New EMN inform examines family reunification practices and legislation for beneficiaries of international protection across EMN Member and Observer Countries on the 20th Anniversary of the Family Reunification Directive the “Family Reunification for Beneficiaries of International Protection” inform sheds light on the diverse approaches to family reunification for those under international protection. From application procedures to timelines, it provides a nuanced understanding, showcasing the collaborative efforts of the EMN and its partners in navigating the realms of migration and asylum. The inform highlights the overall process of family reunification, documentary evidence needed, and family reunification with or for children coming of age. It also addresses the different practices between minor and the specific case of dependent adult children.
In Latvia, there are specific requirements for family reunification. The necessary documents include proof of family ties, a valid travel document, a criminal record certificate, a document proving residence in Latvia, health insurance documents, and proof of sufficient financial means to support oneself and dependents in Latvia. If the applicant cannot provide documents proving family ties or identity, they must submit all relevant information about the family members, including names, birth details, address, and reason for lack of documentation.
The applicant must also provide written consent for the competent authority to share information about family members with international migration organizations to verify family ties and identity if documentation is lacking. Eligible family members include the spouse, minor children, and certain adult family members responsible for the beneficiary, if they existed in the country of origin.
Family reunification – a) the entry into and residence in an EU Member State, by family members of a third-country national residing lawfully in that EU Member State in order to preserve the family unit, whether the family relationship arose before or after the entry of the sponsor;
or
b) between a union citizen and third-country national established outside the European Union who then subsequently enters the European Union.