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Complete, verified list of documents required for Sudan citizens applying for a German Family Reunification visa. Includes authentication method, cost estimates, and processing times — based on official German embassy data.
Préfecture in your city of residence
Local photographer — request 35×45mm biometric format
Civil registry office at your place of birth
Tribunal de 1ère Instance OR online: service-public.ma
Download from the German mission's site (rk.diplo.de) or your visa centre
The official German visa centre for your country (VFS Global, TLScontact, or the embassy/consulate)
Paid at your visa appointment
Your sponsor in Germany (spouse/parent)
Your sponsor's employer / tax office in Germany
Sponsor's landlord or property documents
Adjust your education level, family situation and other options for an exact list.
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Family reunification to Germany — bringing a spouse, minor children, or dependent parents to join a German resident — is regulated by §§27–36 of the AufenthG. Citizens of Sudan applying to join a family member in Germany must obtain a national D-visa before arriving. The most common case is spousal reunion (Ehegattennachzug), which gives the spouse the right to work in Germany immediately upon arrival.
The most distinctive requirement for spouses applying from Sudan is the German A1 language certificate. Before a spousal reunion visa is issued, the applicant must demonstrate basic German-language proficiency at CEFR level A1 (Goethe-Zertifikat A1, telc Deutsch A1 or ÖSD Zertifikat A1). Exceptions exist if the sponsor holds a German Hochschulabschluss or has C1-level German, if the applicant is over 67, or if there is a proven hardship case. Document authentication from Sudan uses Legalization and costs €30–100 per document, adding 28–70 days.
The sponsor (the person already in Germany) plays a central role: they must prove that their income is sufficient to support the reunited family without recourse to public funds. The required income threshold varies by Bundesland and household size but typically equals the Grundsicherung minimum plus 20%. The sponsor must also prove adequate housing — a minimum of 12 m² of living space per additional person is the benchmark used by most Ausländerbehörden. These documents (income proof, housing confirmation) must be sent to you in Sudan before your visa appointment.
From Sudan, the full process — gathering documents, authentication (Legalization), A1 certificate, and the visa appointment — takes 6–18 weeks. The national D-visa fee is €75. Once in Germany, the sponsored family member must register at the local Einwohnermeldeamt within two weeks and apply for a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) at the Ausländerbehörde. Spouses have the right to take up any employment immediately; children of school age are integrated into the public school system without additional permit requirements.
A family reunification visa from Sudan requires 10 documents across two sides: your documents (passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, police clearance, German A1 certificate if joining a spouse, plus authenticated translations), and your sponsor's documents from Germany (copy of their Aufenthaltstitel, last 3 salary slips, tax assessment, and housing confirmation showing ≥12 m² per additional person).
Yes, for spousal reunification (Ehegattennachzug) from Sudan, you must present a German A1 language certificate (Goethe-Zertifikat A1, telc Deutsch A1 or ÖSD Zertifikat A1) at your visa appointment. Exceptions: your sponsor holds a German Hochschulabschluss or has documented C1+ German, you are over 67, you have a recognised disability that prevents language learning, or a compelling hardship case exists. Children under 16 joining parents are exempt.
The full process — document collection, authentication (Legalization: 28–70 days), A1 certificate exam, and visa appointment — takes 6–18 weeks from Sudan. The German mission is required to decide on a complete application within 3 months. Incomplete files are returned without a decision, restarting the clock.
The sponsor must earn enough to support the family without public assistance. The threshold varies by Bundesland and family size: roughly €1,600–2,200 net per month for a couple, plus €300–400 per additional child. The sponsor submits the last 3 salary slips and a tax assessment (Steuerbescheid) to the German mission on your behalf. Self-employed sponsors can use profit-and-loss statements.
Yes. A spouse joining a German resident or EU/EEA national receives an Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit) that includes full, unrestricted work authorisation — no employer sponsorship needed. They may take up any employed or self-employed work immediately upon receiving their permit. Children of school age are automatically integrated into the public school system.
Documents from Sudan must be authenticated via Legalization for German visa purposes. Despite being a Hague Convention member, Germany has formally objected to Sudan's accession. Full consular legalization via the German embassy or a chain of national authorities is therefore required — not an apostille. Authentication costs €30–100 per document and takes 28–70 days. Every authenticated document must also be accompanied by a sworn German translation (€20–60 per page). Start the authentication process as early as possible — it is the step most applicants underestimate.