01Which family relationships qualify?
The foreign spouse or registered partner of a German national.
See recorded sources
Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?
A German national whose habitual residence is in Germany; the couple must intend to live together as a family unit.
See recorded sources
What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?
Reunification is refused for marriages concluded solely to obtain residence or where a forced marriage is indicated; the § 30 rule that both spouses must be at least 18 applies to spouses of Germans. The official source does not list the documents required to prove the relationship.
See recorded sources
Limits of the record- The captured sources give legal limits on the relationship (sham/forced marriage, minimum age) but not the documents required to prove it.
What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?
For spouses of Germans the permit should as a rule be granted without the secure-livelihood requirement. The official source does not state housing or health insurance requirements.
See recorded sources
Limits of the record- Housing and health-insurance rules are not stated in the captured sources.
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?
Basic German is generally required (with exemptions); family members may work; the first permit is issued for at least one year; after three years a settlement permit is possible while the family unit continues; the independent-residence rules for spouses (§ 31) apply with the German's habitual residence in place of a residence title. The official source does not describe the visa application steps.
See recorded sources
Limits of the record- Visa application steps are not described in the captured sources.
These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.
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