Is it possible to move to other EU country to live/work with F card

Member since 28 November 2023

JonathangeradonjgMember28 November 2023 16:40:59

Hi Expat community,

Be kind with my questions please

I am from Belgium and my partner has a F card. The F card will expire in July 27 and then she will have the possibility to request F+ card & request Belgium nationality.

However we are considering the opportunity to move to another European Union country like Spain, Switzerland or Czechia for job opportunities and personnal decision.

My question is: Before relocating I understood we should send back F card to commune and then start again from scratch the procedure of legal cohabitation and family reunification in any other country,

Is this correct ?

Is there a website where we can check the different legal procedure regarding legal cohabitation/family reunion in other countries of EU ?

In Belgium the min requirement of time before requesting the belgium nationality is 5 years.

Is there some countries in the EU where the time is less than 5 years for the non EU partner to get the nationality of the country ?

Thanks in advance for the time and to be kind when answering my questions.

Have a nice evening all.

Rd Devils hooray Active member

Member since 21 September 2023

Rd Devils hoorayActive member29 November 2023 20:30:52

Hi Jonathan,

Several things here:

1. It os correct that the F card needs to be returned

2. Although when you move to another eu country your wife needs to register as a 3rd country national, the permit or card provided there is immediate, and no questions asked. Being tje spouse of an eu citizen provides immediate access tp that cpuntry and all ots social, labour benefits

3. In case she would like to become a national of the country you are moving, indeed she would be starting from scratch over there. Theconditions depends on each country. For example spain requires a 10 years residency (except if she comes from a latin american country, which in that case would be 2 years).

I would recomend to wait for the f+ card and apply for the belgian nationality. Everything afterwards would be so much easier

Hope this helps

Edigj Contributor

Member since 04 June 2015

EdigjContributor30 November 2023 08:14:24

195

If you would like to move it totally your decision, but she has to follow similiar procedure in the new country and obtain an equivalent of Belgian F card.

I suggest to not give back and not inform the Belgian authorities until you have registred in the new country and at least as she has some form of paperwork in the new EU country to make the transition smother.

Once the new EU country has accepted the paper work, she can either come to BE and give back the F card or just arrange to mail it back to Belgian authorities/embassy