Inviting family members
Introduction
Sometimes there are cases when you would like to invite your family members / friends / relatives to Germany. Some reasons for the same could be:
Birth in your family
Tourist visit
General meet
or any other reason
Visa Options
There are two options
Visit Visa (Visit to Relatives or Friends)
Please use it only for your trust-worthy friends and relatives. Otherwise, you can get into legal and financial trouble.
How to get such a visa for your family members?
Prerequisites
You need to get sponsorship/invitation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) from the Ausländerbehörde (Immigration Offices) or Bürgerbüro. You have to get it from the town you’re registered in. For that following are pre-requisites
Following info about the family member, you want to invite to get
Passport No.
First Name
Last Name
Date Of Birth
Place of Birth
Scan copy of the first and last page of passport
Your relationship with the visitor
Filled form. Google for "Antrag auf Ausstellung einer Verpflichtungserklärung" and use form based on your city.
Your own passport
Residence permit
German House Rent agreement: Your flat area should be sufficient to accommodate guests. The definition is that for each person 12 square meter. So if you have 2 guests + 2 hosts . It should be 48 m2
Last 6 months Salary slips to prove that you can sponsor their visit. Additionally, you can carry Steuerbescheid from your last year's income tax return.
Bank statements of last 6 months
Self-employed has to bring along a Bescheinigung from your Steuerberater.
Euro 25
In special cases they might require:
To check your SCHUFA
German work contract
Procedure to apply for visitor VISA
The visitor should have a valid passport. Apply for Passport if you don’t have one. http://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/welcomeLink .
Go to your KVR office and get the sponsorship/invitation letter
Send this letter to India by post using courier or any other mode based on urgency.
How to apply: https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/-/1908750
Get health insurance from India
Book air tickets
Documents’ checklist - https://india.diplo.de/blob/1867852/9ea91774c0f0d35f8dabbe3a195870dd/visit-data.pdf
Photo requirements - https://india.diplo.de/blob/1862508/332690e7c0caef02dd37188bdab3bbd3/fotomustertafel-data.pdf
Apply for VISA in India at VFS office.
Tip: Tourist visa is valid for 90 days
Tourist must carry “sponsorship/invitation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) ” with their passport while travelling to Germany.