Family reunification as a non-EU citizen with an EU citizen

Are you a non-EU citizen? Is your partner, child, or parent an EU citizen? Find out what steps you need to take for family reunification.

What is it about

If you stay in Belgium for more than 3 months, you must apply for registration with the municipality.

You will then receive an F card.

What are the conditions?

  • You are a non-EU citizen.
  • You are staying at a private address in Ghent.
  • If you do not have a fixed address for at least 1 month, the registration process will be postponed until you have stayed at the same address for more than 1 month.
  • It is recommended to apply for a type D visa at the competent diplomatic post before coming to Belgium.

How much does it cost?

Starting a file is free of charge.

For the residence card, you pay:

Standard procedure30 euro
Residence card for a child under 129 euro
Urgent procedure133 euro

If you apply for residence cards in the urgent procedure for more than one child under 12 living at your address, you pay 110 euro for the second and any subsequent cards.

Contactless payment is preferred.

What do I need?

If you have a type D visa:

  • Your passport

If you do not have a type D visa:

  • See below

programme

Explore your options if you do not have a type D visa

What are the steps?

  • You have a type D visa

    1. Register online and complete the steps indicated on the form.
    2. You will receive a confirmation email once we have received your e-form.
    3. After processing your application and verifying your documents, you can collect an Annex 15. You will receive an email notification for this.
    4. The police will conduct an address check.
    5. You will receive an invitation by email to apply for your residence card. Use the provided link to schedule an appointment for your F card application. You will receive a second temporary residence document (a second Annex 15).
    6. Collect your residence card at the City Office using the codes sent to your home. This process may take 3 to 4 weeks.
      No appointmen is necessary.
  • You do not have a type D visa

    1. Schedule an appointment with Migration.
    2. Your file will be initiated during your appointment, and you will receive a registration certificate (Annex 19ter).
    3. The police will conduct an address check.
    4. You will receive an email invitation to complete your file. Use the link in the email to schedule an appointment.
    5. At your appointment, you will receive an orange card valid for six months from the start of your file. A second appointment will be scheduled to receive the final decision at the end of the procedure.
    6. After 6 months you wil know the result of your application at the moment of your appointment.
      If the result is positive, a residence card will be requested.
      If the result is negative, the procedure will be closed.
      If no decision has been made, the orange card will be extended by three months.
    7. Collect your residence card at the City Office or service centre where you applied, using the codes sent to your home. This process may take 3 to 4 weeks.
      No appointment is necessary

Are there any exceptions?

Do you not find your situation under one of these categories? Would you still like to start a family reunification procedure?

Contact the Migration Information Point.

Frequently asked questions