Family reunification

Do you want to get married or declare legal cohabitation in Belgium?

We help you obtain legal recognition of your couple and build your life together with peace of mind.

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Get official recognition for your couple and open the path to stable residence in Belgium

Living with the person you love in Belgium is a legitimate right but framed by a demanding procedure. Municipalities, like the Immigration Office, can delay or refuse a union if they suspect a marriage of convenience or if certain documents are not deemed valid.

Each file is examined closely and must clearly prove:

  • The reality and legality of the bond (marriage, legal cohabitation, intention to live together)
  • The validity of foreign documents and their compliance with Belgian requirements
  • A habitual residence in Belgium (even in irregular residence, in certain cases)
  • The sincerity of the common life project

Our firm helps you build a complete, structured, and defensible file from the marriage or cohabitation declaration, until obtaining residence.

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What the law says and what must really be proven

Belgian law allows a couple to marry or declare legal cohabitation if:

  • one of the two resides in Belgium (even without a residence permit)
  • both partners are free from any other legal bond (neither already married, nor in cohabitation)
  • the intention to live together is real and freely consented

But in practice, the administration can question the validity of your foreign documents, suspect a marriage of convenience, or delay or refuse registration of your union.

This is why it is essential to prepare a solid file, with the right supporting documents and a strategy adapted to your situation.

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We support you at every step

Our goal: to secure the legal recognition of your couple, and facilitate your life project in Belgium.

1

Personalized analysis of your situation

We analyze your current situation:

  • nationality,
  • place of residence,
  • validity of the bond,
  • type of procedure to favor (marriage or legal cohabitation).

2

Preparation of your file

We collect and verify all documents required by the municipal administration:

  • civil status records,
  • proof of residence,
  • legalized or translated documents,
  • etc.

3

Support during the official declaration

After your submission to the civil registrar, we monitor the legal deadlines and manage any requests for additional information.

4

Response to refusals or suspicions

We intervene quickly in case of:

  • filing appeals,
  • refusal to celebrate,
  • suspicion of sham marriage or fake documents.

5

Support for residence follow-up

Once the marriage or cohabitation is registered, we help you file a residence application based on this bond.

Our clients

For over 25 years, our firm has supported mixed couples in their common life project in Belgium.

  • KM
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    Thank you to Maître Halabi and her collaborators (Maître Palsterman) for your services. We greatly appreciated your advice, support, and the time you invested in preparing the file - we succeeded. I strongly advise that this is the best law firm you could find in Belgium.

  • PM
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    We used Maître Halabi's services for a family case (family reunification) and, despite a stricter context, the result was positive. She knows this subject inside and out and the file was very well prepared. Thank you.

  • RR
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    My partner and I are extremely delighted with the services provided by this law firm. From the start, we were very well advised, with impressive responsiveness and great availability from the entire team. Thanks to their expertise and constant support, my partner was able to obtain her residence permit without any problems. We highly recommend this firm.

  • AA
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    My wife and I thank Maître Palsterman from Cabinet Halabi for her efficiency and support during the family reunification procedure. Our file wasn't easy, but the firm didn't give up and it was positive.

  • RS
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    I am absolutely delighted to share my experience with Maître Halabi, an outstanding lawyer specializing in family reunification in Belgium. Maître Halabi demonstrated great mastery of immigration law and remarkable empathy, accompanying us every step of the way with patience and understanding. I highly recommend her services to anyone seeking reliable and effective support.

  • CB
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    Maître Halabi and her team were a gem with us. We thank you very much for your services. We greatly appreciated your advice, your warm welcome, and especially your work that gave us wonderful results! We have never regretted starting a case with you.

  • BR
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    Maître Halabi and her collaborators handled our case with empathy, professionalism, and persistence. It's largely thanks to them that my wife and I were finally able to be reunited. I warmly recommend their firm.

  • AH
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    A big thank you to Cabinet Halabi & Associés, and especially to Maître Palsterman, for their exceptional efficiency. Thanks to their intervention, my wife's visa was obtained immediately. Very grateful. Impeccable service. 5/5

  • LM
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    After an initial refusal, I was fortunate to benefit from the expertise of Cabinet Avocats Halabi & Associés. Thanks to your rigorous support and valuable advice, we were able to prepare a solid file. Thanks to the firm, we received a favorable response just four days after submitting our file, which allowed me to quickly obtain my D visa. I am extremely grateful for the dedication and professionalism you demonstrated.

  • SS
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    I sincerely thank Maître Aurélie Lombaert for her precious help, attentiveness, and kindness. She accompanied me with great professionalism and humanity throughout my procedures. An exceptional lawyer whom I sincerely recommend. A big thank you also to the entire team for their professionalism and support.

  • PD
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    After an initial family reunification refusal, we contacted Cabinet Halabi. The appointment was scheduled very quickly; we were listened to and immediately reassured. We were accompanied step by step. Each of our questions received a detailed response the same day or the next. A few months later, thanks to their advice, our new application was accepted! We are incredibly happy to have had the chance to work with Maître Palsterman and the rest of the team.

We know the official criteria, but also the implicit expectations of municipalities and the Prosecutor’s Office. This allows us to prevent common refusals and maximize your chances of success from the first attempt.