Route: joining family in Germany
Residence permits for family reunification are in §§ 27 to 36 AufenthG. You apply for a national visa at the Embassy in Rabat. A Bundestag petition decision states that the waiting time for an appointment for family reunification visas at Rabat was over one year (as of December 2025) and that demand clearly exceeds the Embassy's capacity (Petition 176820). Current waiting time and filing channel (waiting list or TLScontact): not confirmed; check the Embassy's page.
Spouse
- Spouse of a German (§ 28) or of a foreign resident (§ 30): both adults, the marriage must be valid in Germany, and as a rule the spouse joining must show basic German at A1, with exceptions. Which exceptions apply (for example spouses of Blue Card holders, hardship cases) and the sponsor's income and housing conditions: read the statute and the Embassy leaflet; we did not check every case.
- Marriage documents: Moroccan civil-status documents are normally legalised by the Embassy. German authorities often no longer accept legalised civil-status documents older than six months in the procedure for exemption from the certificate of legal capacity to marry (Embassy leaflet, 20 August 2026). See Documents.
- Fiancé(e) visas: not checked here.
Children and parents
- Minor children can join a parent with a residence permit (§§ 32, 33). Age and German-language conditions depend on the child's age and the parent's permit; not checked in detail. Visa fee for minors €37.50 (§ 46 (2) no. 1 with § 50 (1) AufenthV).
- Parents of adults: only under § 36 AufenthG (exceptional hardship).
Benefits for children left in Morocco: Social security agreements.
Family cases are individual. Use a lawyer for migration law or a recognised advice centre; this page does not assess your case.
A question this page does not answer? Contact us. Free orientation only, no legal advice for individual cases.