From Auswärtiges Amt
“The visa decision is made by the German consular post in Vietnam. Family-reunification visas typically require the consent of the foreigners-authority responsible for your future place of residence. Incomplete documents or improperly legalised documents can prolong processing or lead to a refusal. False or incomplete information can constitute grounds for expulsion.”
What you need
- Different legalised documents are required depending on your family relationship. Spouses or registered partners: the legalised marriage certificate or registered-partnership certificate; in case of a previous marriage, additionally the legalised divorce decree. Children: the legalised birth certificate. Minor children travelling with only one parent additionally need custody-proof documents — a legalised death/disappearance/custody decision in the sole-custody case, or a notarised consent declaration from the other custodial parent in the joint-custody case. A passport and entry medical insurance are also required.
Checklist
8 01
Application and identity
- Application form for national visas, completely filled out and signed by the applicant (online application form via VIDEX) *
- Two recent biometric passport photos (45 mm x 35 mm) (photo specifications template). Please glue only one photo onto the application form and bring the second loose *
- Valid passport (or a recognised substitute travel document) *
02
Proof of family relationship
a) Spouses or registered partners
- Legalised documents proving the family relationship (see notes on legalisation of Vietnamese documents) — marriage certificate or registered-partnership certificate. In case of a previous marriage, additionally a legalised divorce decree
b) Children
- Legalised documents proving the family relationship — birth certificate
03
Additional documents for minor children travelling with only one parent
a) Sole custody
- Sole custody: as proof, the legalised death certificate, legalised declaration of disappearance of the other parent, or a legalised court custody order must be submitted (see notes on legalisation of Vietnamese documents). Exception: for children born out of wedlock whose birth certificate does not list a father, no further proof of the mother's sole-custody rights is required
b) Joint custody
- Joint custody: where the parents live separately and the child is moving to only one parent, the other custodial parent must declare consent. The consent declaration must be submitted with a notarised signature. Notarisation is possible: in Vietnam at the German consular posts (more information on notarisation: copy- and signature-notarisations — Auswärtiges Amt diplo.de); in Germany at a German authority, a notary, or the Vietnamese embassy in Berlin; in another country at the relevant German consular post on the ground. Signature notarisations from Vietnamese diplomatic missions outside Germany are not recognised. Please use the template
04
Medical insurance
- Proof of adequate medical insurance for entry, valid from your intended entry date and for at least three months *
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