Family reunification in Germany: §24 and ordinary family reunification
For holders of temporary protection status under Section 24 of the Residence Act, simplified family reunification under Section 29(4) applies. A spouse and minor unmarried children join without proof of income and receive the same status under Section 24. For other relatives, or in other situations, ordinary Familiennachzug applies — with requirements as to income, housing and, as a rule, basic knowledge of German.
International Law Firm "Zahist" assists clients in matters of family reunification in Germany. In our practice, the main mistake is attempting to file documents for a close relative under the simplified procedure pursuant to Section 24, even though the situation formally falls under ordinary Familiennachzug. The difference in the requirements as to income and housing is so substantial that choosing the wrong procedure means a refusal and a fresh application from scratch.
We explain who among family members may come, what the difference is between reunification under Section 24 and ordinary Familiennachzug, whether a visa is required and which documents to prepare. We also cover when income and housing must be proven, whether language proficiency is mandatory, where to file the application, and what to do in complex cases and in the event of a refusal.
Which family members may come to Germany
The nuclear family (Kernfamilie) — a spouse, including a registered partner, and minor unmarried children — has the broadest and simplest grounds for reunification compared with other relatives.
- A husband or wife whose marriage is officially registered
- The applicant’s minor unmarried children
- Parents of a minor child who is in Germany unaccompanied
- Other relatives — only in exceptional cases, in order to avoid exceptionally severe hardship
Adult children and parents of an adult applicant do not, as a general rule, have an automatic right to reunification. Separate, exceptional grounds are required for them, not the mere fact of a family relationship.
Reunification of a spouse and children under Section 24
The simplified procedure under Section 29(4) of the AufenthG applies specifically to the nuclear family of a holder of temporary protection status and provides for substantially more lenient conditions compared with ordinary reunification.
The key condition is that family unity in Ukraine was disrupted precisely as a result of the war and flight, and that the joining relative themselves needs protection. This is not a formality, but a substantive requirement that the authority may examine independently.
| Parameter | Condition for reunification under Section 24 |
| Circle of persons | Spouse, minor unmarried children |
| Proof of income | Not required |
| Status after joining | The same status under Section 24 as the applicant |
| Relative’s place of residence | Another EU country or a third country outside the EU |
It is precisely the waiver of the requirements of Article 5(1) of the Residence Act — in particular proof that the family can support itself — that makes this procedure substantially more accessible than ordinary Familiennachzug.
Parents — when their relocation to Germany is possible
Relocation of parents is provided for primarily in cases where a minor child is in Germany without adult accompaniment. In that situation, the parents or legal guardians may join the child.
If, however, the applicant is an adult, there is no automatic right for parents to join: such an application is considered only as an exception, in order to avoid exceptionally severe personal hardship, and not as a standard procedure.
In practice, this is one of the most common reasons for clients’ disappointment — the expectation that elderly parents can be relocated as easily as a spouse or a minor child is not fulfilled without additional, more compelling grounds.
If a family member is not a citizen of Ukraine
The simplified procedure of reunification under Section 24 is aimed specifically at persons who themselves fled the war in Ukraine. A relative without Ukrainian citizenship therefore does not always automatically fall within this regime, even if they are married to, or related to, a citizen of Ukraine.
In mixed families, the remaining option is ordinary Familiennachzug on the general basis, where the family member’s citizenship is no longer decisive, but the requirements as to income and housing apply in full.
Because the practice of individual authorities regarding families of mixed citizenship may differ, it is particularly worthwhile in such situations to obtain individual advice before filing the application.
The difference between reunification under Section 24 and ordinary Familiennachzug
| Criterion | Reunification under Section 24 | Ordinary Familiennachzug |
| Proof of income | Not required | Required |
| Adequate housing | Not examined separately | Required — 12 m² per person aged 6 or over, 10 m² under the age of 6 |
| Knowledge of German | As a rule, not required | Level A1 for a spouse, with exceptions |
| Circle of persons | Nuclear family only | Broader, according to the separate grounds for each category |
It is worth choosing the correct regime before gathering documents — because both the set of documents and the very logic of the application’s reasoning differ substantially between these two procedures.
Whether a visa is required and where to submit documents
For relatives outside the EU — in particular in Ukraine — reunification takes place through a visa procedure at the German embassy or consulate at the place of residence, for example through the Embassy of Germany in Kyiv.
If the relative is already lawfully staying in another EU Member State, the procedure may be simplified — without the standard visa procedure, although the details depend on the specific situation and the country of residence.
The embassy accepts the documents, verifies their authenticity, in particular marriage and birth certificates, and it is at this stage that questions concerning translation and apostille most often arise.
Which documents are required for the application
- Passports of the applicant and of the joining relative
- Marriage certificate or the child’s birth certificate — with an apostille and a translation by a sworn translator
- A document confirming the applicant’s status in Germany (Section 24 or another Aufenthaltstitel)
- A completed visa application form for family reunification
- Biometric photographs
- Evidence that family unity in Ukraine was disrupted precisely as a result of the war — as needed
Ukrainian marriage or birth certificates must bear an apostille stamp and be accompanied by a translation prepared by a sworn translator — without this, the embassy will not accept the documents for examination.
Proof of income and housing — when it is actually required
Under simplified reunification of the nuclear family pursuant to Section 24, there is no need to prove a secured subsistence minimum or to have living space examined separately — this is precisely what most distinguishes this procedure from ordinary Familiennachzug.
In the ordinary procedure, the housing standard is 12 square metres per person aged 6 or over and 10 square metres for each person under the age of 6 — a formal benchmark verified by the competent authority.
Whether knowledge of German is required
Language proficiency at level A1 is a standard requirement for a spouse joining a partner in Germany under the ordinary procedure, but the law provides for a number of exceptions.
- The partner in Germany is a citizen of an EU country exercising the right of free movement
- The joining relative cannot demonstrate even basic knowledge of the language because of illness or disability
- Reunification takes place specifically under the simplified procedure pursuant to Section 24, where this requirement as a rule does not apply
Before enrolling in a language course and taking the examination, it is therefore worth establishing precisely which procedure applies in your case.
What to Do If Family Reunification Has Been Refused
A refusal to issue a visa may be challenged — first by filing a request for review of the decision directly with the embassy and, if necessary, by bringing an action before the administrative court (Verwaltungsgericht).
The most common ground for refusal is insufficient evidence of the family relationship or of family unity disrupted by the war; it is therefore advisable, already at the application-preparation stage, to assemble the most complete set of supporting documents possible.
Complex Cases: Missing Documents, Differing Nationalities, and Marriages Concluded Outside Germany
Where standard documents proving kinship are missing or practically impossible to obtain — a typical situation in regions where civil registries have been damaged by the war — the embassy may order a genetic assessment (Abstammungsgutachten) at the applicant’s own expense.
A marriage concluded not in Germany but in Ukraine or in another country is recognized provided it has been duly formalized — with an apostille on the marriage certificate and an official translation; additional legalization of the fact of the marriage itself is generally not required.
Unmarried cohabitation without official registration (living together without a stamp in the passport) is not treated as marriage under German law for the purposes of family reunification. The basis is precisely legally registered relationships, not the fact of a shared household or the existence of children in common.
A refusal to cooperate with the authority’s requirements, or a failure to submit additional documents upon request, generally results in refusal to issue the visa — it is therefore advisable to respond to every request promptly and in full, and not to leave it unanswered.
Processing Times for a Family Reunification Application
Processing of an application at a German embassy or consulate takes, on average, several months, and the specific processing time depends on the workload of the diplomatic mission and the completeness of the set of documents submitted.
The most common cause of delay is an incomplete set of documents, or the absence of an apostille or translation at the time of filing. It is therefore advisable to prepare the set of documents in advance, rather than assembling it while waiting for the filing appointment.
| Situation | Indicative Effect on the Time Limit |
| Complete set of documents with apostille and translation | Standard processing time |
| Missing apostille or translation at the time of filing | Additional request and a delay of several weeks |
| A genetic assessment (Abstammungsgutachten) is required | Substantial extension of the time limit — the assessment is conducted separately |
Legal Assistance with Family Reunification in Germany
Determining which procedure applies specifically to your family, and assembling a complete set of documents on the first attempt, is a task in which an error means months of waiting for a new decision.
The lawyers of International Law Firm "Zahist" help identify the circle of relatives entitled to family reunification, prepare documents for the embassy, and accompany the case in the event of a refusal, including remedies.
We also advise families of mixed nationality and in cases of missing or damaged documents, where the standard procedure cannot be applied directly.
If you are planning family reunification in Germany and wish to choose the correct procedure on the first attempt, contact International Law Firm "Zahist" — we will review your situation in a consultation.
