A Germany spouse visa from India is a national D visa for family reunion under sections 28 and 30 of the Residence Act. The fee is €75, both spouses must be at least 18, the marriage must be legally valid and registered, and most applicants must show German at A1 before the visa unless the sponsor holds an EU Blue Card, a skilled worker permit or another exempting status. The mission forwards the file to the foreigners' office of the sponsor's city, which checks housing, income and the marriage before approving, so three to six months from the appointment is a realistic plan.
The compact version with the price card and checklist is on the Germany family reunion visa route page. This article explains how each requirement is tested and where Indian applications fall down.
Who qualifies for a Germany spouse visa?
Section 28 covers spouses and registered partners of German citizens, section 30 spouses of foreign residents who hold a settlement permit, an EU Blue Card, a skilled worker permit or another residence permit that allows reunion. Both spouses must be 18, the marriage must be registered under Indian law (Hindu Marriage Act, Special Marriage Act or the applicable personal law) with the certificate apostilled or verified through the mission, and the couple must intend to live together in Germany. Sham-marriage checks include separate interviews of both spouses in India and Germany, so both accounts must match.
Children under 18 can be included or follow with their own applications; children under 16 need no German. Family members of EU citizens exercising free-movement rights in Germany apply under EU law instead and are exempt from the fee.
When is the A1 German test required, and who is exempt?
Spouses of foreign residents must show basic German at A1 in speaking, listening, reading and writing with a certificate from the Goethe-Institut (Start Deutsch 1), telc, ÖSD or TestDaF, not older than one year. Spouses of German citizens also need A1 unless an exception applies. The requirement is waived where the sponsor holds an EU Blue Card, a skilled worker permit under sections 18a or 18b, a researcher, highly qualified or ICT permit; where the spouse holds a university degree and is likely to integrate; and in hardship cases. The Goethe-Institut runs the exam in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Pune, and results take two to four weeks. Most applicants need two to four months of preparation.
How much does it cost?
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National visa fee | €75 (about INR 8,300) | Per person; €37.50 for children under 18; not refunded |
| A1 German examination | About INR 10,000 to 14,000 | Goethe-Institut Start Deutsch 1 or telc; preparatory courses extra |
| Marriage certificate apostille | Set by MEA and agencies | Through the Ministry of External Affairs; verification where the mission requires it |
| Residence permit after arrival | €100 | Issued for the sponsor's permit length, up to 3 years |
| VFS Global service fee | Set by VFS | Per application |
Vistolane charges the €75 fee at the official rupee rate and shows it on the Germany destination page; exam and legalisation fees are paid directly to the providers.
How is the sponsor tested?
A foreign sponsor must have adequate living space, about 12 square metres per person over the age of six, shown with the tenancy agreement and a landlord confirmation of the flat size and occupants, and a secure livelihood without public benefits, shown with the last three pay slips and the employment contract. A registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) confirms the address. Sponsors who are German citizens do not have to prove income or housing in the standard case. Where the sponsor holds a Blue Card or skilled worker permit, family applications linked to the principal's file are accepted at the same appointment at most missions, and dependants are prioritised at some.
How does the application run?
- Pass A1 German unless exempt: book Start Deutsch 1 at the Goethe-Institut or telc at a partner centre; results take two to four weeks.
- Legalise the marriage certificate: apostille through the Ministry of External Affairs, or document verification through the mission where required. Marriages registered less than a year before the application are checked more closely.
- Apply in the Consular Services Portal: choose "Family reunion, joining a spouse", answer the questionnaire, upload the documents and complete the pre-check, then book the VFS appointment.
- Appointment and foreigners' office approval: submit the originals, pay €75 and give biometrics. The mission sends the file to the foreigners' office in Germany, which may interview the sponsor and checks housing and income.
- Visa and arrival: the visa is issued for entry, usually valid six months to a year. Register the address within two weeks and apply for the residence permit; the spouse can start work immediately.
How long does it take from India?
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| A1 preparation and exam | 2 to 4 months |
| Marriage certificate apostille | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Portal pre-check to appointment | 1 to 4 weeks |
| Appointment to decision | 3 to 6 months; longer in Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt |
| Entry to residence permit | Within the visa validity |
Where the sponsor is a Blue Card or skilled worker holder, apply together or immediately after the principal's visa; the Germany work visa guide explains the principal's timeline.
After arrival
The spouse receives a residence permit tied to the sponsor's status with unrestricted access to the labour market and may attend the integration course (German to B1 plus an orientation module), which is compulsory where German is below A1 on arrival for spouses of foreign residents. After three years of marriage in Germany the spouse gains an independent right of residence. Settlement follows the sponsor's route: spouses of Germans can settle after three years with B1 German, and spouses of Blue Card holders when the principal settles. Citizenship needs five years' residence (three for spouses of Germans married for two years), B1 German and the naturalisation test; India does not permit dual citizenship, so Indian citizens surrender the Indian passport and apply for an OCI card.
Why are Germany spouse visas refused, and what fixes each reason?
German language not proven. No A1 certificate, an expired certificate, or an exemption claimed without evidence of the sponsor's permit type. Pass Start Deutsch 1 or submit the sponsor's Blue Card or skilled worker permit to claim the exemption.
Livelihood or housing not secured. The sponsor's income was below the standard for the household or the flat was too small. Submit the contract and pay slips showing secure income, and a tenancy for a flat that meets the local size rule.
Doubts about the marriage. Inconsistent interview answers, no shared history, or a marriage shortly before the application. Provide a chronological relationship file with photos, visits and communication, and prepare both spouses for separate interviews on the same facts.
Documents not legalised or verified. A marriage certificate without apostille, or a document the verification could not confirm. Apostille through the MEA, use only genuine civil documents and allow time for verification.
Foreigners' office refusal. The German office declined approval on local grounds or because the sponsor's permit does not allow reunion. Ask the sponsor to clarify with the office and, where the permit type is the issue, wait for a qualifying permit before reapplying.
How Vistolane handles it
Family routes on Vistolane go to a licence-checked immigration partner who prepares the Consular Services Portal file, checks the A1 or exemption evidence and the sponsor's documents, and tracks the foreigners' office approval; the €75 fee is shown at the official rate. Start with the free eligibility check or the Germany family reunion visa route page. Couples weighing other countries can compare the France spouse and family visa guide and the UK spouse visa guide.
