[Article 10 of the Law of 15 December 1980]
The application for family reunification can be submitted in Belgium in the following situations:
- The person applying for family reunification is already authorised to stay in Belgium for a limited period of time (A or H card) and the conditions for family reunification are met.
- The person applying for family reunification is exempt from the visa requirement for a short stay in the Schengen area and the conditions for family reunification are met.
- The person applying for family reunification has received a visa to marry or cohabit legally in Belgium and they got married before the visa expired.
- Exceptional circumstances prevent the person applying for family reunification from applying abroad (visa application).
If the person applying for family reunification is not in one of the four situations described above, they must submit the application abroad (visa application).
How the procedure progresses depends on the situation of the person applying for family reunification.
- The application for family reunification in Belgium can be submitted in Belgium in the following situations:
- The person applying for family reunification is already authorised to stay in Belgium for a limited period of time (A or H card) and the conditions for family reunification are met.
- The person applying for family reunification is exempt from the visa requirement for a short stay in the Schengen area and the conditions for family reunification are met.
- The person applying for family reunification has received a visa to marry or cohabit legally in Belgium and they got married before the visa expired.
See the procedure
- The application for family reunification may be submitted in Belgium when exceptional circumstances prevent the applicant from submitting their application to the Belgian diplomatic or consular post competent for the place where they reside abroad, in accordance with Article 12bis.§1, paragraph 1 of the law of 15 December 1980.
See the procedure