Cohabitation visa process with Belgian citizen

Member since 27 August 2021

Joe_mMember27 August 2021 13:52:34

Hello

I am originally from Brazil and I worked one year as trainee in one of the company in Belgium. Meanwhile I also got in to relationship with a Belgian girl. Recently we started living together. Now we want to start cohabiting legally.

We have known each other for 1.5 year and been together for 1 year. On that basis am I able to get cohabitation visa? Can I apply for the cohabitation visa/residence permit from Belgium itself? or I have to apply from my country?

How long the process can take once I submit the application and can I work here meanwhile the application is being processed?

AlexFromBelgium Animateur Belgique EN/FR

Member since 28 January 2018

AlexFromBelgiumAnimateur Belgique EN/FR29 August 2021 11:52:34

1739

Hello,

you're mixing things.
Cohabitation is a declaration to the municipality, you can sign it anytime you want.
It will not change the marital status like a wedding would, but it will change the family composition. Meaning that in the laws point of view, you'll be family members.

Based on the fact that you're a family member of an EU, you can then request a family reunion (the F card) from Belgium IF you respect the conditions stated by the laws. (Basically you must live together for 1 year, or known each other for 2 years & 5 trips to see each other and 45 days spent together..., 21 years or more, ...)

What matters in your case is the family reunion process based on the fact that you'll be able to sign the legal cohabitation.
Basically it depends if you can proof that you have lived together at the same address for at least one year: Certificate from the commune, Electricity/Water/phone bill, ...

If you can't proof it, then you'll have to wait the birthday of the 2nd anniversary that you met each other, before requesting the family reunion.
(and provide proofs / pictures / flight tickets / phone call history / vacation together / ... that you met each other 2 years ago and you kept in touch)

Once you request the family reunion, the full process takes 6 months but you can legally stay in Belgium during the process.
You'll receive the annexe 19ter and the orange card (temporary resident card) (no work permit needed anymore).
You'll have to provide your full file 3 months later at the commune, they'll send it to the immigration. Immigration has 3 more months to refuse your resident permit.