Master prompt
Family reunification under Directive 2003/86/EC (EU member states)
Apply for family reunification (spouse + minor children) of EU residence permit holder under Family Reunification Directive + national implementations. Covers sponsor income, language, integration tests.
EUFamily reunificationDirective 2003/86/ECSpouse visaFamily member visa
You are drafting a family reunification application for [CLIENT_NAME] (sponsor holding [SPONSOR_PERMIT] in [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY]) seeking to bring [FAMILY_MEMBERS].
REGULATORY ANCHORS
• Council Directive 2003/86/EC — Family Reunification Directive (FRD)
• National implementations vary substantially across member states
• Beneficiaries: spouse + minor children typically; some states extend to parents, registered partners
§1 — DIRECTIVE 2003/86/EC FRAMEWORK
Family members covered under FRD:
(a) Spouse — Article 4(1)(a)
(b) Minor children (sponsor's and spouse's) — Article 4(1)(b-d)
(c) (Optional) Registered/cohabiting partner — Article 4(3)
(d) (Optional) Adult dependent relatives — Article 4(2)
(e) (Optional) Parents/grandparents — Article 4(2)(a)
Sponsor must meet:
(a) Hold valid residence permit at least 1 year (typically) — Article 3(1)
(b) Reasonable prospect of permanent residence
(c) Stable + regular income to support family (without resorting to social assistance)
(d) Adequate health insurance
(e) Appropriate accommodation
National variations (significant):
• Germany: must support family without social assistance; spouse A1 German; family-size accommodation
• France: 18-month residence required; income proof; integration commitment
• Netherlands: civic integration (A1 Dutch + Dutch society knowledge); income at minimum wage
• Portugal: minimum wage + percentage per dependant; no language requirement
• Spain: residence 1+ year; sufficient economic means
• Italy: residence permit 12+ months; income + accommodation evidence
• Belgium: residence 12+ months; income above guarantee minimum
§2 — APPLICATION PROCESS
Standard pathway:
STAGE A — Sponsor's application:
• [CLIENT_NAME] applies for family reunification authorisation at national authority in [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY]
• Documents: sponsor's permit + income + accommodation + relationship evidence
STAGE B — Family member's visa (D-visa) application:
• Family member applies at member-state consulate in country of citizenship
• Documents: relationship evidence + sponsor's authorisation + own documents
• Visa issued upon approval
STAGE C — Family member arrives + residence permit:
• Travel to [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY] on D-visa
• Apply for national residence permit at national authority within prescribed period
• Family residence permit issued
For [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY] specifically:
• Portugal: Reunião Familiar via AIMA (since Oct 2023)
• Spain: Reagrupación Familiar via Oficina de Extranjería
• Italy: Ricongiungimento Familiare via Prefettura + visa at consulate
• Netherlands: Toelating als gezinslid via IND
• France: Regroupement Familial via OFII + Préfecture
• Germany: Familienzusammenführung via Ausländerbehörde + visa at consulate
§3 — DOCUMENT PACK — SPONSOR
A. Sponsor's authorisation application
B. Sponsor's documents:
• [SPONSOR_PERMIT] (current)
• Passport biographical page
• Local registration (Anmeldung / Empadronamiento / etc.)
• Employment contract + recent pay slips (12 months)
• Annual tax declaration (last year)
• Bank statements (last 6 months)
• Health insurance certificate
• Accommodation evidence: [ACCOMMODATION_EVIDENCE]
— Lease / property title
— Family-size appropriate (national rules — Germany typically 12 sqm/adult + 8 sqm/child; NL similar; etc.)
• Letter explaining family reunification request
§4 — DOCUMENT PACK — FAMILY MEMBER (PER PERSON)
A. National D-visa application form
B. Family member's documents:
• Passport biographical page (valid 6+ months beyond intended stay)
• Birth certificate (apostilled if foreign + translated)
• Marriage certificate (apostilled + translated)
• For children: parental authority / custody documents
• Photographs
• Police clearance (for adults 18+) from country of citizenship + countries lived 12+ months past 10 years
• Medical certificate (some member states)
• Civic integration test (where required — NL, FR, DE) — A1 language + cultural knowledge
• Health insurance (if not via sponsor)
C. Relationship evidence:
• Marriage certificate
• Cohabitation evidence pre-application
• Joint communications (during separation)
• Joint financial documents (where possible)
• Photographs over time
• Witness statements
D. Sponsor's authorisation (issued by national authority in [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY])
E. Visa fee (varies by member state): EUR 75-180 per family member
§5 — INCOME REQUIREMENT FOR [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY]
For [CLIENT_NAME] with annual income EUR [SPONSOR_ANNUAL_INCOME_EUR]:
• Compare against [INCOME_THRESHOLD]
• For multi-member families: typically threshold + percentage per dependant
• State pass/fail
Common income tests:
• Germany: must support family without social assistance — sufficient if at/above social assistance level for household size
• France: 12× monthly SMIC (minimum wage) over 12 months = EUR ~21,000+ for 2-person family (verify)
• Netherlands: 100% Dutch statutory minimum wage = EUR ~26,000/year for couple (verify)
• Portugal: National minimum wage + EUR 50% per dependant child
• Spain: 150% IPREM for first family member + 50% for each additional (verify)
§6 — LANGUAGE / INTEGRATION REQUIREMENTS
For No requirement:
Germany — A1 German required for spouse:
• Goethe-Zertifikat A1 / telc A1 / equivalent
• Exemptions: Blue Card spouses, hardship, recognised refugees
Netherlands — Basic Civic Integration Exam:
• A1 Dutch + Dutch Society Knowledge test
• Conducted at NL embassy abroad before visa issuance
• Exemptions: highly qualified migrants' spouses, EU-citizen spouses
France — Skills + integration commitment:
• Pre-departure language assessment
• Pre-departure civic preparation
• Integration contract on arrival
Portugal, Spain, Italy: typically no pre-arrival language requirement.
§7 — COVER LETTER (250-350 words; in local language)
Open: "Application under Directive 2003/86/EC + [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY] national legislation for family reunification of [CLIENT_NAME] (holder of [SPONSOR_PERMIT] in [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY]) with [FAMILY_MEMBERS]."
Structure:
¶1 — Sponsor identity + permit + employment + duration in [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY]
¶2 — Family member identity + relationship + documentation
¶3 — Sponsor's income EUR [SPONSOR_ANNUAL_INCOME_EUR] meets [INCOME_THRESHOLD]
¶4 — Accommodation: [ACCOMMODATION_EVIDENCE]
¶5 — Health insurance + financial means
¶6 — Language / integration: No requirement (status)
¶7 — Family unity rationale + commitment to integration
¶8 — Closing: request authorisation grant
§8 — POST-DECISION ACTIONS
Sponsor's authorisation granted:
• Family member receives authorisation copy
• Apply for D-visa at member-state consulate (typically 4-6 weeks)
• Family member travels to [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY]
• National residence permit application within prescribed period (typically 30 days)
• Spouse work rights: typically permitted (Directive 2003/86 Article 14)
§9 — RED FLAGS
• Sponsor's income below threshold: refused
• Accommodation not family-sized: refused
• Relationship evidence weak / suspicious: marriage-of-convenience scrutiny
• Failure of language / integration test: refused (national-specific)
• Sponsor's permit type ineligible (some temporary permits don't support family reunification)
• Documents not properly attested / translated: delay or refusal
End with: "DRAFT EU family reunification package — for [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY]-specific immigration lawyer review. National implementations of Directive 2003/86/EC vary materially — income thresholds, language requirements, accommodation standards. Confirm current national rules + verify documentary attestation chain for relationship evidence. For Blue Card spouses: simplified family reunification under Directive 2021/1883 may apply (no income test in some cases; no language pre-arrival)."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt