Visiting family and relatives
In brief
A short visit and a longer stay for family reunification follow different procedures. This page describes the difference without assigning your case to a category.
Type of sources used
The basis is the visa overview of the Federal Foreign Office and the European Commission's information page on the Schengen visa.
Short visit
For visits within a short stay, a Schengen visa regularly comes into question; the insurance-related requirements of the Visa Code apply here.
Which documents are required in detail is determined by the competent mission.
Longer stay and family reunification
For longer stays, for example for family reunification, a national visa of the respective state is foreseen. It follows different conditions than a short stay.
Which health insurance evidence is required depends on the national procedure and the decision of the competent authority.
Practical notes
Before applying, check which procedure the competent mission foresees for your purpose and which documents it names.
No assignment to a particular plan takes place on this page.
Questions about this page
- Which visa do I need for a family visit?
- That depends on purpose and duration and is decided by the competent mission. No determination is made here.
- Do the same insurance requirements apply to family reunification?
- No, the national procedure may set different requirements. The information of the competent authority is decisive.
Where to verify this authoritatively
Binding information is provided by the mission of the destination country; the Federal Foreign Office and the European Commission provide an overview.
Sources
- Visa overview
- Publisher:
- Federal Foreign Office
- Classification:
- Official source
- Scope:
- Short stays and national visas at a glance
- Reviewed on:
- Applying for a Schengen visa
- Publisher:
- European Commission
- Classification:
- Official source
- Scope:
- Procedure, documents and responsibilities
- Reviewed on:
Note
Neutral description of procedural differences, without recommendation or product assignment.