Formal obligation

Any natural person who personally has sufficient resources and who holds Belgian nationality, or who is authorised or permitted to reside in Belgium for an unlimited period of time, may be a guarantor.

The Belgian national must have their main residence in Belgium.

A third-country national authorised to stay in Belgium for a limited period of time (A or H card) cannot be a guarantor.

Only one guarantor can sign a formal obligation.

The guarantor must sign one formal obligation per person. 

As a general rule, only one "active" formal obligation per guarantor is accepted. 

_{By way of derogation, a guarantor may sign several formal obligations when the beneficiaries of these sponsorship commitments are members of his or her family in the 1st degree (in the direct line or by marriage), and when these formal obligations are signed at the same time. For example, a son who takes charge of his parents as part of a family visit.}

The guarantor undertakes to assume financial responsibility for the person concerned with regard to the Belgian State and any competent public social welfare centre (PSWC) for two years for the care, accommodation and repatriation costs of the person concerned. The guarantor and the person for whom the guarantor has assumed financial responsibility are jointly and severally liable for the payment of this care and the expenses.

This means that the Belgian State and the PSWC that have paid the costs of the stay, health care and repatriation of the person covered by the guarantor can claim the reimbursement of these costs from the guarantor, by registered letter, within 2 years after the entry of the person concerned into the Schengen area.

If the guarantor does not reimburse the amount of the costs claimed, the recovery is entrusted to the Cadaster, registration and domains administration (FPS Finance). 

Find out more about the amount of residence and health care costs in articles 17/7 and 17/9 of the Royal Decree of 8 October 1981.

Since 01/12/2023, the guarantor must have an income of at least 2,048.53 euros (net income per month), which corresponds to 120% of the amount referred to in Article 14, §1, 3°, of the Act of 26 May 2002 on the right to social integration. 

The source of the guarantor's income is also verified. The following are taken into consideration:

• income declared in the context of an employed or self-employed activity;
• benefits paid by a public authority (pension, unemployment benefit, disability benefit, etc.);
• declared regular income from the rental of property owned by the guarantor.

The following income is ineligible:

• certain income from supplementary schemes, such as the living wage and supplementary child benefit;
• financial assistance from a public social welfare centre (PSWC;)
• child allowance;
• tide-over allowance;
• transitional allowance;
• income from an employment contract signed pursuant to Article 60, § 7, of the Organic Law on Public Centres for Social Welfare of 08/07/1976. 

The guarantor must complete boxes A, B and D (Part I) of the formal obligation, legibly and without any deletions or alterations, and have their signature authenticated by the municipal administration of their place of residence.

The subsequent procedure depends on the nationality and place of residence of the person for whom the guarantor has assumed financial responsibility.

The person for whom the guarantor has assumed financial responsibility is exempt from the visa requirement for a short stay in Belgium

When they request the legalisation of their signature, the guarantor must present the following documents:

• proof that they have Belgian nationality or that they are admitted or authorised to reside in Belgium for an unlimited period (identity card or residence permit);
• a family composition issued by the municipal administration of the place of residence;
• where applicable, proof of relationship with the person for whom the guarantor has assumed financial responsibility;
• proof of sufficient resources.

Proof of sufficient resources may take the form of salary slips or a document drawn up by a public authority certifying the net or gross, monthly or annual income earned during the three months preceding the request for legalisation of their signature or, failing that, any document indicating the source and amount of their resources (pension slips, proof of receipt of unemployment benefit, bank statements for the last 3 months, notice of assessment for tax for the year preceding entry into the Schengen area or the submission of the visa application, etc.). Self-employed guarantors must present at least their last notice of assessment.

If the guarantor does not present these documents, the municipal administration will declare the formal obligation inadmissible.

The municipal administration sends the formal obligation and the documents to the Immigration Office, which indicates its decision in box F. The municipal administration will notify the guarantor of the decision.

If the Immigration Office accepts the formal obligation, the guarantor must forward the original document to the person for whom the guarantor has assumed financial responsibility.

The person for whom the guarantor has assumed financial responsibility must apply for a visa for a short stay in Belgium

Belgium does not issue short-stay visas (C visas) for all countries. In this case, visa applications for Belgium are generally examined by another Schengen State.

If the person for whom a guarantor assumes financial responsibility resides in a country where Belgium is represented by another Schengen State, the guarantor must follow the procedure explained for person who is exempt for requirement for a short stay visa.

If the person for whom a guarantor assumes financial responsibility resides in a country where Belgium issues visas for a short stay, the guarantor must send them the original of the legalized formal obligation, as well as the following documents:

• proof that they have Belgian nationality or that they are admitted or authorised to reside in Belgium for an unlimited period (identity card or residence permit);
• a family composition issued by the municipal administration of the place of residence;
• where applicable, proof of relationship with the person for whom the guarantor has assumed financial responsibility;
• proof of sufficient resources.

This proof may take the form of salary slips or a document drawn up by a public authority certifying the net or gross, monthly or annual income earned during the three months preceding the request for legalisation of their signature or, failing that any document indicating the source and amount of their resources (pension slips, proof of receipt of unemployment benefit, bank statements for the last 3 months, notice of assessment for tax for the year preceding entry into the Schengen area or the submission of the visa application, etc.). Self-employed guarantors must present at least their last notice of assessment.

The formal obligation may be presented as proof of sufficient means of subsistence in the context of a visa application and/or when crossing the external borders of the Schengen area. To constitute valid proof, Part I of the formal obligation must be printed on both sides, with an original copy submitted containing no alterations.

Application for a visa for a short stay in Belgium

• If the person for whom a guarantor assumes financial responsibility applies for a visa at a Belgian embassy or consulate, they must present the original of the formal obligation (printed on both sides and without alterations) and the documents sent by the guarantor within 6 months of the date on which the municipal administration legalised the guarantor's signature (see box D). After this period, the formal obligation is inadmissible. The post will give the original of the formal obligation to the person concerned for whom their visa application is also accepted. If the formal obligation is refused, this decision will be notified with the decision on the visa application.

• If the person for whom a guarantor has assumed financial responsibility applies for a visa from a Schengen State which represents Belgium in the country where they reside, they must present the formal obligation accepted by the Immigration Office within 6 months of the date on which the municipal administration invited the guarantor to come and collect it (see box D). After this period, the formal obligation is no longer valid proof of means of subsistence. The post will give the original of the formal obligation to the person concerned for whom their visa application is also accepted

Entry into the Schengen area

If the person for whom a guarantor has assumed financial responsibility is exempt from the visa requirement for a short stay in Belgium, they must present the original of the formal obligation at the external borders of the Schengen area within 6 months of the date on which the municipal administration invited the guarantor to come and collect it (see box D). After this period, the formal obligation is no longer valid proof of means of subsistence.