Basic information

• Only the visa office of the Embassy in Warsaw is responsible for visa applications. The Consulates General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Krakow, Wroclaw and Gdansk do not issue visas and do not provide information on visa applications.
• Please note that you must come to the embassy in person with all the necessary documents to submit your application. Please make an appointment via our appointment system on the Internet. Please plan that the processing time after application is usually several weeks.
• Your application can only be accepted if the documents are complete. The documents must be submitted in the original with one copy of each. Documents in foreign languages (with the exception of English) must be submitted with an official German translation, if indicated below.
• No fee is charged for processing a visa application for family reunification with Germans. For processing a visa application for family reunification with foreigners, a fee of approximately 400 zloty (75,- Euro depending on the exchange rate) is charged. The fee is payable in Polish zloty in cash at the time of application. It is a processing fee. There is no right of refund in case of rejection or withdrawal of the application.

General information

The applications are sent to the competent German immigration authority for comment. The processing time is usually at least eight (8) weeks, but can increase to several months in individual cases. As soon as a decision has been reached, the applicant will be informed immediately by the Embassy. In order to relieve the visa office, it is urgently requested that applicants refrain from inquiries about the status of their application, as these delay the processing of visa applications. Status requests will therefore not be answered!

After a positive decision on the application, you will be asked to provide proof of existing travel insurance coverage for the validity period of the visa before the visa can be issued. Please note that you will need to collect your visa in person.

Please make sure that you submit complete application documents! Incomplete applications may result in rejection of the visa application.

The Embassy reserves the right to request additional documentation.

The following list allows you to check whether your application documents are complete. All documents listed here must be submitted in the requested form and order.

Checklist for spousal reunification

• One (1) application form including instructions according to § 54 AufenthG, completely filled out and signed
• One (1) recent biometric passport photo (format: see photo sample board)
• Valid passport (signed by hand and with at least two (2) completely free pages)
• One (1) plain copy of the data page of your valid passport
• Proof of habitual and legal residence in Poland by Polish residence permit (e.g. visa/residence card), valid since at least 3 months, with one (1) copy.
  In individual cases, further proof of habitual residence (e.g. bank statements, ZUS statements, rental contracts, etc.) may be necessary.
  
• Last registration certificate in Poland („zaświadczenie o zameldowaniu“, which is obtained at the city office or town hall appropriate for the place of residence), with one (1) copy
• International marriage certificate or civil partnership contract, (original, proof of authenticity of the document, translation if necessary ),with one (1) copy.
  
  For the requirements of the proof of authenticity of the document, please refer to:
  International recognition/Legalisation of documents
  Certification and Authentication of documents
• If applicable: in case of previous marriages and divorces, German divorce decree with res judicata or recognition of the foreign divorce by a German court, with one (1) copy.
  Information for recognition of foreign divorces can be found at:
  International marriages
• German language certificate A1 (dispensable if the move is to a specified professional, but not dispensable if the move is to a German national), with one (1) copy.
  
  The language certificate must be issued by a testing provider certified according to the standards of ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe), which has a branch office staffed with expatriates (see also information sheet on proof of simple German language skills for spousal reunification).
• Proof of income and housing (rental contract) of the spouse living in Germany, with one (1) copy
• German passport or ID card of the spouse living in Germany; if the spouse is not a German citizen, the residence permit for Germany must be presented; with one (1) copy
• Certificate of registration of the spouse in Germany with indication of civil status, with one (1) copy

Checklist for child reunification

• One (1) application form including instructions according to § 54 AufenthG, completely filled out and signed
• One (1) recent biometric passport photo (format: see photo sample board)
• Valid passport (signed by hand and with at least two (2) completely free pages)
• One (1) plain copy of the data page of your valid passport
• Proof of habitual and legal residence in Poland by Polish residence permit (e.g. visa/residence card), valid for at least 3 months, with one (1) copy.
  In individual cases, further proof of habitual residence (e.g. bank statements, ZUS statements, rental contracts, etc.) may be necessary.
• Last registration certificate in Poland, with one (1) copy.
• Birth certificate of the child (original, proof of authenticity of the document, translation if necessary), with one (1) copy.
• If applicable, marriage certificate of parents or paternity acknowledgment certificate or judgment (original, proof of authenticity of certificate, translation if applicable), with one (1) copy
• if applicable, adoption certificate or adoption decree (original, proof of authenticity of the certificate, translation if applicable), with one (1) copy.
  For the requirements of the proof of authenticity of the document, please refer to:
  International recognition/Legalisation of documents
  Certification and Authentication of documents
• German passport of the parent(s) living in Germany; if the parent(s) is not a German citizen, the residence permit for Germany must be presented (1 copy)
• Proof of income and housing (rental contract) of the parent(s) living in Germany, with one (1) copy
• Certificate of registration of the parent living in Germany, with one (1) copy.
  
  and, as far as relevant:
• divorce decree of the child's parents (original, proof of authenticity of the document, translation if necessary), with one (1) copy
• Custody judgment confirming that you, as the mother/father, have sole custody of the child or notarized consent of the other parent to leave the country and take up permanent residence in Germany (original, proof of authenticity of the document), with one (1) copy
• For children between 16 and 18 years of age: Documents about the school the child is currently attending or about his/her education and possibly documents about language skills in the German language (C1 certificate required if applicable), with one (1) copy