German Visa and Laws - Spouse Visa

There is no need for any consultant or agent to apply for a family-reunion visa because you will find all necessary information and procedure here without spending a single penny!!
Applicants having a permanent residence in one of the following states must apply to the respective embassies.

1. North India (Area of Jurisdiction under German Embassy in New Delhi): Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Union Territories, Chandigarh, Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Minicoy and Amini.
2. West India (Area of jurisdiction under German Embassy in Mumbai): Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu.
3. East India (Area of jurisdiction under German Embassy in Kolkata): West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura
4. South India (Area of jurisdiction under German Embassies in Chennai and Bangalore): Chennai - Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry, Bangalore - Karnataka and Kerala

German Embassy in New Delhi
All applicants applying for family reunion visa in New Delhi must schedule an appointment for the personal interview through VFS (Visa Application Centre of German Embassy), either by calling on their helpline numbers:

022 – 67866013 (for all national callers) or 0091 - 22 – 67866013 (if calling from outside India)

Or by writing an e-mail to: info.germanin@vfshelpline.com

VFS Contact Details

Delhi Office
No. 1-26, Block E, 2nd Floor
International Trade Tower
Nehru Place
New Delhi – 1100 19

Punjab Office
SCO 165-166
Sector 8 C
Madhya Marg
Chandigarh – 160018 Punjab

Website: VFS New Delhi

If an applicant prefers to submit his visa application directly to the German Embassy, the visa section needs to be contacted either by phone (0 11 44199143 for all national callers and 0091 11 44199143 if calling from outside India) between 1.30 pm – 4.30 pm Monday through Thursday or by sending an enquiry e-mail through the following link:
Contact Visa and Consular Section, New Delhi

German Embassy in Mumbai
All applicants applying for family reunion visa in Mumbai must schedule an appointment through the following link:
Appointments Foreign Office

German Embassy in Bangalore
All applicants applying for family reunion visa in Bangalore must schedule an appointment through the following link:
Appointments Foreign Office

German Embassy in Chennai
All applicants applying for family reunion visa in Chennai must report to the VFS (Visa Application Centre of German Embassy) and get their application documents checked to ensure that the application is complete and can be processed without any delay. Once checked, VFS will schedule an appointment for a visa interview. The interview will be held at the German Consulate General in Chennai.

VFS Contact Details

Chennai Office
VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd
New No:3 Old No:2
Sadasivam Street
Gopalapuram
Chennai-600086

Hyderabad Office
VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd
1-8-313
2nd floor,Opp Old HUDA Office
Chiran fort club lane
Begumpet, Hyderabad - 500 016

Puducherry Office
VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd
No: 32, Eswaran Kovil Street
Puducherry – 605001

Website: VFS Chennai

German Embassy in Kolkata
All applicants applying for family reunion visa in Kolkata: must schedule an appointment through the following link:
Appointments Foreign Office

Note: Personal appearance at the embassy is mandatory for all applicants!

To apply for the visa the following documents have to be submitted as originals, if a document is not written in English or German, it has to be submitted together with a notary attested English translation, together with two well legible sets of photocopies (size A 4) each. The sets should be arranged according to the order mentioned below:

For spouses

1. Two visa application forms duly completed, an application form can be downloaded here: http://www.india.diplo.de/contentblob/3137440/Daten/1926/Residence_Permit_Visa_form.pdf 
2. Declaration on true and complete information Declaration can be downloaded here:
• New Delhi Embassy
• Bangalore Embassy
• Chennai Embassy
• Mumbai Embassy
3. Valid passport 
• the passport should have been issued (and not extended) in the last 10 years
• the passport should contain at least 2 blank pages
• the passport should have a minimum validity of 12 months beyond the date of return from the Schengen territory
• Passports containing illegible data will not be accepted
4. Four passport photos 
• The photograph must be 35 x 45 mm in size with the face covering about three quarters of the area of the photograph. The background of the photograph should be light in colour.
5. A covering letter addressed to the Consulate General stating purpose of visit (original and photocopy)
6. An Invitation letter from the spouse clearly stating the complete residential address and the purpose of visit
7. Copy of all pages of the spouse’s/parent's passport in Germany, and of the applicant
8. Visa fees of 60 Euro to be paid in Indian rupees according to the current rate
• Visa fee to be paid through demand draft made out to the “Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany” in respective cities.
• Applicants also need to fill out a demand draft form which can be downloaded from the following link: 
• Delhi and Bangalore Embassies: Not required
• Chennai Embassy: Only accepts demand drafts issued by ABN AMRO Bank, Deutsche Bank, Canara Bank and Indian Bank. There is no need for Demand Draft form here.
• Kolkata Embassy: Demand Draft Form Visa Applicants
• Mumbai Embassy: Demand Draft Form Visa Applicants
9. Documentary proof of marriage as follows:
   
1. If the marriage was performed according to the Hindu Marriage Act:
   
1. marriage certificate
1. temple certificate from the Mandir / Gurudwara
1. conversion certificate, if applicable
1. several photographs (usually marriage photo album) showing that the essential rites have been performed
2. If the marriage was performed according to the Shariat Act:
1. For Jammu and Kashmir: Nikahnama (signed by Qazi)
1. For India except from Jammu and Kashmir: Nikahnama and marriage certificate (registration)
1. Several photographs showing that the essential rites had been performed
3. If the marriage was performed according to the Special Marriage Act:
1. marriage certificate
4. If the marriage was performed according to the Christian Marriage Act:
   
1. marriage certificate
2. Church certificate
3. Conversion certificate, if applicable
5. If the marriage did not take place in India or Germany: marriage certificate and apostille
10. Birth certificate under the “Births and Deaths Registration Act”, 1969, if the birth occurred on 01.04.1973 or later, or “Certificate of non-traceability of Entry in Birth Register/Not-Found-Certificate in case the birth occurred before 01.04.1973 and a birth certificate cannot be issued or a late registration is not possible,
11. Matriculation certificate or Middle School Board Certificate or school-leaving certificate including the date of birth
    For children of 13 years of age and older additionally: all mark sheets and a certificate from the Principal of the present school which provides the details of the transfer certificate from the previous school from which he had been transferred,
12. Proof of registration from the Department of Publication of respective city in case the applicant has taken the last name of the spouse.
13. Ration Card of the applicant
    
• Name or/and address on the ration card of the applicant must be changed, in case the applicant takes the last name of the spouse or/and is currently living with the parents-in-Law
• Otherwise Ration Card covering the last 4 years
14. Certificate of Residence (German: Auszug aus dem Melderegister) of the spouse living in Germany. This certificate must not be older than 6 months,
15. Accommodation contract of the spouse
16. Divorce and custody judgement and decree from former spouse, if applicable,
17. Certificate of acknowledgement of paternity, or confirmation from registrar of births regarding illegitimacy of child, if applicable,
18. Certificate of death of the former spouse, if applicable,
19. Investigation fees for the verification of all documents of Indian origin as follows (to be paid by demand draft payable to the “Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany”). The verification procedure will be initiated and carried out by the embassy. The process of verification takes between 8 to 10 weeks.
    
• Mumbai Embassy - between INR 10,000 to INR 50,000 (Depends on
  the complexity of the case and only to be paid once being asked by the
  Embassy)
• Kolkata Embassy - Kolkata: Rs. 12000; Other
  Districts within the State of West Bengal: Rs. 15000; Bihar, Jharkhand,
  Odisha: Rs. 18000; States of North East: Rs. 20000, outside consular
  area: Rs. 30000.
• New Delhi Embassy - Delhi : Rs. 15000, other consular areas: Rs. 20000
20. Proof of sufficient knowledge of German language through an A-1 Level certificate issued by the Goethe Institute (Max Mueller Bhavan). This certificate should not be older than 12 months. Language skills acquired at this level could easily fade away with time, so the embassy recommends the applicants to apply only with updated A-1 level certificate.
21. Copy of the valid employment contract of the spouse living in Germany, or in case of self-employment or business, income tax papers(German : Steuererklärung) of the last 6 months
22. Recent salary slip of the spouse (only for the applicants of the Chennai embassy)
23. Two extra copies of the marriage certificate, a birth certificate of children, passports of applicant and spouse

Additional information regarding documents:

In principle the embassy recognizes certificates from all German language schools which follow the standardized language test of the “Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE)”. These language schools have to ensure that their language tests are undertaken by the schools' own teachers and that they employ native German teachers. Please note that at present in India only the Goethe Institute (Max Mueller Bhavan) fulfills these ALTE-requirements.

The embassy reserves the right to request additional documents if necessary.

In general, the processing of visa applications for family reunion takes at least three months.

Documents such as ration rard that needs changes takes time, so make sure to start the procedure of such documents well before hand and simultaneously start taking German classes.

For a child

1. Two visa application forms duly completed
   
• Application Form can be downloaded here: Application for a Residence Permit
  
2. Declaration on true and complete information
   
• Declaration can downloaded here:
• New Delhi Embassy
• Bangalore Embassy
• Chennai Embassy
• Mumbai Embassy
3. Passport
• The passport should have been issued (and not extended) in the last 10 years.
• The passport should contain at least 2 blank pages.
• The passport should have a minimum validity of 12 months beyond the date of return from the Schengen territory.
• Passports containing illegible data will not be accepted.
4. Four passport photo
• The photograph must be 35 x 45 mm in size with the face covering
  about three quarters of the area of the photograph. The background of
  the photograph should be light in colour.
5. A covering letter addressed to the Consulate General stating purpose of visit (original and photocopy)
6. A Consent letter from both parents (original and photocopy)
7. Copy of all pages of the parents’ passport in Germany, and of the applicant
8. Visa fees of 60 Euro to be paid in Indian rupees according to the current rate.
   
• Visa fee to be paid through demand draft made out to the “Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany” in respective cities.
• Applicants also need to fill out a demand draft form which can be downloaded from the following link:
  
• Delhi and Bangalore Embassies: Not required
• Chennai Embassy: Only
  accepts demand drafts issued by ABN AMRO Bank, Deutsche Bank, Canara
  Bank and Indian Bank. There is no need for demand draft form here.
• Kolkata Embassy
• Mumbai Embassy
  
9. Birth certificate
10. Matriculation certificate or Middle School Board Certificate or school-leaving certificate including the date of birth
    For
    children of 13 years of age and older additionally: all mark sheets and
    certificate from the principal of the present school which provides the
    details of the transfer certificate from the previous school from which
    he had been transferred,
    
11. Certificate of residence (German:
    Auszug aus dem Melderegister) of the spouse living in Germany. This
    certificate must not be older than 6 months
12. Accommodation contract of the parent
13. Divorce and custody judgement and decree, if applicable
14. Certificate of acknowledgement of paternity, or confirmation from
    registrar of births regarding illegitimacy of child, if applicable
15. Certificate of death of the parent, if applicable
16. Investigation fees for the verification of all documents of Indian origin as follows (to be paid by demand draft payable to the “Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany”). The verification procedure will be initiated and carried out by the embassy. The process of verification takes between 8 to 10 weeks. 
• Kolkata Rs.8000; other districts within the state of West Bengal: Rs. 11000; Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa: Rs. 13000; States of North East: Rs. 16000.
17. Proof of sufficient knowledge of German language through a C-1 level certificate issued by the Goethe Institute (Max Mueller Bhavan) for minors aged between 16 and 18 years if they apply for a visa for family reunion with a non-German national. This certificate should not be older than 12 months.
18. Copy of the valid employment contract of parent living in Germany, or in case of self-employment or business, income tax papers (German : Steuererklärung) of the last 6 months
19. Recent salary slip of the parent (only for the applicants of the Chennai Embassy)
    

Additional information regarding documents:
In principle the embassy recognizes certificates from all German language schools which follow the standardized language test of the “Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE)”. These language schools have to ensure that their language tests are undertaken by the schools' own teachers and that they employ native German teachers. Please note that at present in India only the Goethe Institute (Max Mueller Bhavan) fulfills these ALTE-requirements.

The embassy reserves the right to request additional documents if necessary.

In general, the processing of visa applications for family reunion takes at least three months.