Parent of a Minor German Citizen

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Explore pathways in Germany Read the five questions ↓

Which family relationships qualify?

A foreign parent of a minor, unmarried German national qualifies to exercise custody; a parent without custody may be granted a permit if the family community is already lived in Germany.

See recorded sources

https://www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Familie/NachzugZuDeutschen/nachzug-zu-deutschen-node.html
As a foreign parent of a minor, unmarried German national, you may come to Germany if you have the right of custody of the child and would like to exercise this right.
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/BJNR195010004.html
Sie kann abweichend von § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 dem nicht personensorgeberechtigten Elternteil eines minderjährigen ledigen Deutschen erteilt werden, wenn die familiäre Gemeinschaft schon im Bundesgebiet gelebt wird.

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

The German child must have his or her habitual (main) residence in Germany, and the parent must intend to live with the child as a family unit.

See recorded sources

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/BJNR195010004.html
3. Elternteil eines minderjährigen ledigen Deutschen zur Ausübung der Personensorge zu erteilen, wenn der Deutsche seinen gewöhnlichen Aufenthalt im Bundesgebiet hat.
https://www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Familie/NachzugZuDeutschen/nachzug-zu-deutschen-node.html
The key condition is that the German must have his or her main place of residence in Germany and the foreigners must intend to live with the German national as a family unit.

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

The official sources state that family reunification is refused where it is established that the family relationship was created solely to enable entry and residence in Germany; they do not list the documents used to prove the relationship.

See recorded sources

Limits of the record

Captured sources do not list the documents (e.g. birth certificates, custody papers) required to prove the relationship.
Custody is a condition (see R1) but the evidence needed is not stated.

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/BJNR195010004.html
Ein Familiennachzug wird nicht zugelassen, wenn 1. feststeht, dass die Ehe oder das Verwandtschaftsverhältnis ausschließlich zu dem Zweck geschlossen oder begründet wurde, dem Nachziehenden die Einreise in das und den Aufenthalt im Bundesgebiet zu ermöglichen

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

For a parent exercising custody of a minor German, the residence permit must be granted without the secured-livelihood requirement.

See recorded sources

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/BJNR195010004.html
Sie ist abweichend von § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 in den Fällen des Satzes 1 Nr. 2 und 3 zu erteilen.
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/BJNR195010004.html
der Lebensunterhalt gesichert ist,

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

The parent may work. A settlement permit is as a rule granted after three years with a residence permit if the family community continues in Germany, there is no expulsion interest and the person has sufficient German; otherwise the permit is extended while the family community continues. After the child reaches majority the permit must still be extended while the child lives with the parent and is in education leading to a recognised school, vocational or university qualification.

See recorded sources

https://www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Familie/NachzugZuDeutschen/nachzug-zu-deutschen-node.html
Family members coming to Germany for the purpose of family reunification are allowed to work in Germany.
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/BJNR195010004.html
Dem Ausländer ist in der Regel eine Niederlassungserlaubnis zu erteilen, wenn er drei Jahre im Besitz einer Aufenthaltserlaubnis ist, die familiäre Lebensgemeinschaft mit dem Deutschen im Bundesgebiet fortbesteht, kein Ausweisungsinteresse besteht und er über ausreichende Kenntnisse der deutschen Sprache verfügt.
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/BJNR195010004.html
Im Übrigen wird die Aufenthaltserlaubnis verlängert, solange die familiäre Lebensgemeinschaft fortbesteht.
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/BJNR195010004.html
Die einem Elternteil eines minderjährigen ledigen Deutschen zur Ausübung der Personensorge erteilte Aufenthaltserlaubnis ist auch nach Eintritt der Volljährigkeit des Kindes zu verlängern, solange das Kind mit ihm in familiärer Lebensgemeinschaft lebt und das Kind sich in einer Ausbildung befindet, die zu einem anerkannten schulischen oder beruflichen Bildungsabschluss oder Hochschulabschluss führt.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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Parent of a Minor German Citizen

Which family relationships qualify?

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

Your story.Your next step.

Your story.
Your next step.