If you are married or will get married to a German citizen, or if you are a parent of a minor German child and wish to seek permanent residency in Germany (or staying in Germany longer than 3 months), it is required to obtain a residence permit in the form of a visa. A visa in order to live in Germany is a national visa and does also entitle you to enter the other Schengen countries for the duration for up to 90 days.

After submitting your visa application, your visa file might be forwarded to the competent German authorities. Therefore, it can take several weeks up to months to process your national visa applications. After the application has been approved, the German Embassy will issue a national visa with the duration for up to one year. A final residence permit will be granted in Germany by the Immigration Office if you intend to stay in Germany permanently.

Exception: If you hold a Stamp4EUFam card from the Irish authorities, you will not require a visa if you travel with your German spouse or child to Germany and you can apply for a residence permit on the basis family reunion directly at the Foreigners Authority. We would recommend to get in touch with the Foreigners Authority beforehand.

German language skills

In order to facilitate integration, applicants must prove basic German skills when applying for a visa. This means that the applicant has the ability to communicate in German on at least a basic level, e.g. holds a certificate of successful completion of a German language course level A1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Certificates issued by an institution which performs testing in accordance with the standards of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) are accepted.

The information leaflet provided by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees gives more detailed information on the topic of basic knowledge of the German language and all exemptions to this requirement.

Please prepare your application with all of the following documents in the given order.

Please bring your original certificates with you to the appointment. Please DO NOT staple any documents.

Incomplete documentation may result in the rejection of your application.

• VIDEX application form fully completed including declaration Section 54 (2) 8, duly signed
• Valid passport (issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 6 months after arriving in Germany with at least two empty pages) + copy
• Irish residence permit + copy
• 1 Passport size picture, not older than six months with a bright background and frontal view of the face (please do not attach the picture to the application form) Digitally-altered passport pictures will not be accepted
• Original marriage certificate, when applying for a spouse reunion visa + copy OR Original birth certificate long form of your German child + copy OR Registration of marriage appointment in Germany + copy
• If applicable: Proof of German language skills, at least level A1 + copy
• Proof of housing in Germany with full address (e.g. rental contract, hotel reservation) OR invitation letter in case of private accommodation with name, full address and their passport copy
• Self-addressed envelope (An Post only), 9,50,- Euros stamp or Envelope and stamps can be purchased for 12 Euros at the Embassy (contactless payment options are not available)
• Visa fee: Free of charge
• After approval: Health insurance covering you for the duration of your visa

Please note that the German Embassy Dublin reserves the right to ask for additional documents at any time during processing. Submission of the above-mentioned documents does not guarantee that a visa is granted.