Belgium has officially made it harder to bring family members over. On August 18, 2025, new family reunification rules came into effect after the country’s Federal Parliament approved a fresh set of regulations. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is Family Reunification?

Family reunification allows foreign residents or citizens to bring close family members, like spouses or children, to live with them in the same country under specific immigration rules and requirements.

Higher Minimum Salary Requirement

The income/salary requirement to sponsor a family member in Belgium has gone up. You now need to meet a higher salary requirement.

• New minimum income: €2,323.10 net per month
• Previous requirement: €2,131.28 net per month

This income must be stable and regular to qualify. If you’re supporting more than one dependent, your income must be 10% higher for each additional person.

Here’s a simple example table showing how the 10% increase works for each additional dependent:

This is a new rule, and the way your income is calculated for the application will also change, though the government hasn’t yet shared full details.

New Minimum Age for Partners

Apart from the increased salary requirement, if you’re applying to reunite with your spouse or partner, the minimum age is now 21. It used to be 18 in some cases, but that exception has been removed.

This applies across the board, even if your partner is a Belgian national.

New Residency Requirement for Some Sponsors

If you hold subsidiary protection, a temporary residence status, or even an unlimited residence permit, you must now live in Belgium for at least two years before applying to bring your family.

There are a few exceptions, but the rule is meant to slow down family reunification applications from people who haven’t lived in Belgium long.

What About Ongoing or Recent Applications?

The new rules took effect on August 18, 2025, but there’s a transition period. That means:

• If you already applied before this date, your case might still be processed under the old rules.
• Some new applications submitted shortly after August 18 may also fall under the older framework.
• Special conditions will apply depending on your situation.

Final Thoughts

These changes raise the bar for many people hoping to bring family members to Belgium. If you’re planning to apply or have already applied, double-check the new rules and see how they affect your case. The two biggest hurdles now are meeting the income requirement and proving longer-term residency, especially if you’re not a citizen or long-time resident.

For many, this means extra planning or waiting longer before filing a family reunification request.

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