German Family Reunion Visa Application in Singapore
My experience with a German family reunion visa application in Singapore, including documents, appointment booking, processing time, visa validity and practical tips.
MY EXPERIENCEMOVING TO GERMANY
National Visa / Family Reunion Visa
I had previously applied for a German national visa in 2020 for a 7-month stay. That application took around 7 weeks. This time, my visa was ready after only 2 weeks but I collected it after 3 weeks due to appointment availability.
Processing time in my case: 2 weeks
Visa validity in my case: 6 months
The German Embassy generally states:
1. Processing time: Family reunion visa applications usually take 6–8 weeks once complete documents have been submitted, although it can sometimes take longer. The actual timing can also depend on the Ausländerbehörde (ABH) handling the application in Germany. Mine was exceptionally fast, so I would not consider this the standard timeline.
2. Visa validity: National visas are generally issued with a maximum validity of 90 days, although the actual validity can differ depending on the individual case and the competent Ausländerbehörde.
Applying Through My German Child vs. Spouse
As I have a minor German child, I applied for family reunification as the parent of a minor German citizen, rather than through my German spouse. For me, this route had two important advantages because I did not have to provide:
1. German A1 language certification*
2. Proof that our livelihood was financially secured**
*I had never applied for family reunification through my spouse previously (sometimes referred to informally as a “marriage visa”), as we continued living in Singapore after getting married. I did have a national visa in 2020 for an extended family visit, but it was a different type of visa and I did not need to take the A1 exam.
**The legal basis for this is §28(1) no. 3 AufenthG. For a parent joining a minor German child to exercise parental care, the normal secured-livelihood requirement is expressly waived. This can also be helpful if you are hoping to enter Germany’s statutory (public) health insurance system, the Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV), rather than private health insurance. I’ll write a separate article about this once I’ve moved to Germany and completed the health insurance enrolment myself.
Documents I Submitted
- Completed visa application form
Original + 1 copy:
- Passport
- Proof of legal residence in Singapore (e.g. NRIC, EP, DP, Student Pass, etc.)
- Recent passport photograph (not older than 3 months) according to biometric specifications
- Health insurance (incoming/expat insurance) valid for at least for the first 3 months of the stay
- Invitation letter (was written by my husband but we were asked to provide an additional supporting document from my in-laws as stated below)
- Certificate of marriage
- Passport copy of spouse
- Certificate of registration (“Meldebescheinigung”) OR employment contract, of spouse in Germany
- Evidence of the basic command of German A1
- Curriculum vitae and degree certificate
Supporting documents specific to my case:
- children's birth certificates
- letter from my in-laws stating that we could live in their home
The standard national visa fee is the SGD equivalent of €75. I was not charged a visa fee for my application as the parent of a German citizen.
Completing the Application
I completed the visa application online. I was able to save my progress by downloading the application as a JSON file and re-uploading it later to continue where I had left off.
Once everything was ready, I booked an appointment online to submit the application at the Embassy.
German Embassy Singapore
Singapore Land Tower
50 Raffles Place
#28-00
I had to show my appointment email when I arrived at Singapore Land Tower. I then received a QR code by SMS and email to access the lift lobby. At the Embassy, there was a quick security check and I stored my digital devices in one of the lockers provided.
Visa Approval
Once the relevant Ausländerbehörde had approved my application, the Embassy contacted me by email and asked for my preferred start date for the visa.
My visa was issued for six months. I therefore need to apply for my Aufenthaltstitel with the relevant Ausländerbehörde in Germany before the visa expires. Once my visa had been printed, I received an email asking me to book an appointment for collection. Collection appointments were available in 5-minute slots in the morning between 8:30 and 9:00.
A tip I received from the Embassy:
My travel date was not completely fixed when I applied. The officer handling my application advised me that I could choose a later start date for the national visa, which would also give me a later expiry date. This can be useful because appointments with the Ausländerbehörde can take time, particularly in larger cities.
I was also advised that, as a Malaysian passport holder*, I could still enter Germany before the national visa start date under my normal visa-free Schengen allowance, provided I still had sufficient visa-free days available.
*Malaysian passport holders can generally visit the Schengen Area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
This was the advice given to me by the Embassy officer handling my application. Immigration rules and individual circumstances can differ, so I would recommend confirming this with your officer at the time of application before making travel arrangements.
Official information
This was my experience applying for a family reunion visa in Singapore, and your process may differ depending on your circumstances and the Ausländerbehörde handling your application in Germany.
For the latest requirements, document checklist and application information, refer directly to the German Embassy Singapore’s official page on family reunion visas.
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