IOM Family Assistance Program

Checklist of required documents

*Visa applicant: any family member who is seeking family reunion visa to Germany
*Sponsor: the family member living in Germany with whom the visa applicant wish to reunite

1. Passport of all the visa applicant(s) (all relevant pages, Passports with a serial number starting with P or O (letter)
i.e. the passport data page and all pages which contain are acceptable. The passport must have been issued
visas, stamps or remarks) + 1 copy within the last 10 years and the passport’s validity must
exceed the validity of the visa by at least three months. It
If you extended your passport, please add extension must have at least two empty pages and contain the
pages. holder’s signature. Passports must be machine-readable,
handwritten passports are invalid.
2. Iran visa (if available) OR residence permit/refugee card If you have registered on the webpage of the German
in Iran - 1 copy embassy Tehran – and not Kabul! – you will necessarily
have to prove your habitual residence – at least for 6
months - in Iran.
3. VIDEX forms per visa applicant (including children) + 1 Fully completed in German or English in block letters or
copy filled out on the PC, signed or fingerprinted.
Application forms of minors must be signed by both
parents. To fill out the VIDEX, you may click on the
following link:
https://videx.diplo.de/videx/visum-erfassung/#/videx-
langfristiger-aufenthalt

4. Declaration according to §54 of German Residence Act You may find this along with the VIDEX form. It needs to
be completed and signed.
5. 3 passport photo per applicant (including children) 3 identical passport photos, not older than 6 months, front
shot, biometric, dimensions 35x45mm, white background.
Further info can be found here.
6. Tazkira; original and translation (only German) + 1 copy • Identification document “Tazkira” of all visa
of the front and the back side applicants. The last name and date of birth in the
passport must correspond exactly to the names in
Alternatively, electronic Tazkira the Tazkira, otherwise Tazkira or passport need to be
corrected.
• Tazkira must contain last names, exactly as in the
passport.
• The translation should be attested by MoFA1
• If you hold an electronic Tazkira, you won’t need to
have it translated.
7. Birth certificate (and its translation only in German) + 1 • For all the visa applicants (if available)
copy • The translation should be attested by MoFA
8. Academic documents Only if available
If you are married
9. Marriage certificate (Nikah Khat or Waseeqa Khat); Preferably Nikah Khat (white or green marriage book in
original and MoFA attested translation (only in German) DIN A5 format, alternatively Waseeqa Khat (DIN A4
+ 1 copy of all pages format, blue border). The marriage certificate must

1 Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Update: November 2023

 contain the place, the exact date of the marriage contract
as well as the marriage portion.

It also must contain last name, according to the one in

passport.
Proxy marriage (in absence of one of the spouses)
10. a. Original or color copy of the power of attorney for If one spouse was represented during the wedding
marriage + 1 copy ceremony by another person, an official power of attorney
for the representative for marriage contract/obtaining
b. Acceptance of the power of attorney in original + 2 marriage certificate as well as the attorney acceptance
copies letter must be provided.

c. Marriage certificate (Nikah Khat or Waseeqa Khat); The marriage certificate must contain the place, the exact
original and MoFA attested translation (only in date of the marriage contract as well as the marriage
German) + 1 copy of all pages portion.
The marriage certificate must contain last name, according
to the one in passport.
Previously married
11. Divorce certificate; original and translation (only in The translation should be attested by MoFA
German) + 1 copy
12. Death certificate; original and translation (only in The translation should be attested by MoFA
German) + 1 copy
13. Declaration of missing spouse; original and translation The translation should be attested by MoFA
(only in German) + 1 copy
Planning to get married in Germany/Fiancé(e)s
14. Confirmation of application for marriage (Bescheinigung It is a confirmation that all necessary requirements for the
über die Anmeldung der Eheschließung) from the local marriage to take place have been met, including a time
German registry (in German Standesamt) in original + 1 frame or date for the wedding.
copy
15. Certificate of non-marriage of the applicant; original Unmarried or non-marriage (or also singleness) certificates
and MoFA attested translation (only in German) + 1 are issued by Afghan courts.
copy
16. Declaration of commitment for the sponsor (in German You can apply for this document at the office for foreigners
Verpflichtungserklärung) in original+ 1 copy in Germany Ausländerbehörde.
Only in case of children reunion to parents OR reunion to unaccompanied minor in Germany
17. a. If one parent remains in Afghanistan and does not The remaining parent must declare his/her consent before
wish to move to Germany: judicial confirmation by the court.
the court that he/she gives consent for the
child(ren) to live in Germany with the other parent; If the other parent is dead or missing or refuses to give
original and MoFA attested translation (only in consent, submit either an official death certificate
German) + 1 copy including a list of all heirs, a declaration of a missing
person or an official court order regarding custody rights.

Update: November 2023

Only in case of reunion to other family members in Germany
18. a. Document proving relationship with the relative(s) Please submit all official documents as well as other
in Germany; original and MoFA attested translation evidence that proves your relationship, i.e. by
(only in German) + 1 copy of all pages corresponsding Tazkira, marriage certificate etc. If the
applicant is married, a Waseeqa Khat (DIN A4 format, blue
border) listing all children born during the marriage must
be submitted. The marriage certificate must contain the
place, the exact date of the marriage contract as well as
the marriage portion.

If one spouse was represented during the wedding

ceremony by another person, an official power of attorney
for the representative as well as the acceptance letter
must be provided (+ 1 copy).

b. Accompanying letter with detailed and up-to-dated Please state the need for reunion as precisely as possible
documentation showing the reasons for the need and include supporting documents such as medical
to reunite; original and translation (only in certificates, certificates from care facilities, social services
German) + 1 copy etc. It must be evident why you and the reference person
in Germany need each other’s assistance and for what
reasons this assistance can only be granted reasonably in
Germany. It is important to explain your individual
situation. Unfavorable educational, economic, social and
other conditions in Afghanistan do not justify a case of
hardship.
c. If applicable, further documents on the For example, in form of a judicial appointment as a
relationship with the reference person; original and guardian, death certificates of other relatives, documents
MoFA attested translation (only in German) + 1 explaining the whereabouts of other relatives etc.
copy
19. If applicable: proof of A1 German language certificate Should you not be able to obtain this certificate or learn
from Goethe-Institute; original + 1 copy the language, you need to justify.

Participation certificates (Teilnahmebescheinigung) does

not count.
20. Visa fee of 75 Euro (per adult) and 37.50 Euro (per You should make sure you prepare the amount in advance
child) and you take it to the embassy. IOM FAP won’t collect any
payments.

No visa fee will be charged for spouses and minor children

of German or EU citizens. This visa fee cannot be
reimbursed if the visa is refused. There are no further fees
(except for telephone and fax costs, if applicable) to be
paid neither inside nor outside of the embassy.
Documents of the sponsor
21. a. Copy of passport + all related entry and exit stamps, Afghan passports with a serial number starting with P or O
passport pages with visa, remarks, etc. - 1 copy (letter) are acceptable. Passports must be machine-
readable, handwritten passports are invalid.

In case you hold a travel document instead, you can send

this as an alternative.

For German citizens, German passport is required.

Update: November 2023

 b. Passport size photo 3 identical passport photos, not older than 6 months, front
shot, biometric, dimensions 35x45mm, white background.
Further info can be found here.

c. Identity card (Tazkira) Tazkira + MoFA attested Tazkira

translation (only in German) - 2 copies of the front and • Identification document “Tazkira” of all visa
the back side applicants. The last name and date of birth in the
passport must correspond exactly to the names in
For German citizens: the Tazkira, otherwise Tazkira or passport need to be
German national ID card (in German Personalausweis) – corrected.
2 copies • Tazkira must contain last names, exactly as in the
passport.
as well as the German naturalization document (if you • If you hold an electronic Tazkira, you won’t need to
have been naturalized as a German citizen) have it translated.
d. Residence permit card - 1 copy Current residence permit in Germany, visible, and front
and back sides OR letter from the ABH2,
Fiktionsbescheinigung
e. Current residence registration certificate (in German) It must be up to date: not older than 6 months
– 1 copy

22. a. If applicable: copy of the Federal Office for Migration Please submit a complete (until the page with the official
and Refugees (BAMF) certificate regarding the award of stamp of BAMF) copy of the certificate
refugee status or asylum + 1 copy (“Anerkennungsbescheid”).
b. If available, Timely Notification + 2 copies If a timely notification has already been submitted to the
embassy or to the Foreigners Authority (in German
Ausländerbehörde), please submit a proof together with
your application.

You can complete the timely notification online on

www.fap.diplo.de.
23. Employment contract, house contract as well as income Please send if available. 1 copy of each is enough. Not
statement (in German e.g., Lohnabrechnung) applicable for those who applied for the timely
notification.
24. If applicable, additional documents Please note that additional documents may be requested
in individual cases. You will be notified should any further
documents be required.

Notes

• Kindly note that any missing information will lead to your application process taking longer time. So please provide
the information and documents as complete as possible.
• Translations should be verified by official authorities in Afghanistan. Documents issued at the Afghan consulates
abroad do NOT require verification.
• Copies of the documents should be in DIN A4 format.
• Please send documents, when required via email, in PDF format in the attachments.

2 Ausländerbehörde – Authority for Foreigners in Germany

Update: November 2023