Family Reunification in Belgium: All Documents to Translate

Preparing a family reunification application in Belgium? The Belgian Aliens Act of 15 December 1980 requires that all foreign documents submitted to the Immigration Office (DVZ/OE) be accompanied by a sworn translation into French, Dutch or German. TranslateBE prepares your full file: civil status records, criminal records, proof of income. Quote within 1 hour, 24-hour express delivery available.

General conditions for family reunification in Belgium

Family reunification is governed by Articles 10, 10bis and 40bis-40ter of the Aliens Act of 15 December 1980. The sponsor (the person already in Belgium) must meet three cumulative conditions: adequate housing as certified by the municipality, health insurance covering the entire household, and stable and regular means of subsistence (at least 120% of the social integration income, around €2,100 net per month in 2026, with limited exceptions).

The Immigration Office requires originals or certified true copies of foreign documents, accompanied by an apostille (Hague Convention of 5 October 1961) or consular legalisation for non-signatory countries, followed by a sworn translation produced by a translator listed in the RNEJ (Belgian National Register of Judicial Experts).

Documents by type of reunification

The list of documents varies depending on the family relationship invoked. Three configurations dominate Immigration Office practice:

• Spouse or registered partner: marriage certificate or legal cohabitation certificate (recognised equivalent — see Annex to the Belgian Civil Code), birth certificates of both spouses, recent criminal record of the foreign spouse (less than 6 months old), evidence of the dissolution of any prior marriage (divorce judgment, death certificate of the previous spouse).
• Minor child: birth certificate showing both parents, consent from the non-accompanying parent if the child travels without both parents (notarial deed, custody judgment, or death certificate), family composition from the country of origin.
• Parent of a Belgian or EU minor: birth certificate of the sponsoring child, birth certificate of the foreign parent, evidence of effective dependency.

Apostille: required for most countries

Before translation, the authenticity of the foreign document must be established. For the 125 States party to the Hague Convention (Morocco, Turkey, Albania, Algeria since 2024, India, Brazil, etc.), an apostille issued by the competent authority of the country of origin is sufficient. For non-signatory countries (DR Congo, Cameroon, Vietnam, Afghanistan…), a chain of consular legalisations is required: local foreign ministry, then Belgian embassy or consulate on the spot.

The apostille or legalisation must be affixed to the original before translation. The sworn translator then translates the entire document (including the apostille). A missing apostille or legalisation systematically results in rejection of the Immigration Office file.

Processing times at the Immigration Office

The legal decision deadline is 6 months for reunification with a Belgian or EU citizen (Article 42 of the 1980 Act), extendable twice by 3 months in complex cases. For reunification with a third-country national, the deadline is 9 months, extendable up to 15 months. The starting date is the registration of the complete file at the municipality (Annex 19ter or Annex 15bis).

An incomplete or poorly translated file resets the clock. A compliant sworn translation from the first submission avoids three to six months of delay.