Can I bring my spouse to Germany if I'm there on a student or Ausbildung visa?

Yes, it is legally possible. Residence permits for education purposes, such as the study permit (§ 16b), sit in Chapter 2, Part 3 of the Residence Act (AufenthG), and § 30 AufenthG gives spouses of these permit holders a right to family reunification. If the conditions are met, the spouse must be granted a residence permit.

#Main conditions (§ 30 AufenthG)

• The marriage already existed when your residence permit was issued, and
• your stay in Germany is expected to last more than one year.
• Both spouses are at least 18.
• Your spouse can communicate in German at a simple level; in practice this is taken as level A1.

#Married after your permit, or a shorter stay?

If you hold a residence permit or a national visa, the authority may, at its discretion, waive the conditions about the marriage already existing and the stay exceeding one year (§ 30(2) sentence 2). This is a decision of the authority, not an entitlement.

#Exemptions from the German requirement

Relevant for students' spouses: your spouse cannot prove German because of illness or disability; there is a recognisably low need for integration; your nationality lets you enter Germany visa-free for long stays; or, in the specific case, it is impossible or unreasonable for your spouse to learn German before entry. The language exemption for Blue Card and other skilled-worker permits does not cover students.

#Ausbildung

The vocational training (Ausbildung) permit is in the same education part of the Residence Act; confirm with the German mission or your Ausländerbehörde that the same rules apply in your case.

#Applying

Your spouse applies for a family reunification visa at the German mission in Türkiye. Besides the marriage certificate, check the mission's current checklist for how livelihood and housing must be proven and which amounts and documents are required – we don't quote figures here.

Legal basis: § 30 AufenthG