Can I marry someone, or register a legal cohabitation with them, just on paper so that they can get a residence permit?
In short
No. If the aim is not to share a life but only to obtain a right of residence, it is a sham marriage and a criminal offence. A judge can annul the marriage, and residence rights and citizenship can be lost.
Video transcript
Someone you know suggests a marriage on paper with you, just so they can get a residence permit. Not allowed: If the goal is not a shared life but only residence, it is a sham marriage and a crime. The same goes for legal cohabitation. The right way: Say no to such an offer. Ask a lawyer about the legal routes to a residence permit. Consequences (Level 2 offence): Prison: 6 months – 3 years; Marriage: Can be annulled; Residence: Can be lost.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- If at least one of the partners is not looking to build a life together but only to obtain a right of residence, it is a sham marriage (schijnhuwelijk / mariage de complaisance).
- The same rule applies to legal cohabitation (wettelijke samenwoning / cohabitation légale).
- A sham marriage and a sham legal cohabitation are criminal offences (Aliens Act art. 79bis and 79ter). The registrar at the municipality must refuse to conduct a marriage if it appears to be a sham. If there are serious doubts, the registrar can postpone the marriage for up to 2 months for an investigation; the public prosecutor can extend this period by up to 3 months.
- Arranged marriages are allowed, as long as both partners freely agree. Forcing someone to marry is a separate and serious offence.
- If someone is pushing you into a marriage like this with money or pressure, you can go to the police or the public prosecutor.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- A fine can be imposed as well as prison. Since 1 September 2026, the amounts in the law have been increased under the new Criminal Code; ask a lawyer for the exact amount.
Legal basis:Kamer DOC 55 3374/010, art. 78 §1 6°, 7°Strafwetboek Boek I, art. 78 §1 lid 2 + Vreemdelingenwet, art. 79bis
- Court / prison
- The Aliens Act does not assign this offence a level; under art. 78 of the new Criminal Code, it is level 2: 6 months – 3 years in prison or an alternative penalty. Marrying for money, or forcing someone with violence or threats, is level 3: 3 – 5 years in prison.
Legal basis:Kamer DOC 53 2673/009, art. 21, 22 (Vreemdelingenwet art. 79bis, 79ter)
What does this level mean? Criminal Code, level 2: 6 months – 3 years in prison or an alternative sentence. All penalty levels →
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- The court can annul the marriage or legal cohabitation
Legal basis:Kamer DOC 53 2673/009 (Vreemdelingenwet art. 79quater)
- If the marriage turns out to be a sham, a residence permit obtained through family reunification can be withdrawn. There is no 5-year time limit for this; the 5-year limit only applies to certain other grounds (e.g. not living together).
Legal basis:Vreemdelingenwet 15.12.1980, art. 11 §2Wet 15.12.1980 (Vreemdelingenwet) (Justel), art. 11 §2
- Belgian citizenship obtained through marriage can be lost if the marriage is annulled as a sham
Legal basis:WBN 28.6.1984, art. 23/1 §1 3°
- It may appear on your criminal record extract (uittreksel uit het strafregister / extrait de casier judiciaire); this can cause problems when you apply for jobs
Legal basis:Sv. art. 590, 595
What do these terms mean?
- Criminal record
- The state register of convictions handed down by a court. The extract asked for a job, residence or nationality application comes from it. Municipal GAS fines are not entered in it.
Why does this rule exist?
Marriage is a genuine life shared by two people. The rule protects the residence system from abuse and protects people who marry in good faith and are deceived.
Where can you go?
- Free first-line legal advice and pro deo lawyerA free or low-cost lawyer if your income is low
- Justice HouseInformation and support for victims, accused people and convicted people (Justitiehuis / Maison de justice)
- Emergency112 · Police 101
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 18 / 18 statements in an official source
- Checked: 02.11.2026
- Last checked
- 22.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 18 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Sahte evlilik tanımı (BW art. 146bis): amaç sadece oturum avantajı
IEFH/IGVM, Définitions du mariage de complaisance, mariage forcé... (2015), art. 146bis Code civil - Found in an official source
Sahte yasal birlikte yaşama (BW art. 1476bis)
IEFH/IGVM, Définitions du mariage de complaisance, mariage forcé... (2015), art. 1476bis Code civil - Found in an official source
Sahte evlilik suç: Vreemdelingenwet art. 79bis
IEFH/IGVM, Définitions du mariage de complaisance, mariage forcé... (2015), dipnot 2 - Found in an official source
Sahte yasal birlikte yaşama suç: art. 79ter
IEFH/IGVM, Définitions du mariage de complaisance, mariage forcé... (2015), dipnot 5 - Found in an official source
Nikâh memuru reddedebilir (BW art. 167)
IEFH/IGVM, Définitions du mariage de complaisance, mariage forcé... (2015) - Found in an official source
Görücü usulü (arranged) evlilik, iki taraf özgürce kabul ederse suç değil
IEFH/IGVM, Définitions du mariage de complaisance, mariage forcé... (2015), 2.2 - Found in an official source
Zorla evlendirme ayrı suç (yeni Ceza K. md. 293/294, seviye 3)
Belgisch Staatsblad 08.04.2024 (Wet 29.02.2024, Strafwetboek boek I en II), boek II art. 293-294 - Found in an official source
2013 metni: 1 ay – 3 yıl hapis ve 50–500 € para cezası
Kamer DOC 53 2673/009, art. 21, 22 (Vreemdelingenwet art. 79bis, 79ter) - Found in an official source
Seviye: 2013 metnine göre md. 78 dönüşümüyle seviye 2 olabilir; uyarlama kanunu doğrulanmadı
Kamer DOC 55 3374/010, art. 78 §1 6°, 7° - Found in an official source
Sahte evlilik iptal edilebilir (BW art. 184)
Kamer DOC 53 2673/009 (Vreemdelingenwet art. 79quater) - Found in an official source
Aile birleşiminde, evlilik sadece oturum için yapıldıysa ilk 5 yılda oturum sona erdirilebilir (VW art. 11 §2)
Vreemdelingenwet 15.12.1980, art. 11 §2 - Found in an official source
5 yıl sınırı
Vreemdelingenwet 15.12.1980, art. 11 §2 - Found in an official source
Evlilikle alınan vatandaşlık, evlilik schijnhuwelijk diye iptal edilirse kaybedilebilir (WBN art. 23/1 §1 3°)
WBN 28.6.1984, art. 23/1 §1 3° - Found in an official source
Özel kanundaki para cezası tutarları yeni Ceza Kanunu'na göre 8 ile çarpılarak uygulanır
Strafwetboek Boek I, art. 78 §1 lid 2 + Vreemdelingenwet, art. 79bis - Found in an official source
Mahkûmiyet Strafregister'e kaydedilir; kişi bir uittreksel alabilir ve bu belge iş başvurusunda istenebilir
Sv. art. 590, 595 - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Kanun hâkimin evliliği iptal 'edebileceğini' söylüyor (kan ... uitspreken); özet bunu kesin 'iptal edilir' diye yazıyor. Kartın kendi indirectConsequences maddesi de 'iptal edilebilir' diyor.
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması) - Found in an official source
Düzeltme (Kasım 2026 doğrulaması): Nikâh memuru açıkça sahte evliliği 'reddedebilir'; şüphede önce araştırma
Oud Burgerlijk Wetboek (Justel), art. 167 - Found in an official source
Düzeltme (Kasım 2026 doğrulaması): Aile birleşimiyle alınan oturum ilk 5 yıl içinde sona erdirilebilir
Wet 15.12.1980 (Vreemdelingenwet) (Justel), art. 11 §2
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?