Bringing your family
to Belgium
Being separated from your partner or children while you settle into a new country is one of the hardest parts of moving abroad. Belgium has a clear legal route, called family reunification, for bringing close family to join you.
This page explains who counts as family, what conditions usually apply, and where the exact rules for your situation come from.
Overview
Family reunification lets you bring certain close family members to live with you in Belgium, but the conditions depend heavily on your own status - whether you are an EU citizen, a non-EU national, or a Belgian national. Because the rules differ so much between these groups, the most important step is identifying which situation applies to you before you start gathering documents.
What family reunification is
Family reunification (in Dutch: gezinshereniging) is the official process that allows a family member living abroad to obtain a visa and residence permit to join a relative who already lives legally in Belgium. It is the standard route for partners and children, and it is handled by the Immigration Office (in Dutch: Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken), the federal authority responsible for residence and family reunification.
How the family member applies depends on your status. If you are a non-EU national or a Belgian, your family member usually applies for a long-stay visa (D visa) at the Belgian embassy or consulate in their country, on the basis of the family relationship, see Visa types for how the D visa works more broadly.
If you are an EU citizen, your non-EU family members follow a lighter procedure under free movement: often a free, fast-tracked short-stay visa (or visa-free travel, depending on nationality), followed by applying for a residence card after arrival in Belgium. And family members who are themselves EU citizens need no visa at all, they simply move and register.
Where the rules depend on your status
Family reunification is not one single process. The Immigration Office publishes separate rules for each situation, and the one that applies to you determines your conditions, your timelines and your rights:
- EU citizens bringing family - generally the most straightforward route, under EU free movement rules. There is no strict income threshold, no housing requirement and no application fee; you do need to be working, studying or have sufficient resources in Belgium, and prove the family relationship.
- Non-EU nationals bringing family - usually subject to stricter income, housing and documentation requirements.
- Family of a Belgian national - a specific set of rules that differs again from the two above, and in practice closer to the stricter non-EU conditions than many people expect.
Identify your category first, then follow the matching page on the Immigration Office website. IHWF cannot apply on your behalf or guarantee an outcome, but we can point you to the right official route.
Who you can bring
The family members you can bring depend on your status, but the categories usually include:
- Your spouse or registered partner - subject to conditions on the relationship, such as a minimum age or proof that the partnership is genuine and registered
- Your minor children - your own children, your partner's children, or shared children, generally under 18
- Dependent relatives - in more limited cases, other dependent family members may qualify, depending on your status
Conditions that usually apply
The person already in Belgium generally needs to meet a set of conditions. These apply in full when the sponsor is a non-EU national or a Belgian; for EU citizens under free movement, the requirements are lighter:
- Proof of the family relationship - such as a legalised and translated marriage or birth certificate. See Required documents for how legalisation and translation work
- Adequate and stable income - proof that you can support your family without relying on public assistance
- Suitable housing - proof that your home is large enough and meets basic standards for your family
- Health insurance - cover for the family members joining you
The exact thresholds - how much income is required, what housing standards apply, and which documents are accepted - are set by the Immigration Office and vary by category, so always check their current requirements rather than relying on general figures.
Fees and timelines
- Application fee (retributie/redevance) - family reunification with a non-EU national or a Belgian requires paying a federal contribution fee before applying (€218 in 2026; indexed yearly). Without proof of payment, the application is inadmissible. Family members of EU citizens are exempt from this fee.
- Decision timelines - the authorities have a legal maximum of six months to decide on applications from family of EU citizens, and nine months (extendable in complex cases) for family reunification with non-EU nationals. Plan for the full period rather than the best case.
Good to know: start gathering and legalising your family's documents early, even before your own move is fully settled. Legalisation and translation of foreign marriage and birth certificates can take weeks, and they are almost always required for a family reunification application.
Sources
- Immigration Office
- Family reunification - third-country nationals
- Family reunification between EU citizens
- Family reunification with a Belgian national
- D visa application for family reunification
Belgian citizenship
