Holders of the EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU) are among the most sought-after professionals on the German labor market, and Germany’s immigration law reflects this: the conditions for obtaining the card and for bringing family members to Germany are significantly more favorable than those that apply to most other residence permit holders.
At Schlun & Elseven, we have been advising highly qualified professionals and their families on EU Blue Card matters for over ten years. As one of Germany’s leading immigration law firms, we work on a digital-first basis with English-speaking lawyers — so international clients can access full legal support in English, wherever they are in the world.
Family Reunification in Germany
The legal framework for family reunification in Germany is set out in Sections 27 to 36a of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG). Under Section 27(1) AufenthG, the purpose of the family reunification residence permit is to enable and maintain family life for foreign nationals living in Germany, in accordance with the constitutional protection afforded to marriage and the family.
When family members join an EU Blue Card holder, their residence permit is automatically issued for the full duration of the Blue Card. This is a meaningful advantage: in other family reunification cases, the authority determines the permit’s duration on a case-by-case basis. The EU Blue Card is itself issued for four years as a rule under Section 18(4) AufenthG, provided the underlying employment contract is open-ended. This gives families an extended period of stability in which to put down roots in Germany, free from uncertainty about their residence status.
Additional Advantages for EU Blue Card Holders
EU Blue Card holders benefit from a number of specific advantages when it comes to family reunification.
Housing
The standard housing requirements are relaxed for EU Blue Card holders. Under the general rules, a minimum of 12 square meters per family member over the age of six and 10 square meters per family member under six must be available. For EU Blue Card holders, this minimum size requirement does not apply. The adequacy of the available accommodation is instead assessed according to the individual needs of the family.
Language Requirements
Spouses of EU Blue Card holders who do not yet speak German are exempt from the language requirement that would otherwise apply under Section 30(1) sentence 3 no. 5 AufenthG. This allows spouses to join their partners in Germany at an early stage and to learn German after arrival rather than before.
Children who have already turned 16 and are joining their parents after they have established residence in Germany are normally required, under Section 32(2) of the AufenthG, to demonstrate a C1 level of German. Children of EU Blue Card holders are exempt from this requirement and may likewise acquire their German language skills after arriving in Germany.
Reunification with Parents and In-Laws
Unlike most foreign nationals in Germany, EU Blue Card holders have the option of bringing their parents and parents-in-law to Germany through family reunification. This applies where the EU Blue Card was first issued on or after March 1, 2024. The provision reflects Germany’s commitment to ensuring that highly qualified professionals feel genuinely settled and at home in the country.
Schlun & Elseven: Legal Support for EU Blue Card Holders and Their Families
If you have questions about obtaining the EU Blue Card or about family reunification for EU Blue Card holders, we are ready to assist. We advise clients individually on applying for the EU Blue Card and on family reunification procedures, carefully reviewing the applicable legal framework and all required documentation. We handle the full submission of applications to the competent foreigners’ authority (Ausländerbehörde) or German diplomatic mission abroad and manage all correspondence with the relevant authorities. Where legal disputes arise, we represent our clients’ interests with determination, including before the courts.
Frequently Asked Questions about Family Reunification in Germany and the EU Blue Card
EU Blue Card holders may bring their spouse and minor children to Germany under the family reunification provisions of the Residence Act. In addition, where the EU Blue Card was first issued on or after March 1, 2024, holders may also bring their parents and parents-in-law. This is a significant advantage not available to most other foreign nationals residing in Germany.
No. Spouses of EU Blue Card holders are exempt from the language requirement that would otherwise apply before a family reunification residence permit can be issued. Your spouse may join you in Germany without prior knowledge of German and learn the language after arrival.
Not under the specific rules for EU Blue Card holders. The standard requirement — 12 square meters per family member over six and 10 square meters per family member under six — does not apply. The available accommodation simply needs to be suitable for your family’s circumstances.
Yes, in all cases. Children under 16 are not subject to a German language requirement. Children who have already turned 16 are normally required to demonstrate a C1 level of German before joining their parents in Germany — but this requirement is waived entirely for children of EU Blue Card holders.
Yes, provided your EU Blue Card was first issued on or after March 1, 2024. Germany has introduced this option specifically to support the long-term integration of highly qualified professionals, acknowledging that family ties extend beyond the immediate household. Most other foreign nationals in Germany do not have access to this route.
Family members joining an EU Blue Card holder receive a residence permit for the full duration of the EU Blue Card itself, which is four years where the employment contract is open-ended. In other family reunification cases, the length of the permit is determined by the authority on an individual basis, which makes the EU Blue Card route particularly favorable in terms of planning certainty.
