What Are the Documents for Germany Family Visit Visa? (2026)
Invitation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung), document list, and application requirements for the Germany family visit visa. Current information and process are here.
The basis of the Germany family visit visa application is the official invitation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) obtained from a person legally residing in Germany or a municipality-approved invitation letter; without this document, the application file cannot be completed. The document list varies depending on whether the applicant is an employee, employer, freelancer, student, or retiree, which personalizes the preparation process. As Marsel Visa, we provide support for document preparation and appointment tracking for individual applicants with our offices in Istanbul and Berlin.
Who Needs the Germany Family Visit Visa?
The Germany family visit visa is a category of Schengen visa for individuals who wish to visit a family member, relative, or friend legally residing in Germany for a short period. This visa is granted solely for the purpose of visiting; it does not grant the right to work or long-term residence. The applicant's ties (such as work, family, property) that demonstrate their intention to return to their home country after travel play an important role in the evaluation of the application.
What is the Germany Family Visit Visa Invitation Letter (Verpflichtungserklärung)?
The inviting person must obtain an approved declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from the relevant immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) or municipality in Germany. This document officially commits to covering the travel expenses of the invited person and is generally valid for 6 months; the duration specified on the back of the document (for example, 30, 90, or 180 days) must cover the planned travel dates of the applicant. A photocopy or email printout of the invitation is not considered valid; the original document must be obtained by mail.
All categories, including family visit visas, generally require a Germany visa as part of the process; you can check our pillar page for all steps of the appointment and application.
🇩🇪 Required Documents for Germany Family Visit Visa
In addition to general documents, different documents are required depending on the applicant's status:
- For all applicants: Passport, biometric photo, original invitation, travel health insurance with at least 30,000 Euro coverage, population registration sample, bank account statement
- For company employees: Employer letter, SGK service statement, last three months' salary slips
- For employers / company partners: Trade registry newspaper, tax plate, activity certificate, signature circular
- For self-employed individuals: Professional chamber registration document, current tax plate
- For students: Student certificate and sponsorship documents
- For retirees: Retirement certificate and salary account statement
- For unemployed / housewife applicants: First-degree close sponsorship letter and income documents of the sponsor
Fee and Processing Time
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Standard Schengen visa fee | 90 Euro |
| Maximum stay duration | 90 days within 180 days |
| Average processing time | 7-15 business days (may be extended during peak periods) |
| Recommended application time | At least 4 weeks before travel |
In addition to the visa fee, a service/coordinating fee determined by the application center must also be paid. Applications can be made up to 6 months before the travel date; it should be considered that processing times may be extended due to public holidays and seasonal peaks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a family visit visa application be made without an invitation? No. An official invitation or commitment letter from a person residing in Germany is a mandatory part of the family visit visa application and must be included in the file.
Who is the sponsor, when is it necessary? If the applicant is not working, is a student, or does not have a regular income, a sponsorship letter stating that a first-degree relative will cover the travel expenses and income documents of the sponsor must be submitted.
Can one work with a family visit visa? No. This visa is for visit purposes only; working or establishing a business in Germany is considered a visa violation and may negatively affect future applications.
When should the visa application be made? Applications can be made up to 6 months before the travel date; it is recommended to apply at least 4 weeks in advance considering that processing times may be extended due to public holidays.
Result
The most critical element in the application for a family visit visa to Germany is obtaining the official invitation from the inviting person in Germany correctly and in a timely manner, in addition to the complete preparation of documents suitable for the applicant's status. Germany visa appointment You can get support from our Marsel Visa team to prepare your documents correctly during the process and manage your application smoothly, you can reach us at +90 505 216 86 89 or via WhatsApp.
📞 +90 554 017 52 52
Professional Visa Consultancy.
Marsel Visa (Marsel Anonymous Company) is a private visa consultancy firm based in Istanbul that provides mediation and document preparation support in visa processes.
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