Can I Bring My Spouse? Navigating Family Reunion Visas During Your Apprenticeship

/ European career & mobility, Starting your career

You want to build a future in Germany, but you don’t want to leave your partner or children behind. It’s a common dilemma.

The hard truth: Bringing a family on an Ausbildung visa is difficult, but not impossible.

Unlike a “Blue Card” holder who has an automatic right to bring their family, an Azubi (trainee) has to jump through significant financial hoops. Here is the reality of family reunification for jobs in Germany during training.

The “Subsistence” Hurdle

The German government has one golden rule: You must be able to support your family without welfare. As a trainee, your salary is low (usually €800 – €1,200). This is often barely enough for one person, let alone two or three.

To bring a spouse, you must prove:

  1. Living Space: Your apartment must be large enough (approx. 12 sqm per person). A room in a shared flat (WG) is usually not enough.
  2. Money: You must prove you have enough income to cover the “needs” of your spouse + rent. Since your salary won’t cover this, you usually need a Blocked Account for your spouse as well.

The “Strategy” for Couples

Because the financial requirement is so high for a trainee salary, many couples choose one of these paths:

Path A: The Wait You go alone for the training period (3 years). Once you graduate and get a full salary (Year 3+), you apply for family reunion. This is the easiest path legally, but the hardest emotionally.

Path B: The Double-Earner Your spouse applies for their own visa.

  • Do they have a degree? They can apply for a Job Seeker or Skilled Worker visa.
  • Do they want to study? They can apply for a Student visa. If you both have your own visas, you don’t need to prove you can support them financially.

Path C: The High-Salary Ausbildung Some training programs (like Nursing or Geriatric Care) pay significantly higher training salaries (€1,300+). In these cases, combined with a cheap apartment in a smaller city, you might meet the financial requirements to bring a spouse immediately.

Consult a Pro

This is complex immigration law. A recruitment agency get-talent.eu in Europe or an immigration lawyer should review your specific financial situation before you apply for a family visa, to avoid a rejection that stays on your record.

References

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