Germany Family Reunification Visa from Türkiye — Evidence Guide
For Turkish applicants applying to Germany. Official source: German Missions in Türkiye (Embassy Ankara, Consulate-General Istanbul/Izmir).
Applicable visa categories
- Spouse Reunification (Ehegattennachzug) — varies by case; depends on appointment and A1 certificate
- Family Reunification (Familiennachzug) — varies by case
What is different for Turkish applicants
- Spouse reunification to Germany generally requires the applicant to demonstrate basic German at A1 level (Goethe-Zertifikat A1 or equivalent) before the visa is granted, with limited exemptions.
- Türkiye is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so Turkish civil documents are apostilled by the provincial Valilik (governor’s office) rather than legalized.
- All Turkish civil documents are issued in Turkish and require certified translation by a sworn translator (yeminli tercüman) for the German mission.
Document authentication (Türkiye)
Türkiye has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 1985. Civil-status documents are apostilled by the governor's office (Valilik) of the issuing province, or by district administrators (Kaymakamlık) for documents originating outside the provincial capital.
Issuing authority: Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Consular Services (MFA Türkiye).
Civil documents commonly required
- Tam tekmil nüfus kayıt örneği (full civil-registry extract) issued by the Population and Citizenship Affairs Directorate
- Evlenme kayıt örneği (marriage registry extract)
- TC kimlik kartı (national ID card) or e-Devlet civil-status document
- Adli sicil kaydı (criminal-records clearance) from the Ministry of Justice
Common refusal grounds at German Missions in Türkiye (Embassy Ankara, Consulate-General Istanbul/Izmir)
- Missing or insufficient A1 German language certificate for the joining spouse.
- Doubts about the genuineness of the marriage (Scheinehe / sham-marriage concerns), triggering additional interviews and evidence requests.
- Sponsor in Germany not meeting secure-livelihood / adequate-housing requirements.
- Documents submitted without apostille or without certified sworn translation.
What officers scrutinize on this corridor
- Communication records (WhatsApp, video calls) demonstrating an ongoing relationship before and after the marriage.
- Evidence of in-person visits: passport stamps, flight bookings, photos together over time.
- Apostilled and sworn-translated marriage certificate (Evlenme kayıt örneği) and civil-registry extract (nüfus kayıt örneği).
- Proof of the sponsor’s livelihood and housing in Germany.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to prove German language skills for spouse reunification?
In most cases the joining spouse must demonstrate basic German at A1 level (for example, a Goethe-Zertifikat A1) when applying for a spouse-reunification visa to Germany. There are limited exemptions (for instance, certain nationalities, recognizable inability, or clearly low integration need), so check the current rules with the German mission.
How are Turkish documents authenticated for the German visa?
Türkiye is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so Turkish civil documents are apostilled by the provincial governor’s office (Valilik). The apostilled document then needs a certified translation into German by a sworn translator (yeminli tercüman).
Can chat history help with a German family-reunification application?
Yes. A formatted chronological record of communication helps rebut sham-marriage concerns by demonstrating a continuous, genuine relationship. It supplements the core documentary evidence (marriage certificate, A1 certificate, sponsor livelihood) rather than replacing it.
Official sources
PartnerProof converts WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and iMessage exports into BAMF-formatted PDF evidence packets for Germany visa applications. Try it free →