Germany Visit Visa

Good day everyone.

This might be a long post, but I hope some of you can take the time to read it and share your advice or experiences.

I would like to ask for insights from people who may have been in a similar situation before, especially regarding a German visit visa.

For context, I am currently in Germany and will start my Ausbildung this September 2026. I arrived in December 2025 and am currently working part-time while waiting for my training to begin.

I have a boyfriend, and we are a same-sex couple. I am not sure if that makes any difference for visa applications, but I wanted to mention it.

My boyfriend is still in the Philippines. He has had a stable job for almost six years, pays all of his own expenses and bills, has credit cards in good standing, and has previous international travel history. His most recent trip was to Japan in 2025.

We are planning for him to apply for a German visit visa. The plan is for him to be fully self-funded during his stay, including airfare, daily expenses, and travel health insurance. The only thing that would be sponsored is the accommodation.

My brother-in-law, with whom I currently live, is willing to let my boyfriend stay in our house during his visit. The house is rented under my brother-in-law’s name and has enough space to accommodate guests.

Our main question is whether we still need a Verpflichtungserklärung (formal declaration of commitment) if only the accommodation is being provided, while my boyfriend covers all other expenses himself.

We are currently thinking of preparing the following documents:

From me:

• Informal invitation letter
• Copy of passport
• Copy of residence permit

From my brother-in-law:

• Invitation letter confirming that my boyfriend can stay at his address
• Copy of passport
• Rental contract or proof that he is the legal tenant of the property

Would proof of citizenship or any additional documents from my brother-in-law be necessary, or would a passport copy already be sufficient?

Our understanding is that I would send these documents to my boyfriend in the Philippines, and he would submit them together with the rest of the visa requirements during his application.

Has anyone here successfully applied for a German visit visa under similar circumstances? Did you use a Verpflichtungserklärung even when the visitor was financially independent? Any advice, tips, or information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much!