79-Year-Old Moroccan in France Denied Reunification With Sons Over Low Income and Lack of Evidence
A 79-year-old Moroccan man living in France wanted to bring his three sons, who remained in Morocco, to join him. But his monthly income of 881 euros led the Vaucluse prefecture to refuse family reunification. The courts have now upheld the decision, also citing insufficient evidence of family ties.
Holding a residence card valid until October 31, 2026, the Moroccan man, born in 1947, had filed an application for family reunification on October 30, 2023, for his three sons, two of whom are minors. On October 16, 2024, the Vaucluse prefect refused their entry to France. The father challenged the decision before the Nîmes Administrative Court, according to a ruling dated September 18, 2026.
On Bladi.net : Because of a miscalculation of 14.53 euros, this Moroccan man waited nearly four years to bring his wife over
The first problem is financial. In the 12 months before he applied, the man had an average net income of 881 euros per month, while the average monthly net minimum wage over that period was 1 495,53 euros. The income required for family reunification is calculated according to the size of the household.
The father says he receives a retirement pension, but the evidence submitted did not allow the judges to find that his financial situation had improved sufficiently. They therefore upheld the prefecture’s assessment.
His children have never lived with him
A second factor weighed heavily in the decision. By his own account, the Moroccan man has been physically separated from his sons since their birth. They have always lived in Morocco. The court also noted the lack of evidence of regular contact between the father and his children.
The judges found that the man had not established that he was unable to visit them regularly in Morocco. Nor did he provide evidence that his sons lacked family support in their country.
On Bladi.net : Her apartment appears unoccupied, Lille prefecture blocks her Moroccan wife from joining him
The decision contrasts with another family reunification case in Vaucluse, ruled on October 2 by the same court. In that case, a Moroccan man succeeded in overturning the prefecture’s refusal after showing that his income had increased and that the administration had overlooked several sources of income.
In its September 18 ruling, the Nîmes court dismissed the 79-year-old father’s appeal in full. The refusal of family reunification stands, and his request for reimbursement of 1 200 euros in legal costs was also rejected.
