Aufenthaltserlaubnis für den Familiennachzug eines ausländischen Elternteils zu einem minderjährigen Deutschen beantragen

If you want to join your unmarried German minor child in Germany, you can obtain a residence permit for family reunification.

You can join your unmarried German minor child if you come from a country outside the EU or EEA, have custody of the German child and intend to exercise this right.

Personal care includes the right and at the same time the duty to care for, educate and supervise the child and to determine its whereabouts. A child is a minor if it has not yet reached the age of 18. Anyone who is not married and has never been married is unmarried; anyone living in a registered civil partnership is also not unmarried.

If these requirements are met, you must be granted a residence permit.

You can also join your child if you do not have custody rights. The prerequisite for this is that you and your child are already living together as a family in Germany. Family cohabitation is assumed if the relatives maintain regular contact with each other that goes beyond mere visits. If the requirements are met, the authorities will decide whether to issue the residence permit on a discretionary basis.

Under certain circumstances, the immigration authority may oblige you to take part in an integration course. This will then be noted on your residence permit.

The residence permit is a temporary residence title and is issued for at least one year.

• valid passport or passport replacement
• current biometric photo
• Visa, if this was required for entry
• Birth certificate of your child
• Proof of custody, if applicable
• Proof of family cohabitation, if applicable
• current registration certificate

The Immigration Office may request further documents in individual cases.

• You have a recognized and valid passport or passport substitute and, if required for entry, an appropriate visa.
• Your child is a minor, unmarried and has German citizenship.
• You have custody of your child and wish to exercise this right or, as a non-custodial parent, are already living in a family relationship with the child in Germany.
• There is no interest in deporting you.

Your stay does not jeopardize or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Issuing a residence permit: EUR 100.00

Under certain conditions, a fee reduction or fee exemption may be possible.

Please note:

• Additional fees may apply for the issuance of a residence permit in the form of an electronic residence permit, which can also be used as electronic proof of identity.
• The time and form of fee collection and payment vary depending on the authority.

The procedure is as follows:

• Depending on the foreigners authority and your request, it may be possible to apply via the Internet. Find out whether your foreigners authority offers electronic application for a residence permit.
• If you can only apply in person, make an appointment with the immigration office. During the appointment, your application will be accepted and your supporting documents checked (bring these with you to the appointment). Your fingerprints will be taken for the production of an electronic residence permit (eAT).
• In the case of an electronic application, the Immigration Office will contact you after receiving your online application to arrange an appointment at the Immigration Office if necessary. During the appointment, your documents will be checked (bring them with you to the appointment) and your fingerprints will be taken to produce the eAT.
• If your application is approved, the Foreigners' Registration Office will arrange for the eAT to be issued.
• After about six to eight weeks, you can collect the eAT from the Foreigners' Registration Office.

The eAT must always be collected in person.

about six to eight weeks

• The residence permit should be applied for at least eight weeks before your valid visa or current residence permit expires or - if you are in Germany legally without a visa - within 90 days of entering the country.
• Objection period: 1 month

An appeal against a decision by the immigration authority can be lodged with the authority named in the decision within one month of notification of the decision. The appeal may be lodged in writing, in electronic form or for the record.

If the foreigners authority does not uphold the appeal, an action may be brought before the court named in the notice of appeal.

• Residence permit for family reasons; issuance for family reunification of a foreign parent with a German minor
• Third-country national parents of an unmarried German minor who wish to join their children can obtain a residence permit for family reunification if they have custody of the child and wish to exercise this right.
• Non-custodial parents can join their children if they are already living with the child in Germany.
• Under certain circumstances, the foreigners authority may oblige the person joining them to attend an integration course.
• Depending on the foreigners authority and the matter in hand, applications can be made online or in person.
• A fee is payable for the issue of the residence permit. The time and form of payment vary depending on the authority.
• Responsible: the foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence

You can also obtain free advice on the topics of entry, residence and employment from the "Working and Living in Germany Hotline" of the Federal Government's portal for skilled workers from abroad.

Telephone: 030 1815-1111

Service hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00

The foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence.

• Online procedure possible in some cases
• Written form required
• Personal appearance required