Family reunification with a Belgian
Family reunification with a Belgian in 2025
If you're planning to join a loved one in Belgium this year, you may already have heard about the recent changes in family reunification legislation. Since the beginning of 2025, new rules have come into force, and it's not out of the question that further reforms will follow in the months to come.
As we all know, immigration laws are constantly evolving, often in a stricter direction, and these adjustments can have a direct impact on your life project. What was valid last year may no longer be valid today. That's why it's so important to stay well informed and know exactly what steps to take to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Who is eligible for family reunification with a Belgian national?
Family reunification allows certain members of a Belgian citizen's family to reside in Belgium permanently (D visa). Here is a list of family members who can join you under the family reunification procedure in Belgium:
Your husband or wife, your partner deemed to be married, your partner registered in accordance with a law
- Your husband or wife is the person with whom you have committed your life through marriage. For your marriage to be recognized as such in Belgium, it must be a civil marriage. This means that if you are religiously married, your marriage is only considered valid if the country in which the marriage took place recognizes the religious marriage as having civil effects with the authorities in your home country. The reasoning is the same for customary marriages, although few countries grant civil effects to this type of marriage.
- Your partner treated as a marriage; these partnerships only apply to unions celebrated in Germany, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the United Kingdom or Sweden.
- Your partner registered under a law: in Belgium, this is legal cohabitation, while in France it's PACS.
Your descendants (your children or grandchildren)
- In general, these are the minor children (under 18) and those of the Belgian sponsor's partner. This means that family reunification enables the children of the spouse, marriage partner or legally registered partner to join the family unit in Belgium.
- Children who have reached the age of majority, subject to certain specific conditions, in particular the fact that they are dependent on you (the family unit in Belgium contributes directly to the costs and education of the child living outside the European Union).
What about other family members?
Other family members (such as parents or grandparents, cousins) are not eligible for family reunification unless the Belgian citizen has exercised his or her freedom of movement.
In fact, if the Belgian citizen has lived with them in another Schengen state before returning to Belgium, he or she is entitled to reunite with more family members than the sedentary Belgian citizen.
To make sure you are eligible for family reunification, ask our simulator.
Where to apply :
- In Belgium: If the family member is already in Belgium, even illegally, the application for family reunification can be made to the local authority of residence.
- Abroad: If the family member lives abroad, an application for a family reunification visa (visa D) must be submitted to the relevant authorities to enable him or her to join the family in Belgium.
What documents are required for family reunification?
Belgian citizens must prove that they have :
- Sufficient accommodation for the family member.
- Health insurance (mutuelle) covering health care for himself and the family member.
- A regular, stable income sufficient to prevent him and his family from becoming a burden on the community. The minimum income is 2,131.28 euros net per month (current value, indexed periodically).
If your income is below the required threshold, it is essential to provide detailed evidence of your ability to support your household without recourse to social assistance.
