How to Obtain an Obligation Letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) in Germany [2024]

An invitation letter is important if you are inviting your family for a short term stay in Germany. This article covers everything about an obligation letter, declaration of commitment, and an invitation letter.

Obligation Letter [Verpflichtungserklärung]

A critical document to prove that you can financially support the person you are inviting to Germany is called an obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung). It is required to process short term visa applications. It is also known as formal obligation or letter of commitment but not an invitation letter.

Why Obligation Letter?

The obligation letter makes it easy to process visa applications and to prove that you can financially manage the visitor’s expenses during his/her stay in Germany. 

Provider of The Obligation Letter

Here are the requirements if you want to apply for the obligation letter;

• Sponsor residing in Germany
• Sponsor is a German citizen or citizen of an EU country
• Sponsor have a valid resident permit
• Sponsor’s credit worthiness is good.

Germany’s Foreigners office will review the application by examining the provided evidence of income, residence rights, accommodation conditions, and a few other factors. Once successfully reviewed, you will get the letter.

Credit Worthiness

Prove your credit worthiness through following factors such as;

• Sponsor’s Marital status
• Maintenance obligation (number of dependent child or children)
• Purpose of the stay
• Sponsor’s location in Germany
• Proof of savings in case of no monthly income.

If the monthly income is low but the sponsor is single or has no child, it is accepted by the German authorities. If you are sponsoring a student, net income of at least circa 2500 Euros is enough but in Berlin, the sponsor must have a net income of at least 2450 Euros.

Required Monthly Net Income

So, the number of visitors you can invite depends on the number of dependents. See the table below for required monthly net income to invite people to Germany.

Total required monthly net income should be more than the sum of income required for dependents and the income required to invite the persons.

Example

If you are single and inviting your spouse to Germany, your required monthly net income would be;

So, your salary should be more than 1456 Euros to invite your spouse.

If your salary is less than 1456 Euros, you can show the bank statement or deposit some amount to invite your spouse.

Deposit 2500 Euros per adult, but 1250 Euros for minors. You will get your deposit back when your visitor leaves Germany.

Who Can Not Get an Obligation Letter?

Obligation letter will not be issued if he or she;

• Is receiving social benefits like unemployment benefit
• Do not have relevant residence status
• Is an asylum seeker

Who Issues The Obligation Letter?

Find your city’s Ausländerbehörde (foreign office) by typing  Ausländerbehörde + city name in google. Visit the office to apply and get your obligation letter.

Application Process

Basic Requirements to Apply

Fulfill these basic requirements; 

• Application form.
• Proof of your monthly income;
• Letter of employment
• Salary slips of last 3 months
• Recent tax assessment
• Monthly income document from tax advisor
• Proof of savings in case of no income
• Identity card or passport
• Residence permit if you are a foreign citizen
• Registration certificate that shows the address of the sponsor.
• Rental agreement
• Property documents if the sponsor has his own flat.
• Personal details; first name, last name, country of residence, nationality, date of birth, place of birth, address in your home country, etc.
• Clear purpose of stay.
• Arrival and departure date.
• Length of stay

If you fail to provide any document in original or copy, you will pay circa 0.5 Euros to the foreigners office for each photocopy.

Application Procedure

Here is the general procedure to apply for the declaration of commitment.

• Book an appointment at the foreigners office via phone, or in person.
• Visit the foreigners to submit the required documents with the application.
• Pay the non refundable application fee
• Wait for the intimation from foreigners office abut your application status.

The sponsor will get a two pager signed letter if the application is successful.

Duration of The Application Process

It only takes few minutes to complete the application princess. Once you receive your obligation letter, sign it. If meeting is delayed, you will get your signed letter on the next day.

Cost Associated

The person inviting someone to Germany will bear the costs associated with the application of declaration of commitment. The cost to have a verpflichtungserklärung is 29 Euros for adults and 14.50 Euros for minors which can be paid in cash or debit card.

The fee is not refundable even if the application is rejected by the foreigners office due to lack of credit worthiness.

Costs of Staying in Germany

These costs include;

• Cost of living such as; food, drink, accommodation, clothing, medical expenses, nursing care, etc.
• Return costs

Validity of Obligation Letter

Letter is valid for 6 months after issuance and is recognized by the German missions abroad. Validity for a national visa is 5 years, so you can extend it for the time you want but for a valid reason only. Your sponsor will pay the cost of extension application.

Verpflichtungserklärung Invalidity

Declaration of commitment is not valid if;

• The document is expired
• Purpose of the visit has changed.
• You left Germany.

Important Instructions

• Requirements may vary from city to city so check the website of your local foreigners office.
• If the purpose of the visit is changed, the sponsor should submit the application to the foreigners office to renew the document.
• The document have information of both sponsor and visitor such as;
  • Personal details
  • Relationship with the sponsor.
  • Date of issuance
  • Expiry date
  • Purpose of the stay.
• The foreign office or immigration office may ask you questions during your appointment such as;
• How many visitors are you inviting?
• What is the visitor’s marital status?
• What is the visitor’s parental status?
• What is the purpose of the visit?
• What is the duration of stay?
• What would be the period of visit?
• What is the legal residence status?
• Keep this document carefully as this document will not be reproduced without fee and complete application process.
• You would not have any responsibility once the visitor;
• Leave Germany
• Gets residence permit
• Purpose of stay changed
• Only one form is required if you are inviting a couple or a family of 3. Fill separate forms if you are inviting two adults.

Send an Obligation Letter to The Visitor

Your visitor must have the letter when applying for the visa in his or her home country. Do not send the letter via email but send it through the postal service or give it by hand if possible.

Final Remarks

The obligation letter is a formal but very crucial document for your German visa application, so keep it very carefully. Without Verpflichtungserklärung in hand, the German embassy would not process your visa application and it is also not easy to get another letter from your sponsor. All the best to your application.