Was passiert bei Verdacht auf Aufenthaltsehe?

Die Niederlassungsbehörde lässt die Fremdenpolizei ermitteln, etwa durch Hausbesuche und getrennte Befragungen. Bestätigt sich der Verdacht, wird der Titel versagt oder entzogen.

Ist eine Aufenthaltsehe strafbar?

Ja, nach § 117 FPG, für beide Partner und für Vermittler. Wer ein gemeinsames Familienleben ernsthaft geplant hat, kann freigesprochen werden.

Müssen wir zusammenwohnen?

Der gemeinsame Haushalt ist das wichtigste Indiz für ein Familienleben. Gibt es gute Gründe für getrennte Wohnungen, sollten Sie diese belegen.

Marriage of Convenience | Immigration Lawyer Vienna

In short

A marriage of convenience (Aufenthaltsehe) is entered into only to obtain a right of residence, without a shared family life.
The authority looks above all at whether you live in a shared household.
If there is a suspicion: home visits and separate interviews.
A marriage of convenience is also a criminal offence, for both partners and for anyone who arranges it.

Marriage of convenience

What the law means

A marriage of convenience is a marriage entered into only to give one partner a right of residence. The Settlement and Residence Act (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz, NAG) says: anyone who does not lead a shared family life within the meaning of Art. 8 ECHR cannot rely on the marriage or registered partnership to obtain a residence permit.

What the authority looks at

A shared family life

A shared household is particularly important. If there is none, the authority will quickly assume a marriage of convenience. If you have good reasons why you do not live together (yet), you should be able to prove them.

The marriage alone does not give you a permit: income, accommodation, health insurance and German language skills must still meet the requirements.

The investigation

When the police come

If there is a suspicion, the aliens police (Fremdenpolizei) investigates: home visits and separate interviews of the spouses, including about private and intimate details. Contradictions in your answers will be used against you.

Prepare yourself and get advice beforehand.

Consequences

It is not only about the permit

If the authority assumes a marriage of convenience, the permit is refused or withdrawn. Entering into a marriage of convenience is also a criminal offence, for both partners and for anyone who arranges it. An acquittal is possible if it is shown that a shared family life was planned and genuinely intended.

From our practice: after the wedding, a couple could not move in together right away for understandable reasons. During the check, the husband was not at home. In court we were able to prove the genuine intention to set up a shared household, and our client was acquitted.

Questions we get asked

Marriage of convenience: short answers

What happens if a marriage of convenience is suspected?

The residence authority has the aliens police investigate, for example through home visits and separate interviews. If the suspicion is confirmed, the permit is refused or withdrawn.

Is a marriage of convenience a criminal offence?

Yes, under § 117 FPG, for both partners and for anyone who arranges it. If you genuinely planned a shared family life, you can be acquitted.

Do we have to live together?

A shared household is the most important indication of a family life. If there are good reasons for separate homes, you should be able to prove them.