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Descendant of an EU/EEA/Swiss Citizen or Partner

BelgiumFamily

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Belgium Read the five questions ↓

Which family relationships qualify?

The page includes direct descendants of the EU citizen and of the citizen's spouse or registered partner who are under 21, or who are dependent in the country of origin or provenance.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The captured family-member definition is under-21 or dependent; other age/relationship cases are not established here.
  • Family members
    the direct descendants of the EU citizen and those of his/her spouse or registered partner, aged under 21 or who are dependent upon him/her in the country of origin or provenance;

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

The sponsor is the EU/associated-country citizen whose Belgian stay right exceeds three months; the descendant may also rely on the sponsor's spouse or partner as the family link. If the sponsor is a student, the page limits family to a spouse/registered partner and children.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The associated-country title scope is not a complete statement of every EEA/Swiss rule; student sponsors have a narrower family list.
  • Conditions imposed on the spouse/partner
    prove that the EU citizen has the right to stay in Belgium for more than 3 months (annex 8ter/E card/EU card/annex 19).
  • Family members - student sponsor warning
    If the EU citizen is a student, within the meaning of article 40, §4, paragraph 1, 3°, of the Law of 15 December 1980) he/she may only be joined by his/her spouse or registered partner and by his/her children, or those of his/her spouse or partner.

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

The descendant must prove identity and parentage, be under 21 or prove dependency in the country of origin/provenance, and provide custody evidence; if custody is shared, the other holder must consent. The sponsor must also show the right to stay in Belgium for more than three months.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page gives core proof requirements, not a complete case-specific document list or detailed dependency test.

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

If the sponsor resides in Belgium on sufficient means, the page requires proof of family health-insurance cover and sufficient sponsor resources; it says these are not required where the sponsor already has permanent residence. Student sponsors are subject to specific insurance/resource proof. No general financial threshold is stated here.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Full financial/insurance requirements are conditional and linked separately; no monetary threshold is present in this capture.

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

A visa-required family member covered by Directive 2004/38/EC may use the special C-visa procedure, but the visa is not a residence card. A stay over 90 days requires a separate family-reunification application to the municipality. Permit duration, work rights and independent/long-term progression are not stated.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Directive coverage is case-specific; the captured page does not state residence-card duration, work rights or independent/long-term status.
  • Application for an entry visa (C visa)
    The only requirement that Belgium can impose on a non-EU foreign national who is a (another) family member of an EU citizen is an entry
  • Special provision - accelerated procedure
    the assessment of the visa application must, as much as possible, be completed within 15 days from the moment when the family member has proved, with documents, that his/her movement is covered by Directive 2004/38/EC.
  • Decision - entry visa
    the issuing of an entry visa under Directive 2004/38/EC does not count as the issuing of a residence card.
  • Application for family reunification
    A family member who wishes to stay in Belgium for more than 90 days in order to live as a family with the EU citizen being accompanied or joined must submit an application for
  • Application for family reunification
    to the municipal administration of the place where he/she resides in Belgium.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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