Documentation Database: Questionnaires: Family Reunification Directive 2003/86/EC
Report Comparative study on the implementation of the Family Reunification Directive 2003/86/EC in Member States
Seperate data references to all (25) countries
section question links to answers on the questionnaire of all 25 countries
A. General
A.1 ^ Q: Has the Directive been implemented in your country? If so, please add the references and the texts of relevant legislative and administrative measures and the dates they entered into force.
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
A.2 ^ Q: Has there been a political or public debate on the implementation of the Directive? If so, please summarize the main issues of the debate.
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
A.3 ^ Q: What have been the main changes in the national law or practice due to the Directive. Please indicate for each change whether it improved or deteriorated the legal status of third country nationals and their family members? Did it make the national rules more strict or more liberal?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
A.4 ^ Q: Are there already judgments of national courts applying or interpreting the Directive? If so on which issues?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
A.5 ^ Q: Did the judgment of the Court of Justice of 27 June 2006 in the case Parliament v. Council (C-540/03) already have any effect on the implementation of the Directive, the national practice or case-law or the legal literature? If so, please specify the effects.
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B. Questions on specific provisions
B.1 ^ Q: Article 3(1):
How is the clause: who has reasonable prospects of obtaining the right of permanent residence
implemented in the national law?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.2 ^ Q: Article 3(3):
Will a third country national also having the nationality of your country be able to rely on the Directive?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.3 ^ Q: Article 3(3):
Are nationals of your country and their third country national family members entitled to the same treatment, to a more privileged treatment or to less favourable treatment as provided in the Directive? Please specify the differences.
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.4 ^ Q: Article 4(1):
Has the right to family reunification of spouses and minor children been codified in national law? If so, please mention the relevant provisions of national law.
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.5 ^ Q: Article 4(1) and 4(6): (children over 12 or 15 years)
Does the national law of your country provide special rules concerning the admission of children aged over 12 or 15 years?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.6 ^ Q: Article 4(1) and 4(6):
If children over 15 are prevented from applying for family reunification under what conditions are they entitled to reside considering the obligation for Member States second sentence of Article 4(6)?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.7 ^ Q: Article 4(1) and 4(6):
Is your country barred from using the exceptions in Article 4(1) last sentence and Article 4(6) by the standstill-clauses in those two provisions?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.8 ^ Q: Article 4(3) (unmarried partners)
Has the provision on the admission of unmarried partners been implemented in national law? If so, under what conditions do they have a right to family reunification?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.9 ^ Q: Article 4(5) (minimum age spouse)
Does the national law require a minimum age for the admission of spouses that is higher than 18 years? If so what is the minimum age?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.10 ^ Q: Article 5(2) (documents and fees)
What kind of documentary evidence has to be presented with a family reunification application?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.11 ^ Q: Article 5(2) (documents and fees)
Does the applicant have to pay any fees and, if so, what is the (total) amount of those fees?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.12 ^ Q: Article 5(3) (place of application)
May an application be submitted when the family members are already residing in the Member State?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.13 ^ Q: Article 5(4) (length of the procedure)
Is there any time limit for the decision on the application by the administration?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.14 ^ Q: Article 5(5) (interest of the child)
How is the provision that Member States 'shall have due regard to the best interests of minor children' implemented in national law?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.15 ^ Q: Article 6 (public policy exception)
How has the public policy and public security exception been implemented and defined in the national law?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.16 ^ Q: Article 6 (public policy exception)
What are the similarities and differences compared to the definitions of the same notions in the context of free movement of EU citizens?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.17 ^ Q: Article 7(1)(a) and (c) (income and housing)
How is the income requirement specified in the national law?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.18 ^ Q: Article 7(1)(a) and (c) (income and housing)
What is the level of net monthly income required (in euros)?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.19 ^ Q: Article 7(1)(a) and (c) (income and housing)
Is there a housing requirement in force, and if so, what is the minimum surface of the accommodation (in square meters)?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.20 ^ Q: Article 7(2) (integration measures)
Are family members required to comply with integration measures? If so, do they have to comply before or after admission and what are they actually required to do (follow a course, pass a test, etc.)
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.21 ^ Q: Article 7(2) (integration measures)
Are there any positive or negative sanctions (privileges, subsidies, fines, residence rights or other) attached to the integration measures?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.22 ^ Q: Article 7(2) (integration measures)
Does the national law distinguish between the concepts 'integration conditions' and 'integration measures' (compare Article 4(1) last indent and 7(2))?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.23 ^ Q: Article 8 (waiting period)
Is there any waiting period before the family reunification application can be filed?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.24 ^ Q: Article 9(2) (privileges for refugees)
Which privileges granted by the Articles 10-12 are in the national law limited to family relationship that predate the entry of the refugees?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.25 ^ Q: Article 9(2) (privileges for refugees)
Do other protected persons than Convention refugees benefit from the provisions of Chapter V of this Directive?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.26 ^ Q: Article 10(3) (family members of unaccompanied minors)
Are the parents, legal guardians or other family members of a refugee who is an unaccompanied minor, entitled to a residence permit under national law?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.27 ^ Q: Article 11 (lack of documents)
Which rules on alternatives to official documents in case of lack of official documents proving the family relationship are provided for in the national law?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.28 ^ Q: Article 12 (exemption from requirements)
From which requirements for family reunification, mentioned in Article 7 or Article 8, are refugees or their family members explicitly exempted by national law?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.29 ^ Q: Article 13(1) (visa facilitation)
How has the obligation to grant third country family members 'every facility for obtaining the required visas' been implemented in national law?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.30 ^ Q: Article 14 (equal treatment)
How has the right of admitted family members to 'access to employment and self-employment in the same way as the sponsor' been implemented in national law?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.31 ^ Q: Article 14 (equal treatment)
Did your country make use of the exception to that equal treatment allowed under Article 14(2) of the Directive?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.32 ^ Q: Article 15 (autonomous residence permit)
After how many years are spouses, unmarried partners and children entitled to an autonomous residence permit under national law? What other conditions are they required to fulfil in order to obtain such a permit?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.33 ^ Q: Article 15 (autonomous residence permit)
Under what conditions can an autonomous residence permit be obtained before the period of time normally required under national law?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.34 ^ Q: Article 16(1)(a) (resources)
Is the income of family members taken into account for the calculation of the sufficient resources at the time of the renewal of the permit?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.35 ^ Q: Article 16(1)(b) (real family relationship)
Does the national law allow for refusal or withdrawal of a residence permit on the ground that the family member does no longer live in a real marital or family relationship? If so, which criteria have to be fulfilled under national law? Is the ground applicable to the relationship between parents and minor children?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.36 ^ Q: Article 16(4) (marriage of convenience)
Does the national law contain provisions on fraud or on marriages or partnerships of conveniences? Is so are the definitions, checks and practices in conformity with Article 16(4)?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.37 ^ Q: Article 17 (relevant considerations)
How has this clause, requiring that certain specific elements are to be taken into consideration in the decision making on residence permits and removal orders, been implemented in the national law?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.38 ^ Q: Article 18 (judicial review)
Are the sponsor and his family members entitled to have a negative decision reviewed by a court or independent tribunal? If so, please specify the relevant provisions in the national law and the scope of the judicial review (full review, review on legality or marginal control only)?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
B.39 ^ Q: Article 18 (judicial review)
Is (publicly funded) legal aid available for an appeal against a decision to refuse family reunification or to withdraw the residence permit of a family member?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
C. Final questions
C.1 ^ Q: What are in your view the main strengths and weaknesses of the Directive?
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
C.2 ^ Q: Please add any other interesting information on the Directive or its implementation in your country that might be relevant for our study.
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
C.3 ^ Q: Please send us copies of the relevant laws and regulations, of any legal or other publications on the Directive or of judgments of national courts applying or interpreting the Directive, if possible in electronic form.
We prefer texts in English, French, German, Spanish or Dutch. We do appreciate (unofficial) translations, and we will do our best to understand texts in other languages.
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
D. Table
D.1 ^ Q: This table refers only to mandatory provisions of the Directive.
Please choose for each article one of the four alternative labels:
  • correct transposition
  • no transposition
  • violation of the Directive
  • unclear
If you choose the label 'violation' or 'unclear', please add a footnote with a short explanation.
Articles of the
Directive		Opinion about TranspositionExplanation
5(5)
10(3)(a)
11
13(1)
14(1)
15
16(1)(b)
17
18
A: AUS BEL CYP CZE DEN EST FIN FRA GFR GRE HUN IRE ITA LAT LIT LUX MAL NET POL POR SVK SVN SPA SWE GBR
Please return questionnaire before 30 November 2006 based on the legal situation in your country in that month.