Family reunification visa in Belgium: Requirements for Americans

If you want to move to Belgium or are already living there, you might be wondering how to bring your family along. The family reunification visa in Belgium lets eligible relatives join you and live in the country legally.

Americans often have questions about who qualifies, what documents are required, and how long the process to reunite with your family takes. Are there many long and confusing steps?

Whether you're an American settling in Belgium or a Belgian resident wanting to sponsor American family members, this guide covers everything that you need to know.

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Understanding family reunification visa in Belgium: what is it and why is it useful?

The family reunification visa allows close relatives of people living in Belgium to join them and obtain legal residence. It's a long-stay Type D visa. Once you qualify, you get the right to live, work, and access Belgian services like healthcare and education.

Americans can visit Belgium without a visa for up to 90 days, but that tourist status doesn't allow them to work, study, or access public benefits.¹

Over time, the family reunification visa in Belgium may give you a pathway to apply for permanent residency or transition to other legal statuses in Belgium.

What are the most common reasons people apply for a family reunification visa in Belgium?

To sponsor someone, you must already have the right to stay in Belgium for more than 3 months, hold a permanent resident status, or be a Belgian citizen.²

Also, the family reunification visa only applies to close family relationships. In other words, not all relatives are eligible. Only these ones qualify:²

• Spouse or registered partner: Your husband, wife, or registered partner (equivalent to marriage) qualifies, or your legal partner if you've been in a documented and stable relationship for at least 1 year
• Minor unmarried children: Your children under 18, including stepchildren or adopted children, can join you as long as they're not married
• Adult children with disabilities: Unmarried adult children who have a disability and can't live independently may qualify for reunification
• Parents of unaccompanied minors: If you're an unaccompanied minor who has been granted international protection in Belgium, you can sponsor your parents

For the family reunification visa to get approved, the sponsor usually needs to meet a few different conditions, such as having enough income, suitable housing, health insurance, and the ability to live together under the same roof.

Some groups, such as refugees, may be exempt from some of these requirements.

Family reunification visa requirements for Americans

Generally speaking, the application process for the Belgian family reunification visa involves proving your relationship and showing that the sponsor can provide for the arriving family members.

Here's what you'll need:

Valid residence status in Belgium

The sponsor must be a Belgian citizen, have a permanent resident status, or hold a valid residence permit allowing them to stay in Belgium for more than 3 months.²

Tourist visas or short-term stays don't qualify for sponsoring family reunification.

Proof of family relationship

You'll need official documents that prove your connection to the sponsor. This typically includes:

• Marriage certificates for spouses
• Birth certificates for children
• Partnership registration documents for registered partners

If you aren't officially married, you'll need evidence showing you've been in a stable, documented relationship for at least 1 year.²

DNA testing (when necessary)

DNA testing isn't mandatory for everyone, but Belgian authorities may request it when there isn't enough evidence of a family relationship.

For example, this often happens when birth certificates are missing or unclear.

Sufficient financial means

The sponsor must demonstrate that they have a stable, regular, and adequate income to support the family members joining them. The exact amount required depends on your situation.

For example, sponsors using the fast-track family reunification process typically need to earn at least 5,000 EUR gross per month to support dependents.³

But refugees and asylum seekers often face much lower income requirements or may be fully exempt from this condition.

Suitable accommodation

The sponsor must show proof of adequate housing in Belgium with enough space for everyone who will be living there. You can usually show a rental agreement or proof of homeownership to satisfy this requirement.

Health insurance coverage

All family members applying for reunification must have health insurance that covers them in Belgium. They'll use this health insurance until they can access Belgium's healthcare system.

Completed application form and supporting documents

Applicants submit a visa application form through Belgium's visa portal, along with documents like a valid passport, copies of the sponsor's residence permit and passport, medical certificates, and proof of no criminal record.

You'll need to translate and legalize all of your English-language documents.

Benefits of getting a family reunification visa in Belgium

Once approved, the family reunification visa gives your relatives a legal status in Belgium and access to all of the different rights that come with it, including:

• Legal residence: Family members receive a residence permit (A-card) valid for 1 year, renewable annually, and after 5 years can usually apply for permanent residence (B-card)²
• Right to work: Family members can usually work legally in Belgium with no restrictions on changing employers
• Access to education: Both children and adults can enroll in public schools and universities in Belgium
• Healthcare and social benefits: Most family members will be able to access Belgium's healthcare system and social security programs
• Path to permanent residency: After 5 years of continuous legal residence, family members can usually apply for EU long-term resident status²
• Freedom to change status: If your circumstances or purpose of stay change, you can apply for most other residence statuses in Belgium without leaving the country.

Overall, if you want to build a stable, long-term life in Belgium together with your loved ones, the family reunification visa is a great option as long as you're able to meet all of the requirements.

How to apply for a family reunification visa as an American: step-by-step guide

The application process starts in the US, where you'll need to apply for your Type D visa. After you arrive in Belgium, you'll need to register at your local municipality to receive your residence permit.

Here's how the full process works:

1. Create an account on Belgium's visa portal

Before you can apply, you need to create a user account on Belgium's official visa website at visaonweb.diplomatie.be.⁴

You can do this yourself, or your sponsor in Belgium or a third party helping you with your application can create it, too.

2. Complete the visa application form

Log in to your account and fill out the visa application form online.

Use box 23 of the form to indicate that you're applying for family reunification and add any additional context to box 24.⁴

Once you've completed and validated the form, submit it through the portal.

3. Prepare all required documents

You'll need the following documents for your Belgium family reunification visa application:

• The completed and signed visa application form (printed from the portal)
• Valid passports for all family members applying
• Copies of the sponsor's residence permit and passport
• Proof of family relationship, such as a marriage certificate or a birth certificate
• Medical certificate
• Police clearance certificate showing no criminal record
• Proof of health insurance covering Belgium
• Proof of the sponsor's stable, regular, and sufficient income
• Evidence of suitable accommodation in Belgium
• Proof of payment for the visa application fee and handling fee

Start gathering these documents ahead of time, and make sure that all US-issued paperwork is legalized (apostilled) and translated into Dutch, French, or German by a certified translator.

4. Schedule an appointment

You'll need to book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in the US. This will be an in-person appointment, so make sure to make all necessary travel arrangements.

5. Submit your application

On the day of your appointment, go to the Visa Application Centre with all original documents, printed copies, and your appointment confirmation.

The VAC staff will review your file and give you a checklist showing which documents you've submitted. If your file is incomplete, you can choose to submit later after gathering the missing documents.

At the appointment, you'll also pay the handling fee and service fee, have your photo taken, and provide fingerprints for biometric identification.

6. Wait for processing

The Visa Application Centre forwards your application to the Belgian embassy or consulate for processing. Belgian immigration authorities have up to 9 months to make a decision, but the timeline often depends on whether your sponsor is a Belgian citizen or legal resident.²⁴

You'll be able to check the status of your application online.

7. Enter Belgium

Once your Type D visa is approved, travel to Belgium and register at the municipality (commune) of your place of residence within 8 days.⁴

The municipality will issue your residence permit (A-card), which is initially valid for 1 year. You’ll need to renew it annually.²

Costs for a family reunification visa in Belgium

There are a few different costs associated with the family reunification process in Belgium.

The Type D long-stay visa application fee is 180 EUR per person. You must pay this fee upfront and include proof of payment with your application.⁵

Once you arrive in Belgium and apply for your residence permit at the municipality, you'll also pay an additional fee of 313 EUR for the residence permit itself.⁵

In addition to these official government fees, it's a smart idea to budget for document translations, health insurance coverage, and other indirect costs.

For example, if you don't live near a Visa Application Centre, you'll need to pay for travel and accommodation to attend your appointment in person. If you’re coming from another state, this can be costly.

FAQ

How long does it take to get a family reunification visa in Belgium?

It can vary depending on the sponsor's status in Belgium.

If the sponsor is a Belgian citizen, the decision must be made within 6 months of submitting the application. For sponsors who are third-country nationals with a residence permit in Belgium, the Immigration Office has up to 9 months to decide, with the possibility of extensions.⁴

Highly qualified workers (H card holders) and sponsors with long-term resident status from another EU country sometimes qualify for faster processing.

Can I bring my brother or sister to Belgium?

No, siblings aren't eligible for family reunification in Belgium. This visa is for immediate family members, including spouses or registered partners, minor unmarried children, adult children with disabilities, and, in very limited cases, parents of unaccompanied minors who have been granted international protection.

Can digital nomads reunify their families in Belgium?

Belgium doesn't currently have a digital nomad visa, so there's no family reunification pathway for digital nomads. But if you're living in Belgium on another type of residence permit (such as a work visa) and meet the standard requirements, you can sponsor your family members using the regular family reunification process.

Can I work in Belgium on a family reunification visa?

Yes, family members who receive a residence permit through family reunification can usually work legally in Belgium. There are no restrictions on the type of employment you can do, and you're free to change employers whenever you choose.

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The family reunification visa in Belgium allows you to bring your loved ones together if you're already settled in the country or planning to relocate.

However, you'll usually need to meet the income and housing requirements to get approved.

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Sources

1. US Department of State - Belgium
2. European Commission - Family Member in Belgium
3. Envoy Global - Belgium New Family Reunification Income Requirements
4. IBZ Immigration Office - Visa D application
5. Expatica - The family reunion visa in Belgium

Sources checked 03/30/2026