Route: family

Spouses, children and parents: A1 German, document verification, waiting list.

Family reunification (AufenthG §§ 27 ff.) depends on who is in Germany and which title they hold. You apply for a visa at the German Embassy in Accra (category "Family reunion", Visa and embassy). The mission page asks you to expect a waiting period of approximately 12 to 16 months and to log into the Consular Service Portal first (family reunion page). Family members of EU citizens under free-movement law book an in-person interview directly.

Spouses

• Spouse of a foreigner in Germany (§ 30): both aged 18+, the sponsor holds a qualifying title, and the spouse speaks simple German (A1). Exceptions in § 30 (1) S. 3:
  • Nr. 4 applies only if the partner who already lives in Germany is a national of a state whose citizens may enter and stay without a visa also for longer stays (for example the USA; see § 41 AufenthV). It does not help a Ghanaian joining a partner of another nationality.
  • Nr. 5: the sponsor holds a Blue Card, an ICT card or a title as a skilled worker (§§ 18a, 18b and others listed there) or § 21. No A1 needed.
• Spouse of a German (§ 28 (1) S. 1 Nr. 1): S. 5 applies § 30 (1) S. 1 Nr. 1-2 and S. 3 "correspondingly". A Ghanaian spouse of a German needs A1. Exceptions exist only in narrow cases (for example illness or unreasonable burden).
• Source: § 30, § 28. Sponsor's living costs and housing depend on the sponsor's title (§ 30 (1) S. 1 Nr. 3).

Marriage visa

The mission lists a national visa 'for marriage purposes' under family reunion. Requirements for the marriage visa (imminent marriage without obstacles, registry office confirmation, document verification) were not read on a current Accra page; the registry office usually requests verification of Ghanaian documents, see Documents. Ask the registry office and the embassy.

Children and parents

• Minor unmarried children of a foreigner with a qualifying title: § 32. Children of a German: § 28 (1) Nr. 2. Age limits, custody proof and exemptions were not checked in detail; see the mission checklists.
• Hardship (§ 36 (2)): other family members only to avoid an exceptional hardship.
• Parents of skilled workers (§ 36 (3)): if a Blue Card or a skilled-worker title is granted for the first time on or after 1 March 2024, the parents (and the spouse's parents) may receive a permit, with secured living costs. Source: § 36. A "may" provision. Health insurance for parents is a practical obstacle.

Verification and waiting

Ghanaian civil-status documents can be checked through document verification, which takes 6 to 10 months or more (Documents). After the appointment, processing can take several months; status enquiries are not answered in the first 12 weeks. Processing times for other categories are not published.