1Family Reunification in Belgium: The Essentials
Do you live in Belgium while your spouse or partner lives outside the European Union, in Cameroon for example? Family reunification in Belgium covers exactly this situation. It allows certain family members of a Belgian national, or of a foreign national residing legally in Belgium, to join them. The authorities must recognise this right if you prove, with documents, that you meet the conditions.
Rules change: this article informs you, but it does not replace advice from the Immigration Office or a lawyer. For instance, the Act of 18 July 2025, in force since 18 August 2025, changed family reunification in Belgium. Transitional provisions mean the old and new rules coexist for a while. If you live in another European country, such as France, the rules differ: check with that country's authorities.
The 'sponsor' lives in Belgium and opens the right. The 'applicant' is the relative who wants to join them. For an intercultural couple, the conditions depend above all on the sponsor's nationality and status, then on your relationship. As a rule, the Immigration Office makes the decision.
2Who Can Bring Over a Spouse or Partner?
First case: you are Belgian and have not exercised your right to free movement within the EU. Your spouse or registered partner then falls under Article 40ter of the Act of 15 December 1980. However, things differ for a Belgian who returns after actually residing in another member state. Under certain conditions, their family then follows the European rules.
Second case: the sponsor is a citizen of another EU country, or of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. Their spouse then falls under Article 40bis. The spouse must prove, among other things, their identity, the marriage and the EU citizen's right of residence. In some cases, for example if the EU citizen is a student, health insurance and sufficient resources also apply.
Third case: you are a non-EU national allowed to stay in Belgium. Your family then falls under Articles 10 or 10bis, which set, for example, a waiting period in some situations. So, to prepare for family reunification in Belgium, start from the sponsor's situation, as the Immigration Office advises.
3The Conditions for Family Reunification in Belgium
With a Belgian or non-EU sponsor, family reunification in Belgium rests on several conditions. First, age: with a Belgian sponsor, both spouses must be over 21. This drops to 18 if the marriage predates the application. However, from 18 August 2027, the Act of 18 July 2025 will require both spouses to be over 21. For a non-EU sponsor with unlimited residence, the Act already sets the minimum at 21, unless transitional provisions apply.
Next, housing. The sponsor must have adequate housing for the family. For a Belgian sponsor, any form of proof works, such as a rental agreement or a MyRent certificate. Also, the sponsor needs health insurance covering risks in Belgium for the whole family. One option is a certificate from their health insurance fund confirming it can register the applicant on arrival. Otherwise, travel health insurance covering at least €30,000 for three months works. Finally, the applicant must come to live with the sponsor.
4Income: Stable, Sufficient and Regular Means
The sponsor must also have stable, regular and sufficient means of subsistence for themselves and their family. The aim is to prevent the family from becoming a burden on the public authorities. Ideally, the supporting documents cover the 12 months before the application, or longer for a self-employed sponsor.
With a Belgian sponsor, the old rules still apply to applications for family reunification in Belgium submitted until 18 August 2027. The Immigration Office gives a reference amount of €2,217.47 net per month from 1 September 2026. This amount changes with indexation, so check it on the Immigration Office website.
For a non-EU sponsor, it depends on when their own residence began. The new rules apply if they were not allowed to stay more than three months before 18 August 2025. The reference then becomes 110% of the guaranteed average minimum monthly income, plus 10% for each additional dependent family member. The good news: income below the reference does not mean automatic refusal, because the Immigration Office looks at the overall situation. However, CPAS social assistance and family allowances do not count.
5Marriage or Legal Cohabitation: Proving Your Relationship
If you have married, the marriage certificate proves the link. As a rule, it must be an official document, legalised or bearing an apostille. If it is not in German, English, French or Dutch, a sworn translator must translate it. After a previous marriage, add proof that it ended, such as a divorce certificate.
In a long-distance relationship, keep records of your story from the start: calls, messages, tickets, dated photos. For a visa to marry in Belgium, the Immigration Office even asks for a chronological history of the relationship.
For family reunification in Belgium based on legal cohabitation, the file requires more. With a Belgian sponsor, you must both be single, with no other lasting relationship. Your relationship must also be 'stable and lasting'. The Immigration Office accepts three ways to show this.
- Living together without interruption for at least one year before the application, in Belgium or elsewhere.
- Or knowing each other for at least two years, with regular contact by phone, post or email.
- In that case, meeting three times over those two years, for 45 days or more in total.
- Or having a child together.
6Marriage Abroad: Recognition and Checks
Belgium can recognise a marriage celebrated abroad under two conditions. First, each spouse meets the substantive conditions of their own national law. Second, the marriage follows the formalities of the country where it took place. In Cameroon, for example, the Belgian embassy describes three legalisation steps. Obtain a certified true copy from the authority that issued the certificate. Then have it legalised at the Ministry of External Relations (MINREX). Finally, submit the legalised copy and the original to TLScontact. If you also hold a bride price ceremony in Cameroon, note that the Immigration Office generally requires official documents.
During the review of family reunification in Belgium, the Immigration Office may check that the union is not a relationship of convenience. The Office defines this as a union whose sole purpose is a residence advantage. If it doubts your intention to build a lasting life together, it can invite you to an interview. It can also ask for the public prosecutor's opinion, which affects the processing time. For a sincere couple, the best asset remains a consistent, well-documented story.
7D Visa: Procedure, Documents and Timescales
As a rule, the person living abroad applies in person for a D visa, the long-stay visa. First, someone completes the online form on Visa on Web, and this can be the sponsor. The applicant then submits the application at the competent Belgian post, or with its private provider, such as TLScontact in Cameroon. The sponsor cannot submit the application on their behalf from Belgium.
In some cases, family reunification in Belgium starts at the municipality, for example for a Belgian's non-EU spouse. As for timescales, the Immigration Office must decide within 6 months of a visa application linked to a Belgian sponsor. With a non-EU sponsor, it generally has 9 months from a complete file. It can extend this period twice by 3 months. Once in Belgium, the visa holder must report to the municipality within 8 days.
Here are the main documents the Immigration Office lists for family reunification in Belgium. The Belgian post may ask for others, so always check its list.
- A passport valid for at least 12 months on the date of visa issue.
- Proof of payment of the visa fee and the administrative fee.
- The marriage certificate or proof of partnership, legalised and translated if needed.
- Proof of the sponsor's income, housing and health insurance.
- A medical certificate under 6 months old, from a doctor approved by the Belgian post.
- A criminal record extract under 6 months old for anyone aged 18 or over.
8Getting Help Without Falling for a Scam
Start your file early, because legalisations, translations and appointments take time. For a legal question, Myria, the Federal Migration Centre, answers free of charge and confidentially. However, Myria does not handle procedures and has no lawyers. For personal support, consult a lawyer specialising in immigration law, through a legal aid office if needed. A social service can also point you in the right direction.
Nobody can guarantee you a visa in exchange for money. Beware of intermediaries and fake 'agents' who promise to speed up family reunification in Belgium. One Belgian embassy has warned that scammers were selling visa appointments. It stresses that booking an appointment is free and that paying brings no advantage. If you fall victim, report it to the embassy and file a complaint with the police.
If a partner you met online asks for money to 'unlock' a visa, check first. Our advice on spotting a romance scam can help. On Koeur24, private messaging and video calls help you get to know each other. The 'Identity Verified' badge also shows a profile whose official document the team has reviewed. Still, no dating site can intervene in an application for family reunification in Belgium.