Fingerprints of applicants aged 12 and above are taken when submitting an application.

All applicants must appear in person to submit their application, the requested documents must be submitted for each applicant.

Documents to be submitted:

• Original PASSPORT and 1 copy of the passport of the applicant, the valid residence permit for Kenya and registration as a refugee, if applicable.

• 1 biometric PASSPORT PHOTO (3.5 cm × 4.5 cm), not older than 3 months; bright, single, clear background (no red/blue background)

• 1 application form for a national visa, fully completed and signed:

  https://nairobi.diplo.de/blob/2072712/f9342033f2933dc05da54151efe283db/antrag-national-visa-data.pdf

• Proof of marriage of the parents of the person entitled to protection: Marriage certificate or registration of marriage issued by the civil registry office (in English, or Tigrinya with German translation), with supplementary certification.

  If you only were married by religious ceremony, and have not registered the marriage yet, you have to do so. Church or other religious certificates are not sufficient proof of marriage!

  (Please note the information on procurement of certificates at the end of this information sheet.)

• Birth certificate of the minor child in Germany (with German or English translation).

• Birth certificates of the accompanying children (with German or English translation).

• 1 copy each of the German residence permit and the decision on the granting of their right of asylum or refugee status from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees to the minor child (BAMF).

• VISA FEE: Adults: 75 Euros / Minors: 37,50 Euros

  • Modes of payment: CASH, to be paid in Kenya Shillings, at the current Embassy exchange rate.

  • The fee will not be refunded if the application is rejected.

In justified, exceptional cases, in which certain authentic documents cannot be submitted by the applicant and can also not be obtained, other proof for the respective circumstances may be provided. Alternative proof may also be informal, but must be distinct and persuasive.

Advice: Only submit documents that you have procured yourself or a trusted third person!

The preferred documents described here relate to the basic case of reunification to the other family member. In individual cases, the visa office reserves the right to demand additional documentation relevant to the decision, which is not listed in this leaflet.

Every application is subject to careful examination, there is no legal right to a visa. Once the decision has been made, the applicant will be informed by the Embassy. In order to ease the workload of the visa section, it is requested to refrain from making factual enquiries, as they delay the processing of all visa applications.

Information concerning the procurement of certificates:

Birth and marriage certificates can be obtained at the locally competent civil registry office, that is affiliated to the administration authority of the capital of the province (Zoba) (e.g. “Census & Civil Status Section” of Zoba Debub, or for Asmara “Administration of Maakel Region”).

The actual denominations vary in the individual administrational districts, the denominations “Public Census” or “Public Registration” are common everywhere.

The certificate can be applied for by third persons, who have been authorized by the applicant. The power of attorney must be in writing, and – in the case of Eritreans living abroad – verified by the competent Eritrean diplomatic representation in the country of residence (Embassy/General Consulate).

If the marriage has not yet been registered at the civil registry office, this has to be done. Eritreans living abroad can contact the competent civil registry office either directly or via an authorized third person. If no religious certificates exist, 3 witnesses have to be presented. Applicants living in Eritrea have to contact in all matters the lowest body of administration competent for the respective place of residence first. Here a certificate can be obtained, which has to be presented afterwards to the competent civil registry office (e.g. for issuance of a marriage certificate).

The supplementary certification verifying the authenticity of the certificate, can be directly obtained at the consular Section of the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Asmara (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, P.O. Box 190 Asmara, Tel. (+291) 127108 / 127 838, Fax. 123 788).

The Embassy reserves the right to request further documents in individual cases, in particular DNA parental testing. Submission of an incomplete application will lead to a longer processing time and may lead to the denial of the visa.