Related documents
Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, Criminal record extract, Residence permit, Employer certificate
Family reunification after international protection
When the sponsor benefits from international protection, the file revolves around the protection status, the family link and the filing date. The rules changed for applications introduced from 18 August 2025 and some facilitations also depend on when the application is lodged.
Official fees + translation if neededVaries by authorityComplex
Last reviewed: 29 March 2026Editorial review: Equipe CertiDocsOfficial sources: 3
Overview
What this guide helps you sort out
When the sponsor benefits from international protection, the file revolves around the protection status, the family link and the filing date. The rules changed for applications introduced from 18 August 2025 and some facilitations also depend on when the application is lodged.
Steps
4
Documents
5
Official sources
3
What frames this file straight away
Before you even follow the procedure step by step, these are usually the axes that matter.
Common translations
Arabic-French, Turkish-French, Russian-French, Romanian-French
Related cities
Brussels, Charleroi, Liège
What the authority will really test here
In this kind of file, the blockage usually comes from proof, sequencing and consistency, not polished wording.
Records that need to line up
This procedure is usually read through Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, Criminal record extract. Names, dates and references need to stay aligned from one record to the next.
Which official reading matters
Brussels, Charleroi will compare the source record with Arabic-French, Turkish-French and wants the issuing authority, date and registry references to be easy to spot.
Order of formalities
The 3 official sources mainly help keep the sequence sharp: recent record first, any apostille or legalisation next, then the right filing step.
What sits at the heart of the file?
The file combines three axes: the sponsor's protection status, proof of the family link and the filing timeline. In this area, dates and categories are not minor administrative details; they determine the applicable regime.
What if the official records are missing?
The Immigration Office starts from official records but also provides for the examination of other evidence when obtaining those records is impossible or unreasonable. That does not remove the need for a clear file: explain why the record is missing and attach every coherent element available.
Where does translation fit in?
Translation comes only after any required authentication of the foreign record. A well-prepared sworn translation helps avoid blocking the assessment of the family link or the status relied on.
Documents to prepare
- Proof of the sponsor's protection status
- Official records establishing the family link
- Additional supporting evidence if an official record is missing
- Apostille or legalisation when required for the original document
- Sworn translation of the documents needed by the competent authority
Steps to follow
1
Check status and date
Confirm the sponsor's protection status and the period in which the application will be lodged.
2
Collect the evidence
Prepare the official records and, where needed, additional elements relating to the family link.
3
Authenticate and translate
Have the foreign document authenticated when required and then obtain the useful sworn translation.
4
Submit and complete
Submit the application through the correct route and respond quickly if the authority requests additional documents.
Good to know
Check the filing window early
Depending on the situation, some facilitations are linked to when the application is lodged after protection has been granted.
Explain missing documents early
If an official record cannot be obtained, it is better to explain that clearly and attach other useful elements from the start.
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Get matchedFrequently asked questions
+−Why is the filing date so important?
Because some rules and facilitations depend on when the application is lodged, especially for files affected by the changes of 18 August 2025.
+−Can the family link be proved without an official record?
The official record remains the baseline. If it is impossible or unreasonably difficult to obtain, the administration may assess other evidence within the file.
+−Which documents need translation?
Records, judgments or certificates that the competent authority cannot use directly should be translated by a sworn translator.
+−Is an apostille always required?
No. It depends on the country of origin of the document and on the applicable authentication route. Check this before translation.
+−Must the file necessarily be submitted abroad?
Often yes, but the correct route depends on the concrete situation. The applicable procedure should be checked before the file is finalised.
Official sources
The links below provide the official baseline. They help verify the procedure but do not replace file-specific analysis or the decision of the competent authority.
Practical guides
Diploma equivalence in BelgiumExchange a foreign driving licence in BelgiumDocuments for family reunification in BelgiumFamily reunification with a BelgianFamily reunification with an EU/EEA citizenProving kinship or partnershipFamily reunification Visa DBelgium student visa: documents and translationsBelgium single permit: documents and translationsFamily reunification with a foreign national in limited stayVisa D for marriage or legal cohabitation in BelgiumCriminal record for Belgian nationalityBelgian inheritance after a death abroadMinor child joining a student or worker parent in BelgiumBelgian nationality as the spouse of a BelgianForeign will and mandate in a Belgian inheritanceMinor child joining a Belgian parentBelgian nationality as the parent of a Belgian childInheritance with real estate in two countriesSponsor for a Belgium student visa (Annex 32)Recognition of a foreign adoption in BelgiumSale of undivided inheritance property in BelgiumRecognition of a child in Belgium with foreign recordsForeign heir and power of attorney in a Belgian inheritanceForeign marriage and then family reunification in BelgiumStudy in Belgium with a foreign diplomaWork in Belgium with a foreign diplomaResidence in Belgium after marriage or legal cohabitationSpouse or child of a foreign student or worker in BelgiumFamily reunification refusal in BelgiumRegulated profession in Belgium with a foreign diplomaWork as a nurse in Belgium with a foreign diplomaDiploma equivalence: FWB, NARIC Vlaanderen or German-speaking Community?Foreign diploma for a healthcare profession in BelgiumTranscription of a foreign birth certificate in BelgiumEU public documents: when an apostille is no longer requiredHow to verify a sworn translator in BelgiumWhen does a sworn translation need legalisation in Belgium?Transcribe a foreign marriage certificate in BelgiumDivorce granted in the EU: recognition in BelgiumDivorce granted outside the EU: recognition in BelgiumForeign death certificate: steps in BelgiumRemarry in Belgium after a foreign divorceForeign divorce with a child: custody, residence and parental responsibility in BelgiumUpdate Belgian civil status after a foreign divorceMaintenance after a foreign divorce in BelgiumBelgian naturalisation: documents and translationsApostille and legalisation of foreign documents in BelgiumRecognition of a foreign marriage in BelgiumExequatur of a foreign judgment in Belgium