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Important information for family reunification applications of Burundian, Eritrean, and Somali nationals
As of March 23, 2026, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will also support the German Embassy in Nairobi as part of the Family Assistance Program (FAP) in processing applications for family reunification of Burundian, Eritrean, and Somali nationals with family members who do not hold a humanitarian residence permit in Germany. This means that Burundian, Eritrean, and Somali nationals will no longer submit their applications for family reunification with German nationals, EU/EEA nationals and foreign nationals holding a residence permit under Sections 16 to 21 or 28 to 36 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) to the German Embassy in Nairobi, but rather to the IOM Family Assistance Program Centre (FAP Centre) in Nairobi. The subsequent processing of the applications will continue to be handled by the Embassy.
Since the end of 2018, IOM has been supporting the embassy in processing applications for family reunification for those granted protection in Germany. The procedure for this remains unaffected by the changes described above.
Registration on the Waiting List
Burundian, Eritrean, and Somali nationals applying for family reunification with a person without a humanitarian residence permit must continue to register on the “Appointment waiting list for all national visas EXCEPT family reunification to persons entitled to protection (Sections 22 to 26 of the German Residence Act)”. Depending on their nationality, they must indicate their purpose of stay as “Family reunification of Burundian citizens,” “Family reunification of Eritrean citizens” or “Family reunification of Somali citizens.” For all appointment registrations made from March 11, 2026, onward, appointments will be scheduled by IOM.
Documents to be Submitted
The documents listed in the relevant information sheets for family reunification on the embassy's website must still be submitted.
Somali applicants must regularly submit a DNA kinship analysis report to prove their relationship. Please observe this information sheet.
Procedure at IOM FAP Centre and submission of your application
The IOM FAP Centre will contact all applicants registered on the appointment waiting list well in advance of the appointment, offer advice on the necessary documents, check the application documents for completeness and eventually schedule an appointment to submit the application.
During the appointment for submission, IOM will take biometric data (photographs, fingerprints), collect the visa fee (if necessary) and conduct a detailed interview on the reasons for the request for family reunification.
After the application documents have been handed over to IOM, IOM transfers the documents to the Embassy.
Please note: For minors who are not accompanied by a parent or another person with legal custody, the person attending the interview with the children will have to present a signed power of attorney. The accompanying person should have background knowledge of the reasons for family reunification.
Please refrain from sending any status requests to the Embassy before you have submitted your application.
The IOM-FAP Centre can be reached as follows:
Call centre: +254 709 575 000.
Directions:
International Organization for Migration – UN Migration
Sri Aurobindo Avenue, Off Mzima Spring Road
Lavington, Nairobi, Kenya