[Article XX of the Law of 15 December 1980]
Submitting the application for family reunification in Belgium is authorised.
The procedure is as follows:
The family member must submit their application for family reunification at the municipal administration of their place of residence.
The municipal administration will issue them with a request for a registration certificate (Annex 19) on presentation of proof that they are a national of a Member State of the European Union or of an associated country (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland).
The applicant must present proof that they meet the conditions for family reunification within 3 months from the date indicated in Annex 19.
If the applicant provides the documents within the time period and they reside in the municipality (positive residence investigation), the municipal administration will forward the application to the Immigration Office.
If the applicant does not provide the documents within the time period, but resides in the municipality (positive residence investigation), the municipal administration will notify a decision of refusal of residence for more than 3 months without an order to leave the territory (Annex 20) and will give the applicant a new time period of 1 month to provide the documents.
If the family member provides the documents within this new time period, the municipal administration will forward the application to the Immigration Office. However, if they do not provide the documents within this new time period, the municipal administration issues a decision refusing residence for more than three months with an order to leave the territory (Annex 20). The procedure is complete.
If the family member does not reside in the municipality (negative residence investigation), they will be removed from the National Register. The procedure is complete.
Good practice:
Submit all documents at the time of application.
The Immigration Office must take a decision within 6 months of the date shown on Annex 19.
If the Immigration Office accepts the application, the municipal administration will issue the family member with an or an EU card.
If the Immigration Office refuses the application, the municipal administration will notify a decision refusing residence for more than three months with an order to leave the territory (Annex 20). The procedure is complete.