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Registered Partner of an EU/EEA/Swiss Citizen

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 qualifying relative is a foreign national whose partnership with the EU citizen is registered under a law; a Belgian declaration of legal cohabitation is given as an example.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page gives a Belgian legal-cohabitation example but does not settle recognition of every foreign-law registered partnership.
  • Family members
    the foreign national with whom the EU citizen is in a partnership registered under a law;
  • Conditions imposed on the registered partner
    prove that he/she is in a partnership registered under a law with the accompanied or joined EU citizen (e.g. a declaration of legal cohabitation in Belgium);

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

The sponsor must be an EU/associated-country citizen with a right to stay in Belgium for more than three months, proved by the listed Belgian/EU residence documents. If the sponsor is a student, only a spouse/registered partner and children may join.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Sponsor movement and the exact national/associated-country legal instrument need case-specific confirmation; student sponsors face 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 partner must prove identity and legal registration, be single, and show a lasting and stable relationship. The accepted alternatives are continuous cohabitation for at least one year; knowing each other for at least two years plus regular contact and three meetings totalling at least 45 days; or a mutual child. The partner must be over 21, or over 18 after at least a year of cohabitation before the EU citizen arrives.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The listed relationship tests are the page's alternatives; confirm current evidence details with the competent authority for the particular case.

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

For a student sponsor, the family member must prove sponsor-linked health-insurance cover and sufficient resources. Similar proof applies if the sponsor resides on sufficient means, except where the sponsor already has Belgian permanent residence. The official source does not state a general monetary threshold.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Full financial and insurance rules are linked separately; no monetary threshold is present in the captured text.

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?

Where a visa is required and Directive 2004/38/EC covers the movement, a C entry visa may be assessed under the special rules, but it is not a residence card. For a stay over 90 days, the family member must separately apply at the municipality. Permit duration, work rights and independent/long-term progression are not stated.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Directive coverage depends on actual movement. The 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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