Build a separate research row for each spouse or child joining a worker in Germany. Begin with the worker's actual nationality and residence situation, then follow the relevant family-reunification guidance.
Identify each person's intended family route
The official family-reunification directory provides separate guidance for spouses joining EU citizens, spouses joining non-EU citizens and children. This makes the sponsor's situation and the family relationship important starting points for selecting the detailed instructions. Read Make it in Germany: Family reunification.
Your working sheet
The following is an editorial organisation tool, not an official application checklist. Copy the rows that help and fill them with your own verified records.
| Check | What to record |
|---|---|
| Principal resident | Record the worker's actual status and the official family-route link |
| Family record | List each applicant's identity relationship and existing civil documents |
| Practical next steps | Keep school housing healthcare and work-permission questions separate from relationship evidence |
A practical example
A household might include a worker, spouse and child whose records were issued in different countries. A shared folder can hold common correspondence, but each applicant still needs a clear index showing which identity and civil record belongs to them. The folder should not silently mark every person eligible because the worker's application succeeded.
Before the next step
Open the spouse or child page that matches the household. Check translation, appointment and family evidence instructions with the responsible recipient. Use the moving planner to track each person's unresolved decision before making a single household travel commitment.
Continue with the guide library or save the next task in the moving planner. Official requirements can change; the source above was checked on 17 October 2026.