Family reunification with a European
Family reunification with a European who has exercised his right to free movement and settled in Belgium
Family reunification enables the family members of a European Union citizen established in Belgium(or a Belgian who has returned to Belgium after exercising his or her freedom of movement in another Schengen state), to join their relatives in Belgium.
Belgium attracts many Europeans who wish to establish themselves permanently in our country. Small in size but rich in European institutions, our kingdom has a warm, cosmopolitan reputation. Moving to Belgium to join a loved one is a project that concerns many families. When a European citizen decides to settle in Belgium, he or she may want to be joined by a spouse, partner or children, even if they are not EU nationals. This is where family reunification comes in, a fundamental right that enables these families to remain united across borders.
Family reunification with a European: who can join a European 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 minor children (under 21) and those of the European 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).
Your ancestors
- Your parents or grandparents, or those of your partner, provided they are dependent on you.
Other members of your family
Yes, you read that right.
When you are a European citizen, you have the right to exercise your right to family reunification for family members up to... the 4th degree! This means you're in the category of people with the greatest possibilities for family reunification in Belgium.
Europeans can exercise their right to family reunification for their de facto partner
Unlike all other categories of people entitled to family reunification in Belgium, Europeans can use their right to bring in their de facto partner. But what is a de facto partner?
A de facto partner is a person with whom you maintain a loving relationship without it being legally enshrined in a marriage, a legal cohabitation, a PACS or any other status that would officially recognize your relationship.
In this case, you will need to make some effort to demonstrate the stable and lasting nature of your relationship.
What are the conditions for family reunification for European citizens?
- Sufficient accommodation for the family member;
- Health insurance (mutuelle) covering healthcare for yourself and your family member;
- No income required, except in special cases!
