[Article 40ter, §2 of the Act of 15 December 1980]
The father and mother of an underage Belgian national can, under certain conditions, accompany or join this minor in Belgium. Their right to family reunification must be recognised if they prove, with documents, that the following conditions have been met:
- Nationality
The sponsor must be a Belgian national.
→ Submit proof that the sponsor is a Belgian national (identity card, national passport or any document that validly proves the sponsor's nationality).
- Age
The sponsor must be less than 18 years old.
→ Submit the birth certificate of the sponsor, or any other document that validly proves the sponsor's age.
- Descent
The applicant must be the father or mother of the sponsor.
→ Submit the birth certificate of the sponsor, or any other document that validly proves their paternal or maternal descent.
Useful information: if the applicant cannot produce a deed that validly proves the sponsor's lineage, the Immigration Office will generally refuse the visa application, subject to a DNA test. If the other conditions for family reunification are met, the visa may be issued based on the positive result of this test.
- Accompaniment or joining
The applicant must accompany or join the sponsor in Belgium.
→ Submit any means of proof (air ticket or transport ticket, invitation to accompany or join the sponsor, proof that the applicant and the sponsor live under the same roof, etc.).