Turkish applicants · Federal Republic of Germany
Family reunion residence permit for Turkish citizens
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Residence permit for spouses and children of German residents or citizens.
This page covers the Family reunion residence permit specifically for Turkish applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to Türkiye. The route's general criteria are summarised below, but the current corridor-specific filing, visa-issuance, and entry position above can still determine whether the route is usable.
- Processing time
- No fixed national clock publishedUse the current Make it in Germany - Family reunification service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
- Government fees
- Visa €75; residence permit €100.
- Typical duration
- Typically 1–3 years at a time; leads to settlement.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Bilateral context
- Schengen Area
Consular processing: Istanbul / Ankara / Izmir
Tourist entry vs. this route
Turkish nationals require a visa for any entry into Federal Republic of Germany. The Family reunion residence permit is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
Key figures for Turkish applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
How long it takes
No fixed national clock published
Make it in Germany - Family reunification does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
Use the current Make it in Germany - Family reunification service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
Verified 10 September 2026 · Make it in Germany - Family reunification
Time to permanent residence
Arrival → Niederlassungserlaubnis (21-60 months depending on route and German level) → citizenship (5 years).
Leads to Niederlassungserlaubnis (Settlement Permit), then German citizenship.
Visa overview
Family reunion covers spouses and minor children of Germans and non-EU residents. Requirements include adequate housing, sufficient income, and — for spouses in most cases — A1 German before arrival. Several exemptions apply, including for spouses of Blue Card holders.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Qualifying sponsor resident in Germany.Federal Ministry of Justice — Gesetze im Internet (official German statute portal) ↗
- ✓Adequate income and housing.Federal Ministry of Justice — Gesetze im Internet (official German statute portal) ↗
- ✓A1 German for spouses (with exemptions, including Blue Card spouses).Federal Ministry of Justice — Gesetze im Internet (official German statute portal) ↗
Common blockers
- !Sponsor's income or housing insufficient.Federal Ministry of Justice — Gesetze im Internet (official German statute portal) ↗
- !A1 German not attained and no exemption applies.Federal Ministry of Justice — Gesetze im Internet (official German statute portal) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Marriage certificate (apostilled / legalised).German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) ↗
- ·Sponsor's payslips and accommodation evidence.German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) ↗
- ·Language certificate.German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) ↗
Application pathway
Confirm sponsor eligibility and document housing/income
Sponsor prepares apartment rental contract, Meldebescheinigung, and income evidence.
Attain A1 German if required
Sit the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 or equivalent.
Apply for family-reunion visa at consulate
Submit with marriage/birth certificates and supporting documents.
Enter Germany and register for residence permit
Anmeldung and Ausländerbehörde appointment.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Germany. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantApply for family reunification visa ↗
Use this official navigator page to identify the right family-reunion visa and filing path.
German Federal Foreign Office · verified
- Official guidanceApplicant + sponsorCheck family reunification guidance ↗
Applicant and sponsor use this official guidance to confirm income, housing and language requirements.
Federal Government of Germany · verified
Other Federal Republic of Germany routes covered for Turkish applicants
EU Blue Card (Germany)
Work and residence permit for highly qualified non-EU professionals with a qualifying German job offer.
Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card)
Points-based 1-year residence permit that lets non-EU skilled workers from any country move to Germany without a job offer to search for qualifying work. Six points or full qualification recognition required.
Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG)
Sponsored work and residence permit for qualified non-EU workers from any country worldwide who have a German job offer and a recognised qualification.
Freelance / Self-employment residence permit (§21 AufenthG)
Residence permission for qualifying freelance (Freiberufler) or commercial self-employment in Germany.
Not sure Federal Republic of Germany is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer family routes that Turkish nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Turkish citizens eligible for the Family reunion residence permit?+
Eligibility for the Family reunion residence permit is set by Federal Government of Germany. Turkish applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.
Where do Turkish applicants typically file the Family reunion residence permit?+
Istanbul / Ankara / Izmir. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by Federal Government of Germany — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do Turkish applicants need a tourist visa for Federal Republic of Germany as well?+
Turkish nationals require a visa for any entry into Federal Republic of Germany. The Family reunion residence permit is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
How long does the Family reunion residence permit take to process from Türkiye?+
Make it in Germany - Family reunification does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route. Use the current Make it in Germany - Family reunification service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying. Turkish applicants usually file via Istanbul / Ankara / Izmir, and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: Make it in Germany - Family reunification, verified 10 September 2026.
How long until permanent residence in Federal Republic of Germany?+
Arrival → Niederlassungserlaubnis (21-60 months depending on route and German level) → citizenship (5 years). The route leads to Niederlassungserlaubnis (Settlement Permit), then German citizenship. See BMI — German citizenship law for the qualifying-residence rules.
Do spouses of EU Blue Card holders need to speak German?+
No. Spouses of Blue Card holders are typically exempt from the pre-arrival A1 German requirement. This is one of the most practical advantages of the Blue Card route.
How we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Federal Government of Germany
Last checked: 8 July 2026