All non-residents who plan to stay in Belgium for more than three months are considered as "residents" and must prove that they are entitled to reside in Belgium.

Residency requirements vary according to nationality, profession and reason for staying in Belgium.

Residency Requirements

Residency requirements are determined by the applicants nationality: 

• Nationals of a European Union country (including Cyprus and Malta), nationals of the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), nationals of Switzerland and their respective families

• Non-EU nationals and nationals of the new member states (excluding Cyprus and Malta)

EU and EEA nationals do not need a visa or work permit to enter Belgium.

Non-EU nationals and new EU Member State nationals need a work permit to work in Belgium and may need a visa to enter the country.

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation page Work Permits in Belgium
• To find out which nationalities need a visa to enter Belgium: Click here 

Organisations involved in the registration process

Local municipalities (commune/gemeente) are responsible for registering foreign residents and issuing identity cards. This must be done at the local Town Hall (Maison Communale/Stadhuis)

• For a full list of local authority contact details: Click here

The Ministry for Foreigners (Office des étrangers/Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken) handles immigration and asylum.

Registration process - EU and EEA nationals

They must provide:

• A valid passport or identity card issued by their country of origin

• Three passport photographs

• Proof of means of support, such as a letter from an employer (attestation patronale/verklaring van de werkgever)

• A small registration fee

• In some cases a birth certificate or marriage certificate

• The spouse

• Descendants of the resident and his/her spouse, aged under 18

• Parents of the resident or his/her spouse

• Spouses of those who qualify under the above two provisions

At the end of the five months, the municipality issues a permanent card (carte de séjour/verblijfskaart) that is renewed every five years (the blue card). This does not have the same status as the identity card for Belgian citizens, and it cannot be used as a passport, even within the EU.

Registration process - Non-EU nationals and nationals of the new member states

Before arrival in Belgium, non EU nationals must apply for a temporary residence permit (autorisation de séjour provisoire/voorlopige verblijfsvergunning - ASP/VVV) at a Belgian embassy or consulate. Residence permits are only issued for work, study or to live with partners or family members.

The application must be accompanied by:

• A certificate of good conduct (or an equivalent document recognised by the Belgian authorities) issued by the competent authorities in the country of residence

• A medical certificate issued by a doctor recognised by the Belgian embassy or consulate

They must provide:

• A valid passport with the temporary residence permit

• Three passport photographs

• A work permit or professional card (beroepskaart/carte professionnelle)

• A small registration fee

As with EU and EEA citizens, the local police check that the person's name is on the door of the address that they gave to the commune. If the address is correct, the municipality issues a Certificate of Registration in the Register of Aliens (Certification d'Inscription dans le Registre des Etrangers/Bewijs van Inschrijving in het Vreemdelingen Register) (the white card).

This is renewable after one year, unless it states a limit on the length of stay or the work permit or professional card is no longer valid. If moving to a new address, the person must re-register at the new local Town Hall within two weeks.

The Certificate of Registration document allows foreigners to travel within Europe to countries that have signed the the Schengen Treaty (The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway).

Identity Cards

Everyone resident in Belgium must obtain a Belgian identity document. For foreigners this is the permit issued at the end of the residency procedure which gives proof of entitlement to reside in Belgium. It is commonly referred to as an "identity card", even though it indicates different travel and residency rights from a Belgian citizen's identity card.

Note: All people over the age of 15 – resident or non-resident - must carry an identity document with them at all times. This can be either a passport or an identity card.

Children under twelve have a simple identification document, issued to their parents, and need a formal identity card at age twelve.

Electronic identity cards

Belgium is currently introducing electronic identity cards that will replace the paper cards in use today. The electronic cards will have a chip that will allow access to services such as the "e-government" initiative (the online provision of government services).

The main change affecting foreigners is that non-EU citizens that have a right to an unlimited stay in Belgium will no longer have to renew their cards every year.

• For more information from the Ministry for Foreigners: Click here (in French & Dutch)

Health Insurance

Everyone working under Belgian law has to join a mutual fund (mutualité/mutualiteit), which refunds a fixed percentage of medical care and costs. Workers are free to join any one they choose. The associations represent the different political and religious groups in Belgian society: they can be Christian, liberal, socialist or independent.

• For a list of mutual funds: Click here then on Organismes assureurs (in French) or here then on Verzekeringsinstellingen (in Dutch)
• For further information: Click here (in French) or here (in Dutch)

Further information

• Official Belgian Federal website
• The Ministry for Foreigners (In Dutch or French only)
• Living in Brussels (official Brussels government advice site)
• Eurovisa (information about the Schengen Treaty)  
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page Work Permits in Belgium

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