Family Reunion Visa (Familiennachzug)

Germany · for applicants from Nigeria

Verified · 22 June 2026

To join a spouse/registered partner or parent who is a German citizen or holds a qualifying residence permit (e.g. Blue Card, Skilled Worker). Spouses generally need A1 German before arrival (with exemptions, including for Blue Card holders' spouses). Sponsor must show adequate income and accommodation.

Rules last verified: 22 June 2026 · by Elizabeth O

At a glance

Embassy processing

Varies (often ~12 weeks)

Our turnaround

5–7 working days

Done-for-you Standard

Government fees

~£115

≈ ₦210,335

Why applications get refused

Spouse lacks A1 German

No A1 certificate and not exempt.

Fix: Pass an A1 test (e.g. Goethe) or evidence an exemption before applying.

Sponsor income inadequate

Cannot support the family without public funds.

Fix: Evidence stable income (and accommodation where required).

Doubt over genuineness of marriage

Relationship evidence weak / inconsistent.

Fix: Provide marriage certificate plus broad relationship evidence.

Document checklist

Required

Valid passport

When: "all"

Marriage/birth certificate (legalised/apostilled)

When: "all"

Sponsor's residence permit / German ID

When: "all"

A1 German certificate (spouse)

When: "unless exempt"

Sponsor income evidence (contract, payslips) & accommodation

When: "all"

Health insurance + VIDEX form + biometric photos

When: "all"

Application timeline

1. Prepare your application

Gather documents, draft supporting letters, complete forms

1–3 weeks

2. Rekoja review (if Done-for-you)

Specialist checks your file before you submit

5–7 working days

3. Submit online or at visa centre

Biometrics appointment may be required

1 day

4. Embassy decision

Standard processing. Priority options may be available.

Varies (often ~12 weeks)

All-in government fees

These are the fees you pay to the government, not Rekoja's service fee. Shown at the indicative exchange rate.

Mandatory

Family reunion visa

£64

117,056

A1 German test (spouse, unless exempt)

£51

93,279

Total government fees

115

≈ ₦210,335

Indicative. 1 GBP = 1829 NGN · 2026-08-03. Government fees change. Confirm on the official website before paying.

What a free chatbot cannot do

A free AI can tell you the rules. Rekoja does the harder part: we verify them against the official government source, prepare the actual application file, catch what gets people refused, and a specialist checks everything before you submit. We stand behind our work.

  • Rules verified against the official source, with the date
  • Document checklist built for your specific profile
  • The inconsistency check that catches what gets people refused
  • A human reviews your complete file before submission

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Common questions about the Family Reunion Visa (Familiennachzug)

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Real outcomes

100% approved

Based on 12 reported outcomes across all Rekoja cases. This is a look back at past cases, not a prediction. The embassy decides; past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

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Not a visa decision or legal advice. Rules shown are as of the last verification date above. Immigration rules change. Confirm before filing. The embassy decides, not Rekoja.