Marriage and legal cohabitation in Belgium

5 July 2014

Theme

This brochure has been written in part for the benefit of soon-to-be partners, of which either one or both does not have Belgian citizenship or is staying abroad. It is also written to inform others who advise these partners.

This brochure has four sections:

> The first section defines marriage and legal cohabitation as well as the differences between the two procedures for establishing a legal bond between the couple.

> The second section scrutinizes the prohibition of unions of convenience and provides a definition and analysis of a possible unions of convenience.

> The third section presents different procedures for marriage or legal cohabitation and details the rights and duties of partners and public services concerned.

> The fourth section, lastly, analyses the penalties incurred by a union of convenience from the point of view of criminal law, civil law, and residence.

This multilingual brochure aims to make suspected victims of human trafficking aware of their situation in a simple vocabulary. It encourages victims to contact PAG-ASA, Payoke or Sürya, the specialized reception centers.

Parallel report by the Combat Poverty, Insecurity and Social Exclusion Service, Myria and Unia, on the fifth and sixth periodic reports submitted by Belgium pursuant to article 44 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

This brochure of the former Belgian Refugee Council (CBAR-BCHV) explains the family reunification procedure for beneficiaries of international protection in Belgium.

Marriage and legal cohabitation in Belgium

Files

Related content

Multilingual brochure for victims of human trafficking

Parallel report for the Committee on the Rights of the Child

[Brochure] Family reunification with beneficiaries of international protection in Belgium