Best Dependent Visa Lawyers in Hasselt

About Dependent Visa Law in Hasselt, Belgium

In Belgium, what many people call a dependent visa is handled under the rules for family reunification. The process usually begins with a long-stay visa type D issued abroad, followed by registration and residence in the municipality where you will live. If you are moving to Hasselt to join a family member, the national immigration rules apply, and the city of Hasselt handles your local registration and residence card once you arrive.

The exact conditions depend on who your sponsor in Belgium is. Sponsors can be Belgian citizens, EU or EEA or Swiss citizens living in Belgium, or non-EU residents who hold a valid Belgian residence permit. The core requirements are proof of the family relationship, sufficient and stable income of the sponsor, adequate accommodation, and health insurance. After arrival in Hasselt, you must register with the municipality, complete identity and address checks, and then receive a residence card that allows you to live, and in most cases work, in Belgium.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

Family reunification rules are detailed and time sensitive. A lawyer can help you identify the correct legal route based on your sponsor’s status, confirm the right documents, and avoid mistakes that cause delays or refusals. Legal assistance is valuable when there are gaps in civil status documents, when translations or legalisations are needed, or when embassies request additional evidence such as DNA testing in parent-child cases.

You may also need a lawyer if your sponsor’s income is close to the legal threshold, if you have a complex relationship history such as prior marriages or divorces, if your case involves adult dependent children or parents, or if there are custody issues. A lawyer is crucial for appeals after a refusal, in cases involving allegations of a marriage of convenience, or if you need to switch status or retain residence rights after relationship breakdown or domestic violence.

Local Laws Overview

Belgium’s family reunification rules are set by national and EU law, including the Act of 15 December 1980 on the entry, residence, settlement and removal of foreign nationals, the Royal Decree of 8 October 1981, EU Directive 2003 or 86 or EC on family reunification for third country nationals, and EU free movement rules for family members of EU citizens. The Immigration Office at federal level decides most applications. The city of Hasselt handles your local registration and residence card issuance once you arrive.

Eligibility depends on the family link and the sponsor’s residence status. Spouses and registered partners, minor children, and in limited cases adult dependent children or parents may qualify. Unmarried partners may qualify if the relationship is stable and long term, subject to strict proof and age conditions. Foreign marriages and birth certificates must be valid in the country of origin, not contrary to Belgian public order, and usually must be legalised or apostilled and translated by a sworn translator. In Hasselt, documents must be in Dutch or accompanied by an official Dutch translation.

The sponsor generally must show stable, regular, and sufficient income that meets at least 120 percent of the Belgian social integration income benchmark, along with suitable housing and health insurance. Some categories, such as recognized refugees under specific conditions, benefit from exemptions. Fees apply for visa and for the Belgian administrative contribution, with possible exemptions for certain family members. Time limits to decide are set by law. For most third country family reunification cases, the Immigration Office has up to nine months to decide, with possible extensions in complex cases. For family of EU citizens, the decision period is shorter.

Application steps usually begin abroad at a Belgian embassy or consulate for a long-stay visa D for family reunification. After entry, you must register your address at the city of Hasselt within the legal time limit, provide biometrics and documents, and complete a home address check by the local police. You may receive a temporary certificate while your residence card is processed. Successful applicants receive a residence card such as an A card for family of Belgian or third country sponsors, or an F card for family of EU citizens. Cards are typically valid for one year at first and renewable. After five years of lawful residence, many people can apply for long term or permanent status.

Rights and obligations include the duty to live at the registered address, to report changes such as marriage, birth, separation or departure from Belgium, and to maintain the conditions of residence such as income and insurance. In most cases, once you hold your residence card, you can work in Belgium without a separate work permit. Newcomers in Flanders may be invited or required to participate in a civic integration trajectory, which is managed by Flemish authorities and can affect practical settlement and renewals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a dependent visa in Belgium and does Hasselt have its own rules

Belgium does not use the term dependent visa. The relevant route is family reunification, usually via a long-stay visa D issued abroad. The rules are national. Hasselt applies these national rules locally by registering you, verifying your address and identity, and issuing your residence card.

Who counts as a dependent family member

Typically a spouse or registered partner, minor children, and in limited situations adult dependent children or parents. Unmarried partners can qualify if the relationship is proven to be long term and exclusive and if age and other conditions are met. The exact list and evidence required depend on the sponsor’s status and the legal route used.

Do I apply from abroad or in Belgium

Most applicants apply from abroad for a long-stay visa D at a Belgian embassy or consulate. Some people already lawfully in Belgium can apply at the municipality. Always check which route applies to your situation before making travel plans.

What documents do I need

You will typically need a valid passport, legalized and officially translated civil status documents such as marriage or birth certificates, proof of the sponsor’s income and accommodation, proof of health insurance, and evidence of the family relationship. For Hasselt, translations must be in Dutch by a sworn translator. The exact list varies by case.

How long does processing take

Processing times depend on the category. For many third country family reunification cases, the Immigration Office has up to nine months to decide, with possible extensions. For family of EU citizens, decisions should be made within a shorter period. Local processing of your residence card in Hasselt follows after registration and the police address check.

Do I need to show income and housing

Yes, in most cases the sponsor must show stable, regular, and sufficient income at or above a legal threshold and suitable accommodation. Some categories such as qualifying family of recognized refugees have temporary exemptions. The municipality may ask for rental agreements, ownership deeds, or other housing proof.

Can I work or study in Belgium as a family member

Once you have your residence card for family reunification, you generally have the right to work without a separate work permit and can enroll in education. During the initial waiting period before the card is issued, your work rights can be limited.

What happens after I arrive in Hasselt

You must register your address with the city of Hasselt within the legal deadline. You will provide biometrics and documents, and the local police will verify your residence. You may receive a temporary certificate while your residence card is produced. Keep your address information up to date with the municipality.

What if my application is refused

You will receive a written decision with reasons. You can usually lodge an appeal with the Council for Alien Law Litigation within a short deadline, often 30 days from notification. A lawyer can help assess the reasons, gather corrective evidence, and represent you on appeal.

Can I keep my residence if the relationship ends or in cases of domestic violence

Belgian law offers protection in certain situations. You may retain or obtain an independent right of residence if you meet legal conditions, for example after a certain duration of cohabitation in Belgium, in the event of domestic violence, or if you have parental rights for a child in Belgium. These cases are fact sensitive and legal advice is recommended.

Additional Resources

Immigration Office of Belgium - the federal authority that decides most family reunification applications and issues guidance on conditions and documents.

Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs - Belgian embassies and consulates that take long-stay visa D applications for family reunification.

City of Hasselt - Civil Affairs - Foreigners Desk - the municipal office that handles local registration, address verification, and residence cards.

Agentschap Integratie en Inburgering - Flemish Agency for Integration and Civic Integration that supports newcomers with Dutch language courses and integration trajectories in Limburg.

Myria - Federal Migration Centre - an independent body that informs about migrants rights and can direct you to support services.

Council for Alien Law Litigation - the administrative court that hears appeals against immigration decisions.

Balie Limburg - the Limburg Bar Association that can help you find an immigration lawyer in the Hasselt area.

Bureau for Legal Aid Limburg - the office that organizes pro bono and subsidized legal aid for those who qualify based on income.

International Organization for Migration Belgium and Luxembourg - an intergovernmental organization that can provide practical information on migration procedures.

Visa Application Centers contracted by Belgium - external centers that collect visa applications in some countries on behalf of Belgian embassies.

Next Steps

Confirm which legal route applies to you based on the sponsor’s status Belgian citizen, EU or EEA or Swiss citizen, or third country resident and the type of family relationship. This determines the documents and decision timelines.

Gather civil status documents early. Obtain legalized or apostilled originals of marriage, birth, and custody documents as required. Arrange sworn translations into Dutch for use in Hasselt.

Verify the sponsor’s income and housing documents. Collect salary slips, employment contracts, tax assessments, bank statements, rental agreements, or property deeds to demonstrate stable and sufficient means and suitable accommodation.

Prepare health insurance. Ensure you have coverage that meets Belgian requirements. After registration in Hasselt, you can enroll with a Belgian health insurance fund.

Apply for the long-stay visa D at the competent Belgian embassy or consulate if you are outside Belgium. Keep copies of everything you submit and proof of fee payments. Monitor your application and respond promptly to any request for additional information.

On arrival in Hasselt, register your address with the city within the legal deadline. Attend appointments, cooperate with the police address check, provide biometrics, and finalize your residence application to receive your residence card.

If you face delays, requests for unusual evidence, or a refusal, consult an immigration lawyer in Hasselt or the Limburg region. A lawyer can assess the case, contact the authorities when appropriate, and file a timely and well argued appeal if needed.

Keep your information updated. Report changes in address, family status, or employment to the city of Hasselt and maintain the conditions attached to your residence. This will help with renewals and long term residence after five years.

This guide is informational. Because immigration law changes and individual facts matter, consider seeking personalized legal advice before you apply or if any complications arise.