You got married in Thailand and now want to live together in Belgium? The Thai spouse of a Belgian citizen can apply for a long-stay visa (type D) for family reunification. It is a different, and much more demanding, procedure than a tourist visa: the Belgian Immigration Office checks the marriage, the income and the housing of the Belgian partner. This guide explains the steps for 2026.

1. Who can apply?

• The Thai (or other non-EU) spouse of a Belgian citizen who lives in Belgium. This guide covers the case where the Belgian has not lived in another EU country; other rules apply if they have.
• You must be legally married: registered at a Thai district office (see our guide to marriage registration in Thailand), with the marriage recognised in Belgium.
• Age: both spouses must be at least 18 years old. Family reunification is only possible after the marriage: you first marry in Thailand, then apply for the visa.
• Children of the Belgian or of the Thai spouse can also join, if they are under 18 (or dependent on them).
• The Immigration Office can check that the marriage is genuine, and may invite the couple to an interview.

2. Documents

From the Thai spouse (the applicant)

• Passport valid for at least 12 months, plus a copy of the identity page.
• National (long-stay) visa application form, completed and signed, with a recent colour photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm, white background).
• Proof of payment of the administrative contribution to the Immigration Office.
• The form to choose the language of the decision.
• If previously married: divorce certificate or death certificate of the former spouse, legalised and translated.
• Travel health insurance valid in Belgium, unless the Belgian spouse proves you will be registered on their health insurance (mutuality).

From the Belgian spouse

• Copy of the Belgian ID card (front and back).
• Housing: proof of ownership, or a registered rental contract.
• Income: proof of stable, regular and sufficient means of subsistence over at least the last 12 months. Since a 2025 reform, two levels coexist during a transition period (until August 2027): €2,217.47 net per month under the old rules (amount since 1 September 2026) or €2,456.97 net per month under the new rules (since 1 July 2026, plus 10% for each additional dependent family member). Social integration income, social assistance and family allowances do not count. We check which level applies to your file.
• Health insurance: proof that their mutuality (mutualité / ziekenfonds) agrees to cover the spouse in Belgium.

From both spouses

• Birth certificates: the Thai spouse’s Thai birth certificate, legalised by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, translated by a translator recognised by the Belgian Embassy and legalised by the Embassy, exactly like the marriage documents; and the Belgian spouse’s birth certificate (or another official document proving their age).
• Marriage registration (Kor Ror 2) and marriage certificate (Kor Ror 3): legalised by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, translated by a translator recognised by the Belgian Embassy, then legalised by the Embassy (€20 per legalisation, payable in baht, by appointment).

The Embassy may ask for additional documents. Sources: Immigration Office (IBZ), family reunification with a Belgian, IBZ, means of subsistence, Embassy of Belgium in Thailand, checklist “Family reunion with Belgian spouse (Art. 40ter)” and visa types and documents (checked October 2026).

3. Step by step

1. Register your marriage in Thailand and get the Kor Ror 2 and Kor Ror 3.
2. Legalise them at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3. Have them translated by a translator recognised by the Belgian Embassy, then legalised by the Embassy (by appointment). All legalisations must be done before you apply.
4. The Belgian spouse gathers the documents in Belgium: ID card, housing, 12 months of income proof, health insurance confirmation.
5. Pay the administrative contribution to the Immigration Office and keep the proof.
6. Book an appointment at TLScontact Bangkok and submit the application in person, with the originals and a second set of copies, in the order of the checklist.
7. Interview, if requested: the applicant may be asked to come to the Embassy, often the day after submission.
8. Decision by the Immigration Office in Belgium. You can follow the file online with the reference you receive.
9. After approval, the visa D is placed in the passport. On arrival in Belgium, the spouse must register at the commune where the couple lives, to receive a residence card.

Doing it yourself vs. with Spoyzy

	On your own	With Spoyzy
Order of legalisations and translations	Easy to get wrong, which means new appointments	We plan and handle each step in the right order
Communication between Thailand and Belgium	Each partner gathers documents alone	We explain to both of you what is needed, in Thai and in your language
Checking the income and housing proof	Unclear what is enough	We check the file before submission
Translations	Find a recognised translator	Arranged by us
Risk of refusal or delay	An incomplete file can be refused or delayed	A complete, well-organised file

4. Common problems

• Documents legalised in the wrong order, or translations not done by a translator recognised by the Embassy.
• Income that is too low or not stable over 12 months (for example, a very recent job).
• A rental contract that is not registered.
• Names spelled differently on the passport, marriage documents and translations.
• Doubts about the relationship, with no evidence of a shared life (photos, messages, visits).

5. How Spoyzy can help

We help couples through the whole journey, from the marriage in Thailand to the family reunification visa, in Thai, English, French and Dutch. We can:

• prepare and check the complete visa D file;
• handle the legalisations at the Ministry and the Embassy, and the recognised translations;
• explain to the Belgian partner exactly which documents to gather in Belgium;
• help book the TLScontact appointment and prepare for a possible interview.

Read also our Schengen visa guide for short visits before the move.

Frequently asked questions

How long does family reunification with a Belgian take?

It depends on the file and the Immigration Office. Preparing the legalisations and translations takes a few weeks, and the decision can take several months. A complete file avoids extra delays.

How much must the Belgian spouse earn?

The Belgian spouse needs stable, regular and sufficient income over the last 12 months: at least €2,217.47 net per month under the old rules or €2,456.97 net per month under the new rules (2025 reform), depending on the file. These amounts are indexed regularly (figures from the Immigration Office, October 2026). We check which level applies to you.

Can my spouse visit Belgium while we wait?

Yes, with a separate Schengen short-stay visa, as long as the conditions for that visa are met. A short-stay visa cannot be converted into a long-stay visa.

Do we need to register our Thai marriage in Belgium first?

The marriage documents must be legalised, translated and legalised by the Belgian Embassy for the visa file. Registering the marriage with your commune and in the BAEC is also recommended.