Family reunion with the spouse of a Belgian citizen (minimum stay of 91 days)

Please read the important notes on the bottom of the page carefully before lodging your application.

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List of supporting documents

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

 

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 3 consecutive blank   pages with the mention ‘visa’ available (for affixing the visa sticker)
  • Undamaged. 

3

Recent passport photos 

3 originals 
  • Conform to ICAO standards 
  • 1 photo to be attached to each application form 
  • 1 photo to be submitted separately.
  • Full name to 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

Proof of marriage 

1 original

+

2 copies


 
  • In general: A certified true copy of the marriage certificate, duly legalized and accompanied by a translation into French, Dutch or German
  • For Japanese applicants, whose marriage was carried out in Japan: a certified copy of the certificate of family register kosekitohon (duly legalized and translated)
  • For marriages carried out in Japan (between a Belgian and a non-Japanese citizen): a certified true copy of the certificate known as konintodoke-kisaijiko-shomeisho (duly legalized and translated)

Notes:

  • In case of remarriage of the applicant or the Belgian spouse, proof of the dissolution of the previous marriage, or proof of the death of the previous spouse; or similar, is required.
  • 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.

6

Copy of ID card of the Belgian spouse

2 copies of the front and back 

  

7

Proof of sufficient housing in Belgium

2 copies

The accommodation needs to be sufficient for any residents already living there AND the family members who will be moving in. 

  • Rental contract + MyRent registration

OR

  • Proof of ownership of a residence

OR 

  • Other (depending on the applicant's specific situation and at the applicant’s own discretion)
8 Proof that the Belgian spouse has stable, regular and sufficient means of subsistence in Belgium

1 original

+

2 copies
  • Documents proving a minimum income of € 2048,53 (NET) per month

If unable to present the above:

  • Documents proving that the Belgian spouse has stable and regular means of subsistence, with a clear indication of the amount AND all other documents that show the Belgian spouse’s financial situation, his/her needs, and the needs of his/her family members

Note: The documents should cover a period long enough to prove that the income is stable and regular.

9

Proof of health insurance of the Belgian spouse, which also covers the visa applicant

1 original 

+

2 copies
  • A certificate from the health insurance fund (mutuality) with which he/she is affiliated, confirming the possibility of affiliating the visa applicant (foreign spouse) starting from his/her arrival in Belgium

OR

  • Travel medical insurance:  

> Covering any costs of repatriation for medical reasons, emergency medical care and/or emergency hospital care during your stay/s on the Schengen territory;

> valid for all Schengen countries

> The minimum cover is 30,000 EUR.

> The duration of coverage  is 3 months (minimum) 

10

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

1 original

+

2 copies
  • To be paid to the Belgian Immigration Office
  • For detailed information on remittance, exemptions, special cases, etc., check the directions. 

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. 
  • A complete visa file will take up to 15 days to be processed.
  • In some cases, the final decision needs to be made by the Belgian Immigration Office, and it can take several months for the result to be communicated to the visa desk. The visa can only be delivered when the visa desk receives permission from the Immigration Office. You will be duly informed should your file be sent to the Immigration Office. 
  • Please apply as early as you can. You can apply as early as 6 months before your intended departure date. 

(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 (non-Belgian) 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/translation 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