Family reunification is the main legal route for a Moroccan residing legally in Europe to bring their Moroccan spouse. The process is not automatic: it requires strict conditions regarding income, housing, and length of residence. In 2026, actual processing times in France reach 12 to 18 months, while Belgium and Spain have their own distinct rules.
Check eligibility: 18 months of residence and minimum wage income
In France, the applicant (the MRE in Europe) must prove 18 months of uninterrupted legal residence with a valid residence permit. Net income must reach at least the monthly minimum wage: €1,801.80 net in 2026 (excluding social benefits). The accommodation must meet habitability standards: 16 m² for 2 people, +9 m² per additional person.
💡 Tip — Gather your last 12 pay slips and last 3 tax notices before submitting your application.
Prepare the CERFA 11436*05 form and legalised civil status documents
Form CERFA 11436*05 (downloadable from service-public.fr) must be accompanied by: Moroccan marriage certificate apostilled or legalised by the French consulate in Morocco, legalised birth certificate of the spouse, identity photos, proof of accommodation (lease, habitable area certificate), proof of income. Moroccan documents must be translated by a sworn translator in France.
💡 Tip — Legalisation in Morocco goes through the local Civil Registry (AE), then the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then the competent French consulate.
⚠️ Warning — A notarised document without the full legalisation chain will be rejected by OFII.
Submit the file at the town hall or prefecture
Since 2023, the initial submission is made at the town hall or directly at the prefecture depending on the department. The prefecture then forwards to the competent OFII territorial delegation. A housing visit is systematically organised by OFII to verify habitability and size conditions.
💡 Tip — Check the ofii.fr website under 'Regroupement familial' to find the OFII delegation for your department.
Obtain the VLS-TS family visa at the French consulate in Morocco
Once the family reunification authorisation is granted by the prefecture (via OFII), the spouse in Morocco must apply for a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS) marked 'private and family life' at the French consulate in Casablanca or Rabat. Cost: €99. This one-year visa allows entry and stay in France.
💡 Tip — The visa application is submitted on the France-Visas platform (france-visas.gouv.fr) before the consular appointment.
⚠️ Warning — The visa must be validated within 3 months of arriving in France on the ofii.fr portal (mandatory online validation since 2021, cost €200).
Belgium and Spain: alternative procedures
In Belgium, the law of 15 December 1980 governs family reunification. Conditions: legal residence for more than 12 months, stable income of at least €1,621/month net (2026 threshold, revised annually based on the RIS), adequate housing. The application is submitted at the municipal office (Annex 19ter form). In Spain, Organic Law 4/2000 (LOE) requires 1 year of legal residence; form EX02 is submitted to the Oficina de Extranjería. Minimum income: 150% of the IPREM, approximately €1,200/month in 2026.
💡 Tip — In Belgium, book an appointment at the Immigration Office as soon as your residence permit reaches 11 months to anticipate delays.
⚠️ Warning — In Spain, a clean criminal record for the spouse in Morocco (apostilled) is mandatory.
❌ Common mistakes to avoid
- ✕Submitting the file before 18 months of actual residence: a premature submission leads to immediate refusal with no quick appeal option.
- ✕Presenting Moroccan civil status documents without the complete legalisation chain (municipal AE → Moroccan MFA → French Consulate): automatic rejection.
- ✕Forgetting to validate the VLS-TS on ofii.fr within 3 months of entering France: the residence permit becomes void and the spouse must return.
- ✕Underestimating the accommodation size: a 14 m² apartment, even well-equipped, will be refused during the OFII visit.
- ✕Including social benefits (APL, RSA) in the income calculation presented to OFII: they are excluded by law and their inclusion signals a misunderstanding of the file.
🔗 Official links and resources
OFII - Family Reunification
Official OFII page with forms and list of territorial delegations
France-Visas - Family long-stay visa
Official French visa application platform, with guide by nationality
Service-public.fr - Family Reunification
Complete factsheet with CERFA 11436, conditions, and step-by-step procedure
Belgian Immigration Office - Family Reunification
Official Belgian procedure, residence conditions and Annex 19ter forms
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