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 procedure | 30 euro |
| Residence card for a child under 12 | 9 euro |
| Urgent procedure | 133 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.
programme
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Explore your options if you do not have a type D visa
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You are married
- Your passport
- Your marriage certificate
- Translated into Dutch, French, German, or English
- legalised or with an apostille, if required
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You are legally cohabitating
- Your passport
- Proof of registration for legal cohabitation
- Proof of a stable and long-term relationship: 1 year of effective cohabitation, knowing each other for 2 years, or having a child together
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You are under 18 years old
- Your passport
- Your birth certificate
- Translated into Dutch, French, German, or English
- If required, with legalization or apostille
- Proof of custody rights and parental authority: if custody is shared, also include consent from the absent parent
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You are over 18 years old
- Your passport
- Your birth certificate
- translated into Dutch, French, German, or English
- legalised or with an apostille if required
- If you are 21 years of age or older
- Proof that you were financially dependent of your parent in the country where you lived:
- Proof of inability to support yourself in your country of origin
- Proof that you received support for the past 6 months
- Certificate stating that you are not financially dependent on the OCMW (Public Centre for Social Welfare)
- Proof of income from the parent
- Proof that you were financially dependent of your parent in the country where you lived:
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You are a parent
Of a child under 18 years of age
- Your passport
- The birth certificate of your child
- translated into Dutch, French, German, or English
- legalised or with an apostille if required
- If your child has no right yet to an EU+card:
- Proof of sufficient financial means
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of custody rights and parental authority: if custody is shared, also include consent from the absent parent
- Proof of cohabitation or proof of an emotional and/or financial bond and proof of actual care for the child
Of a child above 18 years of age
- Your passport
- The birth certificate of your child
- translated into Dutch, French, German, or English
- legalised or with an apostille if required
- Proof that you are dependent of your child:
- Proof of income of your child
- Proof of inability to support yourself in your country of origin
- Proof that you received financial support for the past 6 months from your child who lived in Belgium
- Certificate stating that you are not financially dependent on the OCMW (Public Centre for Social Welfare)
- Proof of cohabitation or proof of an emotional and/or financial bond
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What are the steps?
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You have a type D visa
- Register online and complete the steps indicated on the form.
- You will receive a confirmation email once we have received your e-form.
- After processing your application and verifying your documents, you can collect an Annex 15. You will receive an email notification for this.
- The police will conduct an address check.
- 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).
- 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.
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You do not have a type D visa
- Schedule an appointment with Migration.
- Your file will be initiated during your appointment, and you will receive a registration certificate (Annex 19ter).
- The police will conduct an address check.
- You will receive an email invitation to complete your file. Use the link in the email to schedule an appointment.
- 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.
- 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. - 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?
If your situation does not fall under any of these categories, but you still wish to initiate a family reunification procedure, please contact Infopunt Migratie.