Family reunion with family of a professional card approval holder (minimum stay of 91 days)

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Please note

If the family members apply for a D visa within 6 months after the date of issuance of the D visa for the professional card approval holder, as a general rule, their visa can be issued within 2 weeks. 

If the family members apply for a D visa later than 6 months after the date of issuance of the D visa for professional card approval holders, their files will be sent to the Belgian Immigration Office. The Immigration Office may need up to 9 months to reach a decision. 

A family reunion visa application will be accepted only after the professional card is approved by the competent authority in Belgium.

List of supporting documents

  • If the family members apply for a D visa within 6 months after the date of issuance of the D visa for the professional card approval holder, as a general rule, their visa can be issued within 2 weeks. 
  • If the family members apply for a D visa later than 6 months after the date of issuance of the D visa for professional card approval holders, their files will be sent to the Belgian Immigration Office. The Immigration Office may need up to 9 months to reach a decision. 
  • A family reunion visa application will be accepted only after the professional card is approved by the competent authority in Belgium.

List of supporting documents

Please prepare 1 set of originals and  2 sets of copies in the order mentioned below. 

 
List of supporting documents
 

DOCUMENT

TYPE

COMMENT

1

Visa Application Form  

2 originals 
  • Printed from VOW
  • Signed and dated.
  • Do not use a hyphen (-) to input your telephone number in VOW; this could result in an error in the system.
  • Important: Question 30: Choose 'person' > Check the box for “Has the inviting person signed...”,  > make sure to fill in the information of the family member you will join in Belgium.

2

Passport 

1 original 

+ 

2 copies of the data page
  • Issued less than 10 years ago;
  • Valid for at least more than 3 months beyond the validity of the requested visa.
  • With a minimum of 3 consecutive blank pages with the mention ‘visa’ available (to affix the visa sticker);
  • Undamaged. 

3

Recent photographs (for passports, IDs etc.)

3 originals 
  • Conform to ICAO standards 
  • 1 photo to be attached to each application form 
  • 1 photo to be submitted separately
  • Full name must be written on the back of each photo

4

Valid Japanese resident card 

1 original 

+

2 copies of the front and back 
  • Only for non-Japanese applicants

5

Certificate of Criminal 

Record  

1 original
  • See the directions
  • Only for applicants who are 18 years old or older

6

Medical certificate

1 original

+

2 copies
  • See the directions
  • Submit both the certificate and the test results (provided by the doctor in detail)

7

Proof of family relationship 

1 original

+

2 copies


 
  • In general: A certified true copy of the marriage (for the spouse); birth certificate (for the child), duly legalized and accompanied by a translation into French, Dutch or German.
  • If all family members are Japanese citizens, or if there are non-Japanese and Japanese members in the family, a certified true copy of family registration (KOSEKITOHON), duly legalized and translated, is required.
  • If all family members are non-Japanese citizens, a certified true copy of the marriage certificate (for the spouse) or birth certificate (for the child), duly legalized and accompanied by a translation into French, Dutch or German. For the legalization and translation, please inquire with the Belgian embassy or consulate in the relevant country.

Notes:

  • All official documents issued by a foreign(non-Belgian) public authority should be translated and legalized: see directions > translation and legalization
  • For the legalization and translation of documents delivered by a non-Japanese or non-Belgian public authority, please inquire with the competent Belgian embassy or consulate in the country concerned.

8

Photocopy of the passport of the professional card approval holder

2 copies
  • Only the data page

9

Photocopy of the D visa of the professional card approval holder

2 copies
  • Only if the professional card approval holder has already obtained a D visa based on the approval of the professional card by the competent authority in Belgium.

10

Photocopy of the Belgian resident card of the professional card approval holder

2 copies
  • Only if the professional card approval holder already is a resident in Belgium.
11

Proof that the professional card holder has stable, regular, and sufficient means of subsistence

 1 original + 2 copies
  • Minimum income of 2131,28 euro NET/month
  • The documents should cover a period long enough to prove that the income is stable: If possible, documents that prove income of the previous 12 months or more

12

Proof of sufficient housing

2 copies
  • Rental contract + MyRent registration

OR

  • Certificate from the business partner in Belgium stating that sufficient housing will be provided.

13

Proof of medical insurance

1 original 

+

2 copies
  • Certificate of registration at Belgian mutual insurance, or certificate from the Belgian mutual insurance stating that the family members will be registered.

OR

  • Other proof that the family members are covered or will be covered for medical expenses.

OR 

  •  If the family members are not yet registered with medical insurance, travel insurance, valid at least for three months for the Schengen States covering any costs of repatriation for medical reasons, emergency medical care and/or emergency hospital care during your stay/s on the Schengen territory, can be accepted. 
  • The minimum cover should be 30,000 EUR.

14

Proof of payment of the administrative fee to the Belgian Immigration Office

1 original 

+

2 copies
  • Only if the applicant is 18 years old or older 
  • For detailed information on amounts, remittance, exemptions, special cases, etc., check the directions > administrative fee
 

Visa fee

Free of charge for Japanese, Moroccan, Israeli, Turkish, and San Marino nationals.

 

NEW : From 1 March 2025, only electronic payment methods will be received at the Belgian Embassy in Toyo. Cash will no longer be accepted.

For accepted types of payments, please see below:

Payment methods

 

Click here for detailed information on prices and exemptions
 

Important notes

  • No application will be accepted without VOW (visa on web)  and an e-appointment. Please refer to the “VOW Guidance”. 
  • The final outcome of your visa application will be a direct result of the information that can be found in the supporting documents you have presented. If you wish for a specific outcome, please provide sufficient documents to prove the necessity of that outcome. 
  • The final decision for this type of visa can sometimes need to be made by the Belgian Immigration Office, and in such a case, it can take several months for the result to be communicated to the visa desk. Only when the visa desk receives permission from the Immigration Office, the visa can be delivered. 
  • Please apply as early as you can. You can apply as early as 6 months before your intended departure date, but only after the professional card application has been approved by the competent authority in Belgium. 
  • Personal appearance is not required.

(In)complete documents

  • The visa desk reserves the right to request additional documents (even if not featured in the list above) or to invite the applicant to an interview if deemed necessary.
  • An incomplete application file can result in a visa refusal. However, a complete file does not guarantee the issuance of a visa. Be informed that the visa section has no obligation to ask for missing documents. If a document is missing, it will be assumed that you are unable to provide it, or that you do not wish to provide it.

Language

  • All official documents issued by a (foreign) public authority (e.g. birth certificate, proof of celibacy, etc.) should be accompanied by an official translation (by a sworn/professional translator) into one of Belgium’s official languages: French, Dutch, or German. Please also make sure that all official documents comply with the Legalization/Apostille requirements.
  • All non-official documents (e.g. proof of relationship, bank statements, flight tickets, etc.), should be accompanied by a translation (free translation by yourself, or by sworn/professional translator) into one of Belgium’s official languages (French, Dutch, or German) or English.

Financial proof

  • Financial proof (salary slip, certificate of scholarship, bank statement, etc.) should always be presented in EURO. If the original currency is not EURO, please convert the sums using a reliable currency converter such as xe.com or oanda.com, and mention the conversion rate and date of conversion.

Preparation of the application file

  • Unless otherwise indicated, documents sent by fax or email are not accepted.
  • All copies must be A4 size.
  • Setting - in the order listed above:

               1 original application form +1 set of copies of other documents listed above

                             and

               1 original application form +1 set of copies of other documents listed above

                and

               1 set of original documents listed above

Foto van een Belgische vlag, een pen en een blad papier waarop de woorden Visa application staan

Types of visa

Information on the different types of visa.

Directions for specific documents