Apply for a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) for the foreign spouse of a foreign national

• Your spouse/civil partner holds a valid residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) under the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG) • Residence permits in this sense are: Niederlassungserlaubnis (settlement permit), Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt-EU (EU long-term residence permit), Aufenthaltserlaubnis (residence permit), Blaue Karte EU (EU Blue Card), ICT Card, or Mobile ICT Card. • Spousal reunification (Ehegattennachzug) is not possible if your spouse/civil partner holds a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) under one of the following legal bases: Section 25 (2) sentence 1, 2nd alternative (subsidiary protection), Section 25 (4), (4b) or (5), Section 25a (2), Section 25b (4), Section 104a (1) sentence 1, Section 104b, or Section 104c of the Residence Act (AufenthG). • Your current residence status entitles you to receive the residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) • You are already staying in federal territory with a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) or a permission to reside pending an asylum decision (Aufenthaltsgestattung). • Or, on account of your nationality, you are entitled to submit the application for the residence permit after visa-free entry. • Or you hold a Duldung (suspension of deportation) under Section 60a of the Residence Act (AufenthG) and were married within federal territory. • The marriage or same-sex civil partnership was legally validly concluded • Legal age Both spouses or civil partners must, as a rule, have reached the age of 18. • Generally required: You have basic knowledge of German Basic German language skills correspond to level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). • Generally required: Secured livelihood through your own income • Your livelihood and that of your close family members (spouse/civil partner and children) is secured. You must not receive, or be entitled to, benefits under Book Two or Book Twelve of the Social Code (Sozialgesetzbuch) from a Jobcenter or Sozialamt (social welfare office) — such as Bürgergeld (basic income support for jobseekers) or Sozialhilfe (social assistance). • Proof of income may be provided by either of the two spouses or civil partners. • Exceptions are possible, for example, if your spouse/civil partner holds a residence permit granted on humanitarian grounds. • Adequate health insurance www.berlin.de/einwanderung/_assets/merkblatt_zur_krankenvers You are covered by health insurance in Germany, either through statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) or comparable private health insurance. Foreign health insurance is generally not sufficient. For more information, please read the information sheet (Merkblatt). • Generally required: Adequate housing space • You have adequate housing space for yourself and the family members living with you in the same household. • Exceptions are possible if your spouse/civil partner holds a residence permit for employment purposes or on humanitarian grounds. • No grounds for expulsion (Ausweisungsinteresse) • Even fines or ongoing investigation proceedings can prevent the issuance of the residence permit. • You pose no threat to the free democratic basic order or to the security of the Federal Republic of Germany. • In pursuit of political or religious goals, you are not involved in acts of violence, do not publicly call for the use of violence, and do not threaten it either. • Main residence in Berlin together with the spouse/civil partner A secondary residence in Berlin is not sufficient. • Current email address The Landesamt für Einwanderung (State Office for Immigration) will contact you using your current email address. Please check your spam folder regularly as well. • For online applications: Consent to the electronic payment procedure The following payment methods are available to you: • Credit card (Visa, Mastercard) • PayPal

• Application for a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) for family reasons • only possible online • You will receive a PDF document confirming your application. This certifies that your current residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) remains valid within the federal territory beyond its previous expiry date. This does not apply if you hold a Schengen visa (C visa) for a short-term stay, or if your current residence permit had already expired on the day you submitted the application. • Please be sure to save this document and, if possible, also print it out. • If the application is submitted by an authorized representative: power of attorney stating the subject matter of the proceedings • If you already hold a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) or another German residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) for the federal territory: a copy of your residence permit • Copies of your passport (in color) • Copies of the following pages of your passport are required: • always: the data pages (with your photo and personal details) • if you have entered the country and are applying for a residence permit for the first time, additionally: the entry stamp as well as the visa for entry or the residence permit of another EU member state in your passport (if available) • Copy of the passport, substitute passport, or travel document of your spouse/registered life partner • Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate For a foreign-language document, please submit a certified translation. Depending on your country of origin, you may also need an apostille or legalization for the certificate. • Proof of basic German language skills The following types of proof are accepted, among others: • a language certificate with an overall result of A1 under the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), or an equivalent or higher-level language diploma, • German test for immigrants (Deutschtest für Zuwanderer) • final test of an integration course (Abschlusstest Integrationskurs) • If you or your spouse/registered life partner are employed: proof of means of subsistence • employment contract, • proof of net salary for the last 6 months (payslips, bank statements), • current certificate from the employer (no older than 14 days) • If you or your spouse/registered life partner are self-employed or work as a freelancer: proof of means of subsistence • most recent tax assessment notice (Steuerbescheid), • completed "Prüfungsbericht" (audit report) form together with the documents named in it (the audit report must be completed by a tax advisor, auditor, or authorized tax agent), • certificate in tax matters (Bescheinigung in Steuersachen) from the Finanzamt (tax office) (see the "Further information" section), and • For self-employed persons: an extract from the commercial register (Handelsregisterauszug) or trade registration (Gewerbeanmeldung) (if no entry in the commercial register is required) • For freelancers: registration as a freelancer with the Finanzamt (tax office) and professional chamber membership (if required) • If you are not employed: proof of means of subsistence For example: • assessment notice for unemployment benefit I (Arbeitslosengeld I) • pension notice (Rentenbescheid or Pensionsbescheid) • proof of assets • notice of receipt of Bürgergeld (citizen's allowance), social assistance (Sozialhilfe), or benefits under the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz (Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act) • receipt of BAföG (federal student financial aid) or vocational training assistance (Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe) • proof of other benefits Depending on your personal situation, you must upload further evidence in the online application, for example: parental allowance (Elterngeld), child benefit (Kindergeld), housing benefit (Wohngeld), additional child allowance (Kinderzuschlag), orphan's pension (Waisenrente or Waisenpension), start-up allowance (Einstiegsgeld), proof of maintenance payments • Proof of the size and cost of your housing The living space, as well as the monthly rent or the housing costs of your own property (house or apartment), must be proven as follows. For a rented apartment: • rental agreement (without house rules or other attachments) • proof of current monthly costs (Warmmiete, i.e. rent including utilities), for example bank statements For your own property: • extract from the land register (Grundbuchauszug), Section Three • cost of the monthly service charge (Hausgeld) • any monthly loan costs for the property, if applicable • For both spouses/registered life partners: proof of health insurance in Germany • for statutory health insurance: electronic health card (copy of front and back) or a current confirmation from the health insurance provider • for private health insurance: certificate from the insurer stating the scope and cost of the insurance under Section 257 (2a) of the German Social Code Book V (SGB V). Please inform your insurer that you need the certificate for a residence permit for family reunification.

• Audit report form (Prüfungsbericht) for self-employed and freelancers www.berlin.de/formularverzeichnis/?formular=/labo/zuwanderun

• 56,00 euros: for the first-time issuance of the residence permit as a sticker • 49,00 euros: for the extension of the residence permit as a sticker • 100,00 euros: for the first-time issuance of the residence permit as an electronic residence permit • 93,00 euros for the extension of the residence permit as an electronic residence permit • 27,60 euros: for Turkish citizens up to the completed age of 24 for the first issuance / for the extension • 46,00 euros: for Turkish citizens from the completed age of 24 for the first issuance / for the extension • No fees: foreign nationals who cannot cover their living expenses without benefits under SGB II or XII or the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz are exempt from the fees. A current notice from the Jobcenter or Sozialamt must be presented as proof. • 6,00 euros additional: for creating a digital passport photo at the self-service terminal on site

• Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 30 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__30.html

After the appointment, it takes at least 4 weeks until the residence permit is issued as an electronic residence permit and can be collected.

• Permanent settlement permit - general (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/121864/en/ • Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (GER) www.europaeischer-referenzrahmen.de/ • Certification of tax-related matters (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324713/en/