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Family of a Temporary-Protection Beneficiary

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?

Belgium distinguishes family members who themselves need temporary protection from those who do not. For the first group, the family must have existed in the country of origin before the mass-displacement events, separation must result from those events, the applicant must personally qualify for temporary protection, and the applicant must be outside the EU. For other family members, the page describes a separate residence-reunification regime.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The route branches into distinct old/new regimes; an individual's own eligibility for temporary protection changes the conditions.
  • Old provisions — cumulative conditions
    To benefit from family reunification, family members of a foreign national who has been granted temporary protection status and who themselves require temporary protection must meet the following cumulative conditions:
  • Old provisions — family already formed
    the family was already formed in the country of origin at the time of the events that led to a mass influx of displaced persons;
  • Old provisions — separation
    the separation of the family is the result of the events that led to a mass influx of displaced persons;
  • Old provisions — applicant location
    they are outside the territory of the Member States of the European Union.
  • New provisions — application
    Family members who are not yet in the territory of the European Union and who need temporary protection may apply for a residence permit for more than three months to join a foreign national who has been granted temporary protection status and has been admitted to stay in Belgium for more than three months.

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

The sponsor is a foreign national granted temporary protection and admitted to stay in Belgium for more than three months. Eligible relatives and age/relationship rules vary according to whether the applicant also qualifies for temporary protection and which transitional rule applies.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Sponsor conditions depend on whether the sponsor had permission to stay over three months before 18 August 2025 and on the filing date.
  • New provisions — application
    Family members who are not yet in the territory of the European Union and who need temporary protection may apply for a residence permit for more than three months to join a foreign national who has been granted temporary protection status and has been admitted to stay in Belgium for more than three months.
  • Family members needing temporary protection — transitional rules
    The provisions that applied before 18 August 2025 (referred to as old provisions) will continue to apply to family reunification applications :

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

Evidence must establish the relevant family relationship, that the family existed before the events and that separation resulted from them. For applicants requiring temporary protection, the page lists spouses, specified partners, minor children and certain dependent relatives; partner stability, age, parental authority and dependency conditions vary by category.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The source provides multiple family categories with different age, partnership, custody and dependency rules; not every document list is reproduced here.
  • Old provisions — family categories
    The following persons are considered to be family members of a foreign national who enjoys temporary protection:
  • Old provisions — family already formed
    the family was already formed in the country of origin at the time of the events that led to a mass influx of displaced persons;
  • Old provisions — separation
    the separation of the family is the result of the events that led to a mass influx of displaced persons;
  • Old provisions — other close relative
    The Immigration Office may also grant a residence permit to another close relative of a beneficiary of temporary protection status, provided that the family relationship has been proven and provided that this other close relative, was living with the foreign national enjoying temporary protection status at the time of the events that led to a mass influx of displaced persons and was wholly or mainly dependent on them.

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

For relatives not needing temporary protection, the sponsor generally must show health insurance, adequate housing and stable, regular, sufficient means. The page gives a threshold of 110% of the guaranteed minimum income plus 10% for each additional dependent; it exempts a minor child joining alone in the stated circumstances from proof of the sponsor's means. A two-year sponsor waiting period applies, except when only a minor child or unmarried disabled adult child joins.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The income formula and housing/insurance rules are conditional; the exact indexed reference amount and case-specific assessment must be current-checked.
  • Family members not needing temporary protection — sponsor conditions
    The spouse and partner of the foreign national being joined, as well as their children and those of their spouse or partner, must demonstrate that the foreign national being joined has health insurance, adequate housing and stable, regular and sufficient means of support.
  • Adequate means of subsistence — formula
    The net amount of the means of subsistence must be at least 110% of the guaranteed average monthly minimum income as stated in Article 3 of the collective labour agreement No. 43 of 2 May 1988 on the guarantee of an average minimum monthly income (GGMMI).
  • Adequate means — minor-child exception
    a minor child of the foreign national who is being joined or of their spouse does not have to provide proof that the foreign national who is being joined has stable, regular and sufficient means of support, provided that the child is unmarried, comes to live with the foreign national who is being joined before the age of 18 and is the only one joining this foreign national.
  • Family members not needing temporary protection — waiting period
    The foreign national being joined must have been authorised to reside in Belgium for at least two years.
  • Waiting period — child exceptions
    However, this period does not apply if the foreign national is only being joined by a minor child or an unmarried disabled child over the age of 18.

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 family member outside the EU applies to the Belgian diplomatic or consular post responsible for where they are staying abroad. The Belgian Immigration Office page states that temporary protection is currently granted until 4 March 2027; Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912 extends it until 4 March 2028, applying from 5 March 2027. From 31 July 2026 it is only granted to those who satisfy their military obligations in Ukraine, except persons already enjoying it in a Member State on or before 30 July 2026 who continuously retain it. The official sources do not state family members' work rights or a route to longer-term status.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The official source does not state the complete answer to this question for this route.

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

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