Master prompt
Spouse joining Skilled Worker (Fachkraft) — A1 German + drafting
Spouse reunification to a §18a/§18b Fachkraft (skilled worker) holder. A1 German typically required; no waiver privilege like Blue Card.
GermanyFamiliennachzugFachkraft§18a§18b§30 AufenthGA1 German
Skilled workers under §18a (vocational training — Berufsausbildung) and §18b (academic qualification — Hochschulabschluss) AufenthG do NOT benefit from the §30(1) Sentence 3 No. 5 A1 waiver. Their spouses must typically demonstrate A1 German before visa issuance.
Exception: §30(1) Sentence 3 No. 6 waives A1 if the marriage existed BEFORE the sponsor moved to Germany under §18a/§18b. This is the narrow but valuable carve-out.
Draft a §30 AufenthG strategy for [SPOUSE_NAME] joining [SPONSOR_NAME] holding [SPONSOR_PERMIT].
§1 — A1 GERMAN ANALYSIS (150-180 words)
The legal default: [SPOUSE_NAME] must present A1 German (Goethe-Institut / telc / ÖSD) at visa application.
§30(1) Sentence 3 No. 6 waiver test — A1 NOT required if:
• Marriage existed before [SPONSOR_NAME] moved to Germany under §18a/§18b, AND
• [SPONSOR_NAME]'s residence permit was issued for §18a/§18b at the time of the marriage (or after relocation)
For [SPONSOR_NAME] holding [SPONSOR_PERMIT] and marriage on [MARRIAGE_DATE]:
• Compare marriage date vs sponsor's date of arrival in Germany
• Compare marriage date vs sponsor's first issuance of [SPONSOR_PERMIT]
• If marriage PRE-DATES the sponsor's German relocation → A1 waiver under No. 6 likely applies
• If marriage POST-DATES the sponsor's German relocation → A1 required (default)
Other waivers may apply:
• §30(1) Sentence 3 No. 2: Physical/mental illness preventing A1 acquisition (medical evidence required)
• §30(1) Sentence 3 No. 3: Recognisable that minimal integration effort suffices (rare)
For [A1_STATUS]: align preparation timing with visa filing.
§2 — LEBENSUNTERHALT (MEANS OF SUBSISTENCE) (180-220 words)
§2 Abs. 3 AufenthG: Lebensunterhalt must be secured without recourse to public funds (other than child benefit / parental allowance).
For Fachkraft spouses (no privileged Blue Card threshold), the Ausländerbehörde checks:
(a) Sponsor's net salary covers:
- Sozialhilfe-Bedarfssatz for a couple (~€1,000-1,200/month combined — verify current)
- Plus rent + utilities (Warmmiete)
- Plus health insurance contribution
(b) Available housing meets minimum standard (typically 12 sqm/adult + 10 sqm/child under 6)
For [HOUSING_SQM] sqm and 2 adults: confirm ≥24 sqm
(c) Health insurance coverage for [SPOUSE_NAME]
- Family coverage under sponsor's gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV) generally free
- Private (PKV) requires separate spouse policy
For [SPONSOR_NAME] with [SPONSOR_SALARY]/month gross:
Net salary calculation (approximate; varies by Steuerklasse + bundesland):
Gross €4,000 → ~€2,500-2,700 net
Gross €5,000 → ~€3,100-3,300 net
Gross €6,000 → ~€3,700-3,900 net
Subtract: rent (typically €800-1,500 outside Munich/Frankfurt), insurance contribution
Remaining: must exceed Bedarfssatz for couple
If shortfall: consider Verpflichtungserklärung from third party (rare for spouse reunification but possible).
§3 — VISA APPLICATION PACKAGE (200-250 words)
Submit to German Embassy / Consulate (Visa category D, family reunification):
Forms + identity:
□ National visa application form
□ Two biometric photos
□ Passport (12+ months validity remaining)
Relationship documents:
□ Marriage certificate from [MARRIAGE_PLACE] — apostilled + sworn German translation
□ Birth certificates (both spouses) — apostilled + translated
□ A1 German certificate (if not exempt under §30(1) No. 6)
Sponsor documents:
□ Sponsor's passport + Aufenthaltstitel ([SPONSOR_PERMIT])
□ Sponsor's Meldebescheinigung
□ Mietvertrag + Wohnungsgeberbestätigung
□ Employment contract + last 3 Lohnabrechnungen
□ Bank statements (last 3 months)
□ Krankenversicherungsnachweis (health insurance confirming spouse coverage)
Relationship genuineness:
□ Wedding photos with date metadata
□ Communication history (WhatsApp, email)
□ Joint travel evidence
□ Family photographs (engagement, wedding, family events)
□ Joint financial documents if available
Visa fee: €75
§4 — POST-ARRIVAL STEPS (120-150 words)
Within 14 days of arrival:
□ Anmeldung at Bürgeramt
□ Open German bank account (Girokonto)
□ GKV health insurance enrollment (if not yet)
Within 90 days (before visa expires):
□ Apply for Aufenthaltserlaubnis at Ausländerbehörde
□ Submit: passport, marriage certificate (German-translated), sponsor's permit, biometric photos, insurance, Meldebescheinigung
□ Card validity: typically 1-3 years (renewable)
□ Card fee: ~€50-100
Work authorisation:
Spouses of §18a/§18b skilled workers receive UNRESTRICTED work authorisation per §27(5) AufenthG once residence permit issued. Same employer freedom as sponsor.
Integration course (Integrationskurs):
• Mandatory if A2 German not yet achieved (§44a AufenthG)
• 600 hours + 100 hours Orientierungskurs
• Subsidised by BAMF; cost €1.95/hour or free for low-income
• Completion: B1 German + Leben in Deutschland test (qualifies for Niederlassungserlaubnis later)
§5 — TIMELINE (60-80 words)
• Visa application: 8-12 weeks at most consulates (Mumbai/Delhi/Bangalore commonly 10-14 weeks)
• Residence permit post-arrival: 4-8 weeks
• Total: 3-6 months from filing
— DRAFT only. Rechtsanwalt (German lawyer) review required before submission. Verify the §30(1) Sentence 3 No. 6 waiver against sponsor's arrival timeline. Apostille rules vary for Indian states — Maharashtra and Punjab have different SDM legalisation procedures. Confirm current Lebensunterhalt thresholds against §28 SGB XII Regelsatz tables.Unlock the vault to see the full prompt