Publication date: 27 February 2026
This ad hoc query shines light on the practices applicable in EMN Member Countries regarding applications for family reunification by third-country nationals and their family members who enjoy visa-free travel for short-stays in the EU, in the context of the implementation of the Family Reunification Directive (2003/86/EC).
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: application for family reunification, sponsor, residence permit, visa-free travel
Publication date: 18 January 2026
This ad hoc query provides an overview of which EMN Member and Observer Countries require criminal record certificates in order to issue long-stay visas or residence permits. Details are provided on the categories of third-country nationals exempted from this requirement, the countries from which these certificates are required (country of origin and/or of previous residence), the other types of documents that may be accepted in lieu of a certificate (such as an affidavit), and more.
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Main theme: Economic migration, Family reunification, Study § Training, Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: visa, residence permit, application, criminal record certificate, security
Publication date: 10 November 2025
This ad hoc query examines whether national procedures allow or require immigration officers to request missing or additional information from applicants for legal migration after an initially incomplete application, and, if so, under what circumstances, to what extent, and within which deadlines.
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Main theme: Economic migration, Family reunification, Study § Training
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: legal migration, application for a residence permit, missing information
Publication date: 06 October 2025
This study provides an overview of legal and policy developments related to the implementation of the Family Reunification Directive since 2017. It examines the current state of national legislation, policies, and practices following two decades of the Directive’s application, incorporating relevant case law and highlighting both challenges and best practices. It also presents data on the scale and evolution of family reunification between 2017 and 2023 (and 2024 where available), drawing on both Eurostat and national sources.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: Family Reunification Directive, application for family reunification, requirement, eligibility, sponsor, family member, digitalisation, access to rights
Publication date: 28 April 2025
This ad hoc query compares the existing legislation in EMN Member and Observer Countries regarding the granting of protection statuses to family members of beneficiaries of international protection, as well as recent changes in practices in light of the regime change in Syria.
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Main theme: International Protection, Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: application for family reunification, Syria, protection status, suspension, decision-making
Publication date: 05 January 2025
This ad hoc query maps the existence of language requirements prior to entry for family members of beneficiaries of international protection. Responding countries also report on experiences with pre-entry language requirements for other categories of residence permits, when applicable.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: application for family reunification, beneficiary of international protection, language requirement, language learning
Publication date: 06 December 2024
This ad hoc query looks into which countries verify that the sponsor who applies for family reunification is not a threat to public order when examining the application for family reunification.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: application for family reunification, sponsor, threat to public order
Publication date: 04 August 2024
This ad hoc query examines the approach taken by EMN Member and Observer countries in relation to applications for family reunification from third-country national workers, in particular with regards to the level of resources and the quality of accommodation required by those applying for family reunification, as well as the possible obligation to provide for medical insurance in the context of such applications.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: application for family reunification, foreign workers, income threshold, accommodation, medical insurance
Publication date: 25 April 2024
This ad hoc query examines how Article 8 ECHR relating to the right to respect for private and family life may lead to specific residence permits in EMN Member and Observer Countries, and how it is taken into account in national legislation and procedures applicable to foreign nationals.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: family tie, private life, family life, residence permit, European Convention on Human Rights
Publication date: 19 April 2024
On the 20th Anniversary of the Family Reunification Directive, this Inform offers a thorough examination of family reunification practices and legislation for beneficiaries of international protection across EMN Member and Observer Countries. It specifically looks at the procedures in place for applying for family reunification and how these have evolved considering recent (since 2017) case law before the European Court of Justice (CJEU), and where relevant the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: Family Reunification Directive, beneficiary of international protection, application for family reunification, documentary proof, real family relationship, minors of age
Publication date: 05 January 2024
This ad hoc query provides comparative information on the waiting period that applicants must prove before applying for family reunification in the EMN Member and Observer Countries. It also examines legal time limits for processing an application for family reunification and it clarifies whether such processing time is included in the above-mentioned waiting period.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: application for family reunification, Family Reunification Directive, waiting period, processing time, family reunification right
Publication date: 25 September 2023
This ad hoc query collects information on the submission, processing and examination of applications for family reunification with beneficiaries of international protection. It also focuses on documentary requirements which apply in this context. Finally, it touches upon family reunification with and for children, including children coming of age.
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Main theme: International Protection, Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: Family Reunification Directive, application for family reunification, evidence, family tie, children
Publication date: 02 March 2023
In the Czech Republic, a marriage can, under the current legislation, only take place if both parties have legal residence on the territory. By launching this ad hoc query, the Czech National Contact Point (NCP) to the European Migration Network (EMN) wanted to know more about the existing practices in other Member Countries.
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Main theme: Family reunification, Irregular Migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: marriage of convenience, illegal stay
Publication date: 14 August 2022
Do Member States grant access to the labour market to family members of international students and, if so, to which family members and under which conditions? This ad hoc query launched by Belgium shows that policies and practices in this matter still vary among Member States.
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Main theme: Economic migration, Family reunification, Study § Training
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: student, family member, labour market access
Publication date: 02 April 2020
21 Member States provided information on national laws and practices regarding the time limits for decisions on family reunification and the consequences of exceeding these limits.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: Family Reunification Directive
Publication date: 26 June 2018
In this annual report Myria analyses the current migration and tests policy and practice against respect for fundamental rights. Myria draws conclusions and formulates policy recommandations.
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Main theme: Regularization, Data & Statistics, International Protection, Economic migration, Family reunification, Citizenship & Nationality
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: fundamental rights
Publication date: 20 July 2017
This EMN Inform summarizes the main findings of the EMN study on "Family Reunification of TCNs in the EU plus Norway".
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: family member, Family Reunification Directive
Publication date: 20 July 2017
Today, the Belgian Contact Point of the European Migration Network published a new national report on Family Reunification of Third Country Nationals in Belgium. The report served as the Belgian contribution to an EU Synthesis report on the subject, which compares national policies and practices on the subject in 25 EU Member States and Norway.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: family member, Family Reunification Directive
Publication date: 13 February 2017
16 (Member) States provided information on their policies and practices regarding the implementation and execution of provisions of EU directives on public order and public security. This ad hoc query was launched by the Dutch Contact Point to the EMN.
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Main theme: International Protection, Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: public order
Publication date: 21 September 2016
21 (Member) States provided information on their practices regarding the verification of identity and family relationships in case of family reunification with a beneficiary of international protection. This query was launched in June 2016 by the Dutch Contact Point to the EMN.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: beneficiary of international protection, family member, identity, family relationship
Publication date: 11 September 2014
This book is describing the origins of the Belgian family reunification policy and its evolution until 1980. It is the first historical monograph about family reunification in Belgium and it has received the price of the Fetullah Gülen Chair for Intercultural Studies (GCIS).
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Publication date: 16 July 2014
The annual "activity report" 2013 of the Immigration Office is available.
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Main theme: Migration, Economic migration, Family reunification, Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: Immigration Office
Publication date: 24 September 2013
16 Member States provided detailed information and statistical data on their requirements for marriage and suspected marriages of convenience. This query was launched by the UK EMN NCP.
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Main theme: Family reunification, Irregular Migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: marriage of convenience
Publication date: 03 July 2013
This very first edition of the IOM Brussels Country Office (CO) Year Report will give you a brief overview of activities undertaken in 2012 allowing a focus on specific areas of interest linked to the Belgian and Luxembourg migration context and more broadly to the European and global context.
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Main theme: External Dimension, Family reunification, Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: voluntary return, development, reintegration
Publication date: 14 June 2013
The annual "activity report" 2012 of the Immigration Office is available.