Ausbildung Programme Germany

Can You Bring Your Spouse or Family to Germany During Ausbildung? The Honest Answer

A fair question that deserves a straight answer

For married aspirants, or those planning to marry soon, this is one of the most important questions of all: “Can my spouse come with me?” We'd rather give you the honest position now than a smooth ‘yes’ that sets you up for a refusal. So here it is plainly: bringing family during the Ausbildung training years is genuinely difficult, and in many cases not granted. It usually becomes realistic later. Let's explain exactly why, and when things change.

Why it's difficult during the training years

Two German rules stand in the way during your Ausbildung, and both come down to the fact that a training visa is a training pathway, not a full skilled-worker route.

First, the income test (‘secured livelihood’). To bring a spouse, you must show enough income to support both of you without relying on public funds - broadly in the region of €1,200 a month for a couple, before rent and other costs. A trainee stipend of €1,000–€1,300, while excellent for a single person, is often not enough to clear this bar for two. This is the main reason reunification during training is limited.

Second, the housing test. You must have accommodation the authorities consider adequate for a family - roughly 12 square metres per person. A single trainee room, which is what many Azubis start in, usually doesn't meet this standard.

On top of both, a joining spouse generally needs to show basic German (around A1 level) before the visa is issued. Each application is assessed individually, so this isn't an absolute ‘never’ - but you should not build your plans on the assumption that it will be granted during training.

When it realistically becomes possible

Here's the encouraging part. The very obstacles above fall away once you finish your Ausbildung and start working as a Fachkraft. At that point your income jumps to €2,500–€3,600+ a month, comfortably clearing the livelihood test, and you can afford family-sized housing. As a qualified skilled worker, you're on a much stronger footing for family reunification - and skilled workers can, in defined cases, even bring parents. So the honest timeline is: difficult during the three training years, and realistic once you qualify and are earning as a skilled professional.

What this means if you're married - or planning to be

None of this should scare you off; it should help you plan realistically. Many married aspirants make this journey successfully - they simply go in understanding the sequence. The honest framing is that the first three years are an investment: you build the German, the qualification and the income that then make bringing your family not just possible but comfortable. Going in with that expectation prevents disappointment and, frankly, prevents a wasted visa application at the wrong time.

Your questions, answered

So can my spouse join me during my Ausbildung or not?

Honestly, usually not - the trainee stipend rarely meets the income requirement and a single trainee room rarely meets the housing requirement. It isn't a flat ‘never,’ as cases are assessed individually, but you shouldn't plan around it happening during training.

When can I realistically bring my family?

Typically once you finish your Ausbildung and start earning as a Fachkraft at €2,500–€3,600+. That higher income and family-sized housing clear the main hurdles, putting you on a far stronger footing for reunification.

Does my spouse need to learn German too?

Generally yes - a joining spouse is usually expected to show basic German (around A1) before the visa is issued, with some exceptions. It's a good idea for them to start early, both for the application and for settling in once they arrive.

583+ aspirants have already started their Germany journey with Jet Set Jobs and Destination Germany - including married candidates who planned the sequence honestly.