Bringing your family to Germany while you study

Can your husband or wife join you?

The Federal Foreign Office says a student's family is usually only considered when three things are true. You hold a German residence permit, you were already married when that permit was granted, and your stay in Germany is expected to last more than one year.

Both of you must also be at least 18. If you married after your permit was issued, the Residence Act (section 30) lets the authorities make an exception. That is at their discretion, so do not build your plans around it.

Your spouse needs basic German (A1)

By law, a joining spouse must be able to communicate in simple German. Spouses of EU Blue Card holders, researchers and some other skilled workers are exempt, but spouses of students are not. So your husband or wife will normally need an A1 certificate before the visa.

The German Missions in Pakistan accept certificates that meet ALTE standards, currently from the Goethe-Institut, ÖSD, telc or TestDaF. The certificate must be no older than one year on the day of the visa application, so time the exam with care.

Money, health insurance and a home

The Federal Foreign Office says you must be able to support yourself and your family without public funds. Under the Residence Act, that includes adequate health insurance cover.

For 2026, the amount that counts as enough for a student on their own is €992 a month (€11,904 a year in a blocked account). The figure is reset every year and covers you alone. None of the official pages we checked gives a fixed figure for a family, so ask the German mission what it expects.

You also need enough living space. Families of skilled workers are excused from this rule, and students are not. The law asks for no more space than publicly funded social housing would offer, the home must meet German rules on condition and occupancy, and children under two are not counted.

One piece of good news: BAMF says a spouse who joins through family reunification is allowed to work in Germany.

Bringing your children

As a rule, unmarried children under 18 can join their parents. Under section 32 of the Residence Act, both parents, or the parent with sole custody, need a German residence permit, so children usually come with your spouse. BAMF says children under 16 do not have to meet any further conditions, though the housing and money rules still apply.

For children aged 16 or 17, the German Missions in Pakistan ask for a C1 German certificate, unless the child moves at the same time as both parents or the parent with sole custody. BAMF says that usually means within six months of the parents. In Pakistan, only the Goethe-Institut can issue a valid C1 certificate.

Applying from Pakistan

Since 15 January 2026, the Embassy in Islamabad accepts family reunion visa applications only through the Consular Services Portal (digital.diplo.de). Pakistani residents of Sindh and Balochistan register with the Consulate General in Karachi instead.

In Islamabad, the Embassy first reviews the uploaded documents. If all is in order, your family gets a link to book an appointment to show the originals, pay the fee and give biometrics.

The missions' checklist also asks for papers from you. Each applicant needs their own set, with copies of every original, including:

• a Videx application form for each person
• biometric photos of each applicant and of you, no older than three months
• your Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate), no older than six months, and a copy of your residence permit
• copies of their passports, old and new, their CNIC, and your passports
• original NADRA computerised birth certificates for the applicants and for you
• the original Nikah Nama in Urdu with an English translation, and the original NADRA marriage registration certificate
• travel insurance valid for one year from the date of application
• the A1 certificate, or C1 for a child aged 16 or 17
• extra proof of your relationship, such as wedding photos, dated chat or call history and remittance records

What it costs

The German Missions in Pakistan list a visa fee of €75 for each adult and €37.50 for each child aged 0 to 17, paid in Pakistani rupees. After an application is submitted, the mission may also ask for 79,000 PKR to verify documents (75,000 PKR for applications made before 1 September 2026).

A word on agents

The German Missions in Pakistan warn that agents and consultants can never get you an appointment, an earlier appointment or better chances, because success depends only on the documents you submit. The missions may cancel any appointment booked through an agent or consultant without warning.