What are Types of Declaration of Commitment for Germany Visa?

Video description 

Application form or “Angaben zur Verpflichtungserklärung”

Who Can Receive a Declaration of Commitment?

Anyone who is residing in Germany under a legal residence permit can get a Letter of Commitment. The only requirement is to have sufficient income. If you have low-income or no income, you may not receive a Letter of Commitment.

Who can not receive a Declaration of Commitment for a Germany visa?

Some German residents are not eligible to receive the Declaration of Commitment. Their immigration situation makes them disqualified from receiving the letter, including:

• AsulblG
• German short-term residence permits
• People funded by a scholarship scheme

SGB II and SGB XII 

People who are in need of government financial support and receive assistance.

Duldung

It also gets called a Tolerated Stay Permit. It’s a temporary residence document rather than an actual residence permit. The government issues it for people who have to leave Germany but the departure is not feasible at the moment.

Asylum temporary stay permit 

The asylum seekers receive a temporary stay permit to stay in Germany which gets called “Aufenthaltsgestattung”. They may not receive letters of support and support a foreign visitor financially.

Fiktionsbescheinigung 

It’s a temporary residence permit which enables you to stay in Germany until you receive your real residence permit and is valid for 3 months.

What are Types of Declaration of Commitment for Germany Visa?

There are two types of Declaration of Commitment:

A letter of commitment for Germany short-stay visa. 

It is when you need to stay in Germany for up to 90 days.

A letter of commitment for Germany long-stay visa.

It is for the time when you need to stay in Germany for longer than 90 days.

Remember to pick the type that suits the lengths of the host’s stay.

Who is eligible for the Declaration of Commitment?

There are a number of eligibility principles for the host and visitor to receive the Declaration of Commitment:

The details of the visit

The date the guest will visit Germany, duration of stay and the date he/she will leave the country must be clear. What the guest will do in the country must be stated by proof.

Host financial independence

The host must be able to provide evidence of financial independence and show that he/she can cover the guest.

Address

The hosts must have a registered living address in Germany.

Legal residence permit

The residency status of the host in Germany must be legal and allow to receive a Declaration of Commitment. The validity of the permit must be over the date the guest will leave Germany.

What costs are the host’s financial obligations Declaration of Commitment?

The host undertakes to pay all the guest’s cost in Germany in case the guest is unable to pay himself/herself:

• Medical treatment costs
• Repatriation, this is when the host does not leave the country voluntarily
• Cost of daily living:
  • Food
  • Accomodation
  • Clothing
  • Transportation fare

How to Get a Declaration of Commitment for Germany Visa?

The relative residing in Germany can provide a Declaration of Commitment. He/she must complete the following steps to provide a Declaration of Commitment:

Step 1. Know when and where to apply?

The earliest time you can apply for the Declaration of Commitment is six months before the date the visitor wants to move to Germany. The host residing in Germany needs to provide the documents to the “Foreigners Authority” in the city he/she is living.

Step 2. Reserving the appointment

The host needs to reserve an appointment with the Foreign Office or the Immigration Office of the city they live in. It is possible through their Information Office by a:

• Phone call
• Email
• In person visit

Step 3. Prepare answers

Before you visit the authorities, prepare answers to the following questions:

• How many visitors will you be hosting?
• Parental and marital status of the visitors
• The visitor’s purpose of visit
• The duration of stay
• What period of the year they will visit
• The hosts residential status in Germany
• The related questions by the visitor’s case

Step 4. Download the letter

The host residing in Germany should download the letter. He/she could receive it from the Immigration Authorities’ website. There is such a center in almost every German city.

Complete the application form with the required information and print it.

Step 5. Submission of the letter

If the officials ask for requirements, gather them. Then submit the letter along with the documents to them. You have to submit everything to the Immigration authorities in your city. If not one in your city, find the nearest one.

Step 6. Send the letter to the host

The authorities will process your letter. They will decide whether you are eligible to support the visa applicants or not. When the officials approve the letter, they will stamp and sign it.

Now you can send the original letter to the visa applicant. He/she needs it to apply for the Germany visa.

The Requirements for a Declaration of Commitment

Remember that the host residing in Germany has to provide a commitment letter. He/she has to submit a few supporting documents to receive the letter. They are as follows:

• Application form 

It gets called “Angaben zur Verpflichtungserklärung” in Germany.

• Passport 
• Residence permit

It is when the host is a non-EU national.

• Personal information 

Provide the personal details for the visa applicant:

• Complete first and last names.
• Date of birth, also the country he/she was born.
• Nationality
• The host’s address in the residing country.
• A copy of his/her passport.

Financial independence 

The host must provide proof that he/she can support the guest in Germany. The proof depends on the host’s employment status:

E.1. Proof of income from employment 

• Payslips for the latest 6 months. (Long term stays)
• Spouse Salary statements if the guest is staying under a long-stay visa.
• Employment contract. It must be valid for the six months over the date you are applying to receive the Declaration of Commitment.
• A letter from your employer indicating that the host is employed with him/her. It must be issued within the last two weeks.

E.2. Proof of income as a self-employed or freelancers

• Monthly net incomes certificate. A tax consultant or someone verified must issue it but the host news to sign it.
• Existing Business Evaluation (BWA). It is called “Betriebswirtschaftliche Auswertung” and indicates the present cost/profit situation of your company.
• Health insurance certificate
• Proof of funds. If you have received funds from a job centre as a start-up company, provide evidence.
• Current tax certificate:
  • Tax registration certificate.
  • Business registration extract, or
  • Shareholder contract.
  • Income tax assessment (latest version is required)
• Tax consultant’s statement of your net profit

Certificate of registered address 

Proof of relationship

Proof/evidence that proves your relationship with the visa applicant.

Legal residency status in Germany 

If the host is a foreigner, he/she needs to provide evidence that his/her residency is legal

• Residence permit.
• Settlement permit.

Note: The resident status can not be among the eligible ones mentioned above.

Accommodation proof 

Based on the accommodation you have, provide proof to the residents.

• Rental agreement. The landlord or landlady must confirm it through a confirmation letter.
• Ownership certificate (Confirmation of registration)

Proof financial responsibility

If the host has divorced from spouse or children, he/she needs to provide proof of financial support for them.

• Evidence of monthly maintenance payments.
• Documents issued by the court indicating that marriage has ended
• Maintenance advance fund certificate
• Evidence of paid maintenance obligations.

Please keep in mind that the German Authorities could ask for more documents. Their rules and obligations might change. Also, they could ask for additional documents depending on your case.

Declaration of Commitment Cost/Fee

A Declaration of Commitment will cost you 29 EUR. Remember that the fee for the short-term or long-term visa is the same.

You would better prepare the copies of the documents required before your meeting with the officials. If not, you will be charged €0.50 for each photocopy and the process takes a bit longer.

Can I Revoke my Declaration of Commitment?

The answer to this question depends. You, as the supporter, can not revoke a Declaration of Commitment. It is only possible to do it if someone else commits to support the guest’s expenses. Also, if the sponsor can not cover his/her expenses, he/she can revoke the commitment. However, you have to complete formal procedures.

How long is Required for the Declaration of Commitment Processing?

The point is you just have to wait for minutes. It takes a few minutes for the officials to process the letter and sign and stamp it. In the worst case, if you are late for the meeting with Immigration authorities, it might take one day for the processing.

How long do I have to Cover financial support?

The sponsor has to cover the guest’s expenses until he/she remains in Germany. Once the guests leave Germany, the sponsor has no commitment. Also, if the guest changes his residence status, the sponsor will be free of support. He/she no longer has to support the guest.

I have lost the Declaration of Commitment. What shall I do?

You have to apply for another one. It is mandatory to provide the original form to prove financial support.

Let’s sum up…

This text explained all you should know about the Declaration of Commitment. It mentioned that the letter also gets known as a letter of commitment or letter of support.

It explained in detail who needs the letter, its requirements, application process, and FAQs.

Providing that you need more information about Germany visas, visit the left sidebar.

If you need to know about other country’s visas, go to the home page of the Visa Library.

You hold information about visas. Please write them in the comment section. They are valuable tips for visa applicants.

FAQs

When an applicant needs a Declaration of Commitment?

When a relative in Germany will cover the living expenses of an international student. 

Can a relative cover my expenses for the short term?

Yes, it is common for a tourist visa. 

What documents does the relative in Germany need?

See the article to know the full list of documents. 

Do I need a Declaration of Commitment for a work visa?

The work contract works as the commitment letter.