How old do my children have to be to join me in Germany?

Family reunification is primarily for unmarried minor children. Children under the age of 16 can typically join without additional integration tests.

For children who are 16 or 17 at the time of application, the rules are stricter: they generally need to show C1-level German, or prove that they are likely to integrate based on factors such as their education or background. An important exception applies to the families of skilled workers and highly qualified persons, where children over 16 can join without these further requirements. Because the child's age at the time of application matters, do not delay if a child is approaching 16.