannot verify dates or places. | The complete document — stamps, seals, notes — is rendered or described so nothing is missing. |
| Wrong target country / form | A translation is prepared for the wrong authority, in the wrong direction or form of certification. | We confirm the receiving German mission and immigration authority and set the correct German certified form. |
Read the mission's checklist first
Family reunion requirements differ markedly by country of application. Before you order translations or authentication, download the checklist of the exact German embassy or consulate you will apply to — it is the single document that governs your file.
A reunion file lives or dies at the embassy counter, not in the inbox.
So: authenticated certificates, one spelling of every name, and the A1 proof handled separately.
Quote & price
What does a certified translation cost?
We review your marriage and birth certificates, the languages and any custody or status documents and name a binding fixed price for the whole family set. Personal certificates are usually a flat fee per document; longer texts are per standard line — certification, an advance PDF and postal delivery included.
| Certified translation by a court-authorised translator | ✓included |
| Certification note, stamp and signature (recognised nationwide) | ✓included |
| Passport-matched spelling of names | ✓included |
| Advance PDF & postal delivery of the hard copy | ✓included |
| Quality management & final check | ✓included |
Standard civil-status certificates are usually a flat fee per document; longer documents are priced per standard line (55 characters incl. spaces), from € 0.89. We name the exact amount after a brief review. How the price is made up →
Sources & legal basis
Where these statements come from.
Every legal and procedural claim on this page is tied to a primary, verifiable source — German law in its official English translation, the responsible federal authorities and the relevant EU/Hague instruments. Acceptance of any individual document is always decided by the receiving authority.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Which documents need a certified translation for a family reunion visa?
Do I need A1 German for spouse reunification?
Who can I bring to Germany under family reunification?
Does the marriage certificate need an apostille?
Where do I submit the documents and translations?
How much does translating the family reunion documents cost?
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