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Here is Expatica's guide to help you cut through the red tape on your way to gaining residency in Belgium, including how to register with your municipality.REGISTER WITH THE MUNICIPALITY AND RESIDENCE PERMITS
European Economic Area (EAA) nationals.
EEA nationals are those from the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Monaco and Switzerland. In theory, within eight days, EEA nationals need to register at the local town hall (maison communale/gemeentehuis). In practice, most arrivals have better things to do in these crucial first few days and stretch this timeline a bit.
The documentation you need also varies depending on the commune, your nationality, and frankly the mood of the official on the day. Take the following as indicative and check with the commune before you visit. 
As an EEA citizen, you will need the following documents: a valid passport, up to three passport-sized photos, and proof of means of support, usually in the form of a letter from your employer (attestation patronale/verklaring van de werkgever) or employment contract. Some communes may also require birth or marriage certificates.
There are still some restrictions in place for citizens of Bulgaria and Romania. Belgium has decided to lift the restrictions in three years, which means up to 2011.
Non EEA nationals- residence permits
Non-EEA nationals must apply for a temporary residence visa to a Belgian embassy or consulate before they arrive. Residence visas are restricted to purposes such as study, work (if a work permit is in hand) and family commitments.
Non-EEA nationals are then obliged to register at the municipality within eight days of arriving in Belgium. In addition to the requirements for EEA nationals, you may also need the following, depending on the commune: up to five passport photographs, a medical certificate signed by a doctor recognised by the Belgian Embassy, a certificate of good conduct covering the past five years (criminal history record) issued by the police authorities of your last country of residence, legalised marriage license (if relevant) and birth certificates for any children.
There is a small fee, which varies from commune to commune, but it is usually no more than EUR 20, payable in cash. You may well need to speak the language of the commune when you visit: if you don't, go with someone who does. After the first visit, you will get a receipt but no card. 
What happens next
The municipality contacts the police who visit to check that your name is on the door of the address you gave. If their report checks out, EU citizens get an invitation to collect a temporary three month card. This is renewed for a further three months if proof of employment or self-employment and registration with the relevant social security scheme has been or is later produced, and then in due course you get a permanent five-year card (carte de sejour/verblijfskaart). Non-EU citizens eventually get an annually renewable proof of registration for foreigners (Certification d'Inscription dans le Registre des Etrangers/Bewijs van Inschrijving in het Vreemdelingen Register).
Here is a list of the major town halls in the communal districts of Brussels. For further information see the official site.
Anderlecht 02 558 0800
Auderghem 02 676 4811
Brussels City 02 279 2211
Etterbeek 02 627 2111
Forest 02 370 2211
Hoeilaart 02 658 2840
Ixelles 02 515 6111
Kraainem 02 719 2040
Overijse 02 687 6040
Rhode-Saint-Genese 02 380 2040
Rixensart 02 634 2121
Saint Gilles 02 536 0211
Saint Josse 02 220 2611
Schaerbeek 02 244 7511
Tervuren 02 769 2011
Uccle 02 348 6511
Waterloo 02 352 9811
Watermael-Boitsfort 02 674 7411
Wezembeek-Oppem 02 783 1211
Woluwe-Saint-Lambert 02 761 2711
Woluwe-Saint-Pierre 02 773 0511
(Expatica updated 2010)
Hi
your article is very informative. Can you tell me what would happen if I was to retire early (60) and move to Belgium without working. I would have enough pension money to live on. How do I get a residency permit if I did not have a letter from a Belgian employer.
Hello,
Thank you for telling me how to get an identity card. It was a long process when I got mine - but just as you have described.
I would like to know now how to get rid of my identity card, as I have left Belgium and do not intend to return.
Any insights would be appreciated
Thanks
Caroline
Hello,
I understand that Belgium changed the residence permit policy earlier this year for EU-nationals: You will be given a temporary residence permit first and then after 3 years, a permanent recidence permit. Then you will also be entitled to an electronic ID card. No paper cards any more!
Please update your info!
Rgds,
Leena
thanks 4 information.
i graduated recently in medical studies.
tell me plz how to get permit 4 practicing medicine in belgium.
thanks
dr nadeem , pakistan
Hello...
That's certainly a rosy version of obtaining a residency card. I lived in Brussels for 3 years before giving up on ever getting one. I recall the wretched mornings I showed up before dawn in the middle of winter at the city hall in St-Gilles, waiting for hours in a line, then being turned away because they'd taken every one they could for the day. "But come tomorrow and you'll get a privileged position!" Fat chance. Finally I took to just arbitrarily waiting at lines in windows in the mornings, which sort of worked for some tasks. When I'd finally get to actually talk to someone, they'd usually tell me what line I was supposed to be in. But even so, there was always something wrong with the way I'd filled out forms, or I was missing some piece of paper. And the hateful looks I'd get from some of those women behind the windows!
My peace of mind was finally saved after a talk with the local policeman whose beat passed my apartment every day. He said not to worry about it, life's too short. As long as I'm not pulling any scams, he said, I won't be kicked out of the country. He promised to look after me, and has.
kentfx
please help me!
i moved to belgium in november 2009 to be with my boyfriend who studies here. he is a uk/south african citizen and i am only south african.
i have an f card which means i can stay for 5 years as i co habit with an eu citizen. i have an amazing job which i started shortly after i arrived.
my boyfriend and i have broken up but i want to stay in belgiu.
what should i do? for now we still have the same address but i need to change my residency dont i? through work seems crazy as you have to renew your permit every year and at this point i am fine for 5!
any suggestions?
Hi,
Thanks for all your comment. For your questions, please visit Expatica's "Ask the expert" section: http://www.expatica.com/be/ask_expert.html . Here you can submit your question to one of our experts.
Good luck~!
The Expatica team
I think you need to update this section as there have been changes in the rules in the last few years. This site is meant to be a key resource for people coming to Belgium, to be so, it needs to be accurate when it comes to such crucial areas such as this.
Hello there.
my name is Ahmed, I am Ethiopian by nationality and I have graduated Kampala International University, I did Master Degree in Project Planning and Management, now I am in South Sudan as an employee, life is hard here. I would like to get resident Visa in Belgium, so how I can get.. Could you plz help me for that
HI...........
I am Mohammed Tahseen I have Perment Residence spain CE ,I can work in Belgium or not pls reply me,
Thanks
Yours faithfully
M ohammed Tahseen
Bilbao Spain.
Hi,
My husband and I are currently going through this process, and it seems to be just as described here (so far!).
I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences on what happens after the police come and verify your place of residence?
A police woman was here over two months ago to confirm our address, and after we completed the necessary forms, she said that we would receive a letter within 2-3 weeks from the commune. However since then we have heard nothing...
Can anyone advise whether I need to pursue the commune on this, or if I should relax and interpret "2-3 weeks" as being some kind of Belgian time which really means something more like "wait at least 6 months"?
Thanks, would really appreciate any feedback :)
Ali
Go to the commune and they will most likely have you sorted out. Sometimes the letter doesn't arrive.
Please help!
I am a south african citizen who moved to belgium 3 and half years ago and was with my belgian partner so i got an f card, then he decides to break up, and i had already integrated, even did my masters there, and had a job at a good company, but when he ended the living contract i was forced to quit my job and leave the country because he refused to give my company the needed time to switch to work permit befor signng papers. I also had to give my f card in at city hall, but it is still valid until 2015, and i do not know how best to get back, i am really struggling since he took everything away from me, and i want to know how to get back, do i just apply for a normal tourist visa and sort it out at the city hall when there? do they give my residency card back? or do i need to go in on the basis of a work permit or studying (how long do work permits take?) ? i really just want to move forward with my life and use the remaining time have on my residency, and the longer i am out of the country worry it works against me. please please help me, i had to re-apply to my old company so awaiting feedback, but is there any other way? is it also possible to ask another EU citizen who is not a belgian citizen to vouch for me, meaning i have a family friend in holland who i could ask to move to, but will that work?
noticed that the comment made by cf posted: 2011-04-29 17:10:34, is similar, maybe i could also talk to this person please?
Please please respond as quick as you can i am panicking about what i can do to get back.
hello, i lived in brussels 3 years ago and i have 5 year residence card which is still valid one year more, i want to renew that card, what should i do, which documents i should bring.
if you guide me i will be obliged. thanx
Hello, I wanted to know what happens when the police check your residency and you are not in the appartment? Do they come back another time or you need to go to the Police station?
Hello,
I am also interested to know which documents are needed to renew the 5 year residence card. Then do you receive another residence card of 5 years?
Thanks,
Emma
Hi
your article is very informative. Can you tell me what would happen if I was to retire early (60) and move to Belgium without working. I would have enough pension money to live on. How do I get a residency permit if I did not have a letter from a Belgian employer.
Hello,
Thank you for telling me how to get an identity card. It was a long process when I got mine - but just as you have described.
I would like to know now how to get rid of my identity card, as I have left Belgium and do not intend to return.
Any insights would be appreciated
Thanks
Caroline
Hello,
I understand that Belgium changed the residence permit policy earlier this year for EU-nationals: You will be given a temporary residence permit first and then after 3 years, a permanent recidence permit. Then you will also be entitled to an electronic ID card. No paper cards any more!
Please update your info!
Rgds,
Leena
thanks 4 information.
i graduated recently in medical studies.
tell me plz how to get permit 4 practicing medicine in belgium.
thanks
dr nadeem , pakistan
Hello...
That's certainly a rosy version of obtaining a residency card. I lived in Brussels for 3 years before giving up on ever getting one. I recall the wretched mornings I showed up before dawn in the middle of winter at the city hall in St-Gilles, waiting for hours in a line, then being turned away because they'd taken every one they could for the day. "But come tomorrow and you'll get a privileged position!" Fat chance. Finally I took to just arbitrarily waiting at lines in windows in the mornings, which sort of worked for some tasks. When I'd finally get to actually talk to someone, they'd usually tell me what line I was supposed to be in. But even so, there was always something wrong with the way I'd filled out forms, or I was missing some piece of paper. And the hateful looks I'd get from some of those women behind the windows!
My peace of mind was finally saved after a talk with the local policeman whose beat passed my apartment every day. He said not to worry about it, life's too short. As long as I'm not pulling any scams, he said, I won't be kicked out of the country. He promised to look after me, and has.
kentfx
please help me!
i moved to belgium in november 2009 to be with my boyfriend who studies here. he is a uk/south african citizen and i am only south african.
i have an f card which means i can stay for 5 years as i co habit with an eu citizen. i have an amazing job which i started shortly after i arrived.
my boyfriend and i have broken up but i want to stay in belgiu.
what should i do? for now we still have the same address but i need to change my residency dont i? through work seems crazy as you have to renew your permit every year and at this point i am fine for 5!
any suggestions?
Hi,
Thanks for all your comment. For your questions, please visit Expatica's "Ask the expert" section: http://www.expatica.com/be/ask_expert.html . Here you can submit your question to one of our experts.
Good luck~!
The Expatica team
I think you need to update this section as there have been changes in the rules in the last few years. This site is meant to be a key resource for people coming to Belgium, to be so, it needs to be accurate when it comes to such crucial areas such as this.
Hello there.
my name is Ahmed, I am Ethiopian by nationality and I have graduated Kampala International University, I did Master Degree in Project Planning and Management, now I am in South Sudan as an employee, life is hard here. I would like to get resident Visa in Belgium, so how I can get.. Could you plz help me for that
HI...........
I am Mohammed Tahseen I have Perment Residence spain CE ,I can work in Belgium or not pls reply me,
Thanks
Yours faithfully
M ohammed Tahseen
Bilbao Spain.
Hi,
My husband and I are currently going through this process, and it seems to be just as described here (so far!).
I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences on what happens after the police come and verify your place of residence?
A police woman was here over two months ago to confirm our address, and after we completed the necessary forms, she said that we would receive a letter within 2-3 weeks from the commune. However since then we have heard nothing...
Can anyone advise whether I need to pursue the commune on this, or if I should relax and interpret "2-3 weeks" as being some kind of Belgian time which really means something more like "wait at least 6 months"?
Thanks, would really appreciate any feedback :)
Ali
Go to the commune and they will most likely have you sorted out. Sometimes the letter doesn't arrive.
Please help!
I am a south african citizen who moved to belgium 3 and half years ago and was with my belgian partner so i got an f card, then he decides to break up, and i had already integrated, even did my masters there, and had a job at a good company, but when he ended the living contract i was forced to quit my job and leave the country because he refused to give my company the needed time to switch to work permit befor signng papers. I also had to give my f card in at city hall, but it is still valid until 2015, and i do not know how best to get back, i am really struggling since he took everything away from me, and i want to know how to get back, do i just apply for a normal tourist visa and sort it out at the city hall when there? do they give my residency card back? or do i need to go in on the basis of a work permit or studying (how long do work permits take?) ? i really just want to move forward with my life and use the remaining time have on my residency, and the longer i am out of the country worry it works against me. please please help me, i had to re-apply to my old company so awaiting feedback, but is there any other way? is it also possible to ask another EU citizen who is not a belgian citizen to vouch for me, meaning i have a family friend in holland who i could ask to move to, but will that work?
noticed that the comment made by cf posted: 2011-04-29 17:10:34, is similar, maybe i could also talk to this person please?
Please please respond as quick as you can i am panicking about what i can do to get back.
hello, i lived in brussels 3 years ago and i have 5 year residence card which is still valid one year more, i want to renew that card, what should i do, which documents i should bring.
if you guide me i will be obliged. thanx
Hello, I wanted to know what happens when the police check your residency and you are not in the appartment? Do they come back another time or you need to go to the Police station?
Hello,
I am also interested to know which documents are needed to renew the 5 year residence card. Then do you receive another residence card of 5 years?
Thanks,
Emma
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