Kawasaki77

Met my husband 3 months before we started dating. Moved in together 1 year later. Got engaged 2 years after that, and married another year later. 

Those four years gave us the time to get to know each other's habits, families, decision making processes, values, and real visions of the future. We also survived some pretty rough patches during that time, which in hindsight strengthened the relationship and helped each other understand one another better, but could easily have been deal breakers if one of us hadn't put in the work. 

Intercultural relationships can be hard work at the best of times. I can't see how being trapped in a marriage could possibly make things easier.

My partner successfully applied for a short term Schengen Visa earlier this year. We sent an email directly to the consulate, bypassing VFS, and were given an appointment within 2 weeks.

The interview was 45 minutes and he received an email saying he could collect his visa the following working day.

We are not married but could prove we were living together and have a joint bank account. 

If you want a copy of our checklist, feel free to send me a PM.

Good luck!

Bastos60, thanks for taking the time to explain things further.

I think proving our relationship would be fine as we have a joint bank account, bills arriving at both our names at the address we are living together at and pictures backdating 2,5+ years, including some of the meeting of our families.

I will take your advice and inquire at the Belgian consulate, and then again at the townhall back home. 

If it proves to be too complicated or costly, we'll just stay here. 

Donutz, thanks very much for the information. You've shown another route to explore that I was unaware of.

We are in a durable cohabiting relationship, but are only talking about a potential (temporary) move after getting married.

As the main reason to move for a couple of years would be to save money, I guess we'll have to sit down and weigh up the pros and cons and figure out whether we really would save enough money to make it worthwhile after deducting the costs involved in the whole process.

Lots to read and think about!

Thanks again and you are right, it is Vlaamse Frietjes!

Thank you for the links and useful replies.

Recycler: Good to read you had a positive experience getting information from your townhall. We are visiting Belgium on a holiday in a couple of months. As my partner has to register within 3 days of arrival anyway, we may take that opportunity to ask them then in person.

Brunolem: His appetite for Belgian beers should make up for his lack of enthusiasm for the Belgian cuisine. He loves his pork, so little chance he'll be converting to Islam!

Bastos60: I haven't lived in Thailand since 1999, but you're right that after 19 years living abroad, I am no longer entitled to unemployed benefits, nor do I have medical insurance. Your response echoed what I suspected; that it won't be an easy process!

Thanks again!

Hi,

I was hoping to get some tips from other Belgians whose partners are Thai and who have knowledge about the requirements to legally work in Belgium.

I am Belgian and my husband to be is Thai. We are currently both living and working in Thailand and have plans to settle down here in the long run.

We are also exploring the options of living in Europe for a couple of years first so I can spend some time closer to my family and we can work hard and save some money.

When searching Google for information about who can work in Belgium, I came across the following site https://www.expatica.com/be/visas-and-permits/Work-in-Belgium-Guide-to-Belgian-work-permits_422637.html#WorkPermitBelgium . Unfortunately I didn't find a straight answer to whether my partner would be allowed to work just by virtue of being married to a Belgian.

We are looking for the answers to the following questions:

- If we marry in Thailand and register the marriage with the Belgian embassy, is it easy to get a long-term visa for my partner to move to Belgium with me for a few years? (Not sure if this is relevant, but I haven't lived in Belgium myself since 1999).

- Would my partner be able to legally work in Belgium based on being married to a Belgian? He has a BA in Mechanical Technology with 10+ years experience working as an engineer.

I would be grateful to get any tips or links to relevant websites.

Thanks in advance and have a great Sunday!