How to Bring Your Parents to Germany Permanently: Step-by-Step

Moving your parents to Germany permanently is one of the most meaningful ways to reunite, but it is also one of the most legally complex.

But unlike spouse or child reunification, parent reunification is not a guaranteed right under German law. Instead, it falls under a special category that requires proving “exceptional hardship”—a high legal bar with strict documentation requirements. Applications are rare, and approvals even rarer. 

But with the right preparation and expert guidance, it’s possible.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• Who qualifies for parent reunification in Germany
  
• The six legal requirements you must meet
  
• How the German immigration system interprets “hardship”
  
• Why documentation and legal support matter so much
  
• What to expect from the application timeline and appeal process
  
• And as a bonus: alternative options if a reunification visa isn’t possible

Let’s kick things off.

Is it even possible to bring your parents permanently to Germany?

Bringing your parents to live with you in Germany is possible, but it’s far from straightforward. 

Unlike spouse or child reunification, which is explicitly supported under Germany’s family reunification laws, parent reunification falls under a narrower and more conditional legal category. 

Understanding how German immigration law treats this situation is the essential first step.

What the law says: General vs. parent reunification

German law distinguishes between core family reunification and other family members. Core family members (the nuclear family) include spouses and minor children. 

For these relationships, family reunification is generally a legal right.

However, parents of adult children fall into the second group: “other family members”. They are mentioned in the 36th article of the German Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz). This section allows reunification only in exceptional hardship cases. 

In practice, that means:

• There must be a compelling humanitarian reason (e.g., the parent is severely ill and cannot be cared for in their home country).
  
• Reunification must be the only viable solution.
  
• The adult child must already have a secure, long-term residence status in Germany.

How often are these visas granted?

There’s no official breakdown of how many parent reunification visas Germany approves each year. However, we can estimate their rarity by combining available figures with some deductions.

In 2022, Germany issued 93,960 residence permits for family reasons. Of those, just 4.3%—around 4,040—went to extended family members outside the nuclear family (i.e., not spouses or minor children). This category includes many relatives, from adult children to siblings, aunts, and grandparents. 

While the data doesn’t isolate parents specifically, it’s reasonable to assume they represent a significant share of this group.

What are the requirements for bringing your parents to Germany?

You and your parents will need to tick all boxes in six categories:

1. Residence status
2. Income
3. Signed letter of financial obligation
4. Health insurance
5. Housing
6. Proof of hardship

Let’s take a look at each of these…

1. Residence status

You must hold a long-term and secure residence title. This typically includes:

• Permanent residency (Niederlassungserlaubnis)
  
• EU Blue Card—but only if you’ve held it for at least 33 months, or 21 months if you have certified B1-level German language skills

Student visas, job-seeker visas, working holiday visas, and short-term contracts are not eligible. These are considered too unstable for family reunification sponsorship.

2. Income

You must show that you can fully support your parent(s) without relying on any public assistance. 

This includes covering housing, food, healthcare, and other living expenses.

To be considered “sufficient,” income must be:

• Stable: Income from permanent or long-term employment is preferred. Short-term contracts raise red flags.
  
• Verifiable: You must submit official documents—no handwritten letters or informal transfers.
  
• Post-tax (net): Immigration offices assess net income, not gross. You may be asked to provide the last 3–6 months of payslips and your most recent tax return.

There is no universal income threshold, but immigration offices often refer to the official cost-of-living estimates (Lebenshaltungskosten). A general rule of thumb is €1,500–€2,000 in net monthly income per parent, but it can vary depending on your rent and region of residence.

Accepted sources to prove “sufficient” income include:

• Employment salary (with contract)
  
• Freelance income (with tax documents and client contracts)
  
• Rental income (with lease agreements and bank statements)
  
• Pension or disability payments (must be regular and documented)

3. A signed letter of financial obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung)

A Verpflichtungserklärung is a formal letter of financial obligation. You sign this at your local Foreigner’s Office or Welcome Center, and it confirms that:

• You will pay for your parents’ housing, food, healthcare, and all other living expenses
  
• You waive any right for your parent to claim public benefits.

This obligation is binding, even if your financial or employment status changes. It typically lasts up to 5 years or as long as your parents stay in Germany.

To issue one, you’ll need:

• Proof of income (pay slips, tax returns)
  
• Rental agreement
  
• Passport or ID
  
• Proof of insurance

You cannot request to issue a Verpflichtungserklärung if your income is too low or your job is unstable.

4. Health insurance

You must arrange comprehensive health insurance for your parent, starting from their arrival in Germany.

Most parents over 55 cannot join the German public system, especially if they have not contributed during their careers.

Instead, they must:

• Buy private health insurance (PKV) in Germany
  
• Or obtain a recognized expat health insurance plan

For parent reunification cases, Feather’s expat health insurance is designed to meet official requirements while simplifying the process for families.

Here’s how we support your application:

1. Official confirmation letter upon request: We can provide a formal letter that explains how Feather’s plan complies with German immigration law. This document helps reduce embassy pushback or confusion about expat policies.
   
2. Instant access to key documents:  After signing up, you can immediately download a confirmation of coverage, a certificate of authority, and Anlage 6 (the standard insurance form requested by immigration offices).
   
3. Direct support if your consulate has questions: If your local embassy or Foreigner’s Office expresses concern or refuses to accept the policy, we’ll contact them directly to clarify and confirm compliance.

5. Housing

Your living space must be large enough to provide privacy and comfort for you and your parent(s).

• A one-room apartment won’t suffice. Depending on local regulations, adults typically need at least 12 square meters of personal space.
  
• You may be asked to submit a rental contract, floor plan, and landlord confirmation.
  
• In some cities, the housing office may inspect the apartment before approval.

6. Proof of hardship

This is the most complex and critical requirement. German law does not offer a fixed definition, but courts and immigration authorities generally interpret it to mean:

• Your parent is heavily dependent on daily care and cannot live independently.
  
• This care is unavailable or inaccessible in their home country due to conflict, financial hardship, geographic isolation, or a lack of appropriate medical infrastructure.
  
• You are the only person able and willing to provide that care in Germany.

Accepted evidence includes: 

• Medical records: Diagnoses, treatment plans, and proof of care dependency
  
• Care reports: Documents from hospitals or clinics outlining daily assistance needs
  
• Death certificate of spouse: For widowed applicants, especially when the deceased was the primary caregiver
  
• Expert opinions: Psychological or medical evaluations
  
• Letters from NGOs or social workers: Supporting statements about the absence of adequate care options in the home country

These documents must be translated into German, officially certified, and often notarized.

Important: “Hardship” does not mean emotional stress or a desire for closeness. It must demonstrate a compelling and urgent humanitarian need, and this determination is ultimately made by a court, not just the immigration office.

Whether your application for recognition of hardship is accepted often depends less on the written law and more on how your local immigration office or court interprets “hardship.” 

For example, immigration offices in Berlin or Hamburg have a reputation for being slightly more flexible on reunification based on medical hardship, especially with documented NGO support. In contrast, Bavarian authorities are known for strict financial scrutiny and frequent rejections.

 For this reason, a qualified immigration lawyer is essential. They can:

• Help structure the documentation
  
• Engage expert witnesses
  
• Appeal decisions through the administrative court

Exceptions for EU & German citizens

If you or your spouse is a German or EU citizen, the burden of proof for hardship is significantly reduced. 

These cases fall under the broader rights of EU Freedom of Movement, which allow for more lenient family reunification, especially when it concerns the parents of EU citizens.

Regardless of citizenship status, financial and health insurance requirements still apply.

If your spouse is an EU citizen but not German, your parents must apply for a family reunification visa in your spouse’s home country. 

For example, if your spouse is Spanish, the application must be processed through the Spanish authorities, not the German ones. 

Parent immigration policy updates in 2024 and 2025

In recent years, the core law governing parent reunification (§36 of the Residence Act) has not changed. Still, in the last two years, German courts have issued rulings that more narrowly define “exceptional hardship.” 

Notably:

• Medical hardship must be immediate and severe: General aging or mild chronic illnesses no longer meet the bar. Courts have emphasized that hardship must involve a situation where adequate care is unavailable in the parent’s home country.
  
• Psychological distress alone is insufficient: Emotional strain on the adult child, such as anxiety over long-distance care, has been ruled as not legally sufficient unless tied to a concrete medical condition in the parent.

This means that many applications that might have been considered under humanitarian grounds a few years ago are rejected unless they involve urgent medical crises or conflict-related displacement.

Step-by-step: How to apply for a parent family reunion visa

Navigating the parent reunification visa process is complex, especially because German law does not treat these applications as standard. 

Below is a clear outline of how the process typically unfolds, from preparation to appeal.

Step 1: Get legal advice

Start with a consultation with an immigration lawyer. 

Professional legal guidance is essential since §36 hardship cases are rarely granted.

Only a court can determine if a hardship claim is valid, and lawyers can offer great insight into the courts’ minds.

Please note that even if you have legal insurance, policies rarely cover costs related to immigration matters.

Step 2: Confirm your eligibility

Before anything else, ensure you meet all requirements:

• You have a long-term residence title (e.g., permanent residence or EU Blue Card)
  
• You earn sufficient income (typically €1,500–€2,000+ per parent per month)
  
• Your housing is large enough to accommodate your parents.
  
• You and your parents have health insurance coverage.
  
• You have a proof of hardship document
  
• You have a signed letter of financial obligation

Without this, your parents’ application won’t proceed.

Step 3: Prepare required documents

The parent applying must gather and submit a comprehensive visa application to the German embassy in their country of residence. 

Documents required are:

• Proof of relationship: Your birth certificate naming both parents
  
• Passport
  
• Biometric photos
  
• Proof of financial means from the sponsor (e.g., employment contract, salary slips, tax returns)
  
• Proof of accommodation (rental contract)
  
• Proof that health insurance is arranged in Germany.
  
• Notarized declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from the sponsor
  
• Hardship documentation (translated and certified)

It may benefit your parents’ application to include a motivation letter and a legal opinion from your attorney explaining the hardship claim.

Learn more about Germany’s visa requirements.

Step 4: Apply at an embassy

The parent must apply from their home country, not from Germany. 

If they enter Germany on a tourist visa and try to apply, they will likely be disqualified and could face a reentry ban.

Embassies forward the application to the relevant immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany, which will review it and issue a recommendation.

Step 5: Wait for the decision

Timelines vary widely by country and local office:

• 3 to 6 months in some EU-adjacent countries
  
• 9 to 15 months or more for countries with high visa demand or strained embassy staff

There’s no legal time limit for a decision.

Step 6: Prepare for a potential rejection

Common reasons for rejection include:

• Insufficient financial support
  
• Lack of documentation proving dependency
  
• No evidence of medical hardship
  
• Concerns about health insurance coverage
  
• Application submitted from within Germany (on a tourist visa)

If rejected, applicants can appeal through the administrative court, which requires a lawyer and can take 6–12 months.

Are there other options besides the family reunion visa?

Given the restrictive parent reunification rules, many families explore alternative pathways to bringing their loved ones to Germany, even temporarily.

Long-term visit visas

Germany offers national visas for long-term visits, typically up to 12 months. While not permanent, they can allow extended stays for:

• Medical treatment
  
• Support after a family loss
  
• Temporary caregiving support

Applicants must prove they’ll return home and that the visit is temporary. The sponsor usually requires a financial obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung). These visas don’t lead to residency but can buy families time in exceptional situations.

Humanitarian exceptions

A parent fleeing armed conflict, natural disaster, or a severe medical crisis may be eligible for a humanitarian residence permit (§23 or §25 AufenthG). These cases require:

• Strong documentation (e.g., country condition reports, medical records)
  
• Proof that the parents’ lives would be at risk if they returned
  
• Legal support to apply via the local Foreigners’ Office or the refugee system

Legal dependency or guardianship

There are rare cases where adult children gain legal guardianship of cognitively impaired or severely disabled parents. The parent may qualify as a dependent under broader EU reunification rules in these situations.

Proof must include:

• Full medical diagnosis
  
• Inability to make independent decisions
  
• Legal custody or guardianship papers

Again, these are niche cases and require intensive legal validation.

Becoming a German citizen

If the sponsoring child becomes a German citizen, parent reunification rights expand. Under EU law, German citizens have more flexibility when bringing in family members, including parents.

However, timing is key: If parents are already in Germany before you naturalize, they might not be eligible for public insurance or other resident benefits due to timing mismatches. 

Alternative EU pathways

Some families have successfully relocated parents to Portugal, Spain, or Italy, where public health systems are more inclusive of retirees. Once legally resident and insured in that country, the parent can:

• Receive an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card)
  
• Travel to Germany and apply for residency under EU mobility rights

This “EU loop” requires careful legal setup, but it can be easier to apply than directly through German hardship rules.

Conclusion

Bringing your parents to Germany permanently is possible, but only with careful preparation and a strong legal case. 

Understanding the “exceptional hardship” standard is key to building a credible application that immigration offices and courts will actually consider. 

If you’re serious about starting this journey, now is the time to gather documents, talk to a lawyer, and weigh all your options. 

And when you’re ready to bring your parents to Germany, Feather can help you compare your health insurance options.