Permanent residency in Belgium

All expats who have been living in Belgium for a specific period can apply for permanent residency. It’s a good option for those residing in the country temporarily and who want to stay, but don’t want Belgian citizenship.

Here’s what you need to know about the subject:

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Permanent residency

Everyone can apply for permanent residency after at least five years of legally living in Belgium. There are different types of residence cards depending on your nationality and the purpose of your stay.

Some cards are only available to expats from the European Union (EU) and EFTA. Others are designed for nationals from outside that region (i.e., third countries). EFTA stands for the European Free Trade Association and includes the countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Belgium has the following permanent residence cards:

The Immigration Office (IBZ, French: Office des Etrangers – ODE, Dutch: Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken – DVZ) oversees all permanent residence applications in Belgium. The agency is part of the Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs (French: Service public fédéral Affaires étrangères, Dutch: Federale Overheidsdienst Buitenlandse Zaken).

Permanent residency for UK nationals

Since Brexit, United Kingdom (UK) nationals traveling to and living in Belgium have become non-EU/EFTA nationals. That means they will need a visa for long stays in the country and can apply for a B, C, or D permanent residence card after five years.

As part of the Withdrawl Agreement, UK citizens already living in Belgium before 1 January 2021 could apply for an M residence card with the IBZ. This card would effectively give them the same rights as they had before as EU citizens.

The M card is a temporary residence card, valid for five years. If the UK national had a EU+ card beforehand, the M card functions as a permanent residence card, valid for 10 years.

Belgian citizenship or permanent residence?

Several benefits come with Belgian citizenship or permanent residency. For example, both allow you to work, study, or set up a business.

Other benefits include:

• Buying property and getting a mortgage without any restrictions
• Access the country’s social security benefits
• Multiply entries into Belgium
• Being added to the civil registry (although not available to B-card holders)

However, there are also a few key differences between the two. For one thing, you will typically need a permanent residence card before applying for citizenship.

Becoming a citizen has tougher requirements and the application takes longer and costs more. In some cases, you need to have been a Belgian resident for 10 years before applying.

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Although becoming a Belgian citizen is more complicated, it also comes with additional rights and privileges. These include:

• Entitlement to a Belgian passport and the right to travel abroad as a Belgian and EU-citizen
• The right to vote in all Belgian elections and stand for any public office position
• Freedom to unlimited travel outside of Belgium

Requirements for Belgian permanent residence

The main prerequisite for permanent residency in Belgium is time: you must have lived in the country for five years. If you have an EU Blue Card, you can include the time you spend in other EU member states.

The five-year period should be uninterrupted. You can only leave the country for up to six months at a time, and no more than 12 months during the entire five-year span.

Other requirements include:

• Proof that you still meet the conditions of any existing visa or permit (e.g., you are currently employed and in Belgium on a work visa)
• You don’t have serious criminal convictions that make you a public safety risk
• You have a valid health insurance policy
• Proof that you have a stable and regular monthly income to support yourself and any dependants (applicable when you are applying for the L residence card)

Because your local municipality (French: commune, Dutch: gemeente) processes the application, there might be additional requirements specific to that region. For example, you might need to provide proof of social integration or knowledge of one of the regional languages, i.e., Dutch, French, or German.

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In 2020, the Belgian government introduced new restrictions on permanent residence for those who live in the country on a work visa. Since then, foreign employees can only apply for the B card if they work for a Belgian company. Those working for a foreign business based in Belgium can only continue having a temporary permit.

How to apply for permanent residency

You can apply at your municipal office in Wallonia (French: Wallonie, Dutch: Wallonië), Flanders (French: Flandre, Dutch: Vlaanderen), or Brussels (French: Bruxelles, Dutch: Brussel). Some municipalities allow you to apply online and hand in electronic copies of documents. Others require you to make an appointment face-to-face. The exact process will depend on your local area.

To file an application, you will need to provide documents like:

• Valid ID (e.g., a passport)
• Two recent passport photos
• Proof of Belgian address (e.g., a recent utility bill)
• Your current Belgian residence permit (if you have one)
• Proof of health insurance
• Details of your income

The IBZ has five months to process your application and make a decision. After they approve it, you’ll receive an electronic ID card (eID). If the application was for a child under 12, they will get a Kids-ID.

EU/EFTA nationals

Generally, EU/EFTA residents will qualify automatically for Belgian permanent residence after they’ve lived in the country for five years. That said, you will still need to apply for the EU+ card or F card.

To start, you can fill out a so-called appendix 22 (French: annexe 22, Dutch: bijlage 22), the standard EU form.

Non-EU/EFTA citizens

There is no specific procedure for third-country citizens to apply for a B residence card. You can ask your local municipal office in Wallonia, Flanders, or Brussels what their application procedure is.

If you’re opting to get a K or L card, you need to fill out appendix 16 (French: annexe 16, Dutch: bijlage 16).

Cost of permanent residence cards

The application fee for a permanent residence card varies across municipalities but is typically around €10–25. The cards themselves cost around €25–30.

Losing your card or having it stolen

If your eID or Kids-ID is permanently misplaced or stolen, you must immediately call DOCSTOP at 00800 2123 2123. This free service from the IBZ, available 24/7, allows you to block your card and ensure it will not be used fraudulently. If you cannot reach the above number, dial +32 2 518 2123.

The next step is to report it to the nearest police station. If you have lost your card, you must also file a report at your municipality.

Renewing your permanent residence

Your permanent resident status does not expire but the electronic cards do need to be renewed. Cards are valid for:

When your card is about to expire, you will receive a request to renew it at the municipality. Living in Belgium without a valid residence card can result in a penalty of up to €500.

The processes and costs compare to that of your first card.

Permanent residence for family members

If you want to settle in Belgium as a family, your relatives can apply for a family reunion visa. There are strict requirements you’ll have to meet to before you are granted entry.

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The following family members can apply:

• Spouses or registered partners over 21
• Dependent children under 21
• Dependent (adult) children with a disability (there is no age limit)
• Your or your partner’s dependent parents (though this is not possible when you and the parents are third-country nationals)

Once your relatives are in Belgium, they can apply for a residence card. Which one they qualify for depends on your nationality and situation, as well as theirs.

Family members of EU/EFTA citizens

Your relatives can join you when you are an EU/EFTA national who has been living and working in Belgium for an uninterrupted period of five years. If you have been unemployed during this time and the authorities agree this was involuntary, you can still count this as ‘working in Belgium’.

There are a few exceptions to this five-year requirement. Your family members can also join you when:

• You have lived in Belgium continuously for more than two years, and are unable to work due to
  • being permanently incapacitated
  • an accident at work or occupational disease that entitles you to Belgian benefits
• You have lived in Belgium for more than three years, have worked for at least one year, and are now retiring
• You have lived in Belgium continuously for two years, before your death or your death was the result of an accident at work or an occupational disease

If your relative is from the EU/EFTA region, they can apply for the EU+ residence card. Family members from third countries can get an F+ permanent residence permit.

Relatives of non-EU/EFTA nationals

There are no special rules or exceptions for family members of non-EU/EFTA citizens living in Belgium.

Third-country residents can apply for the B, K, or L card after continuously living in the country for five years.

Losing your permanent residence

Once you have permanent residency in Belgium, losing it is fairly difficult. However, it is possible. Your status can be terminated if you:

• Commit a serious crime that means you present a threat to public policy or national security
• Leave Belgium for more than two consecutive years
  • If you have a B residence card, you cannot leave for more than one year
  • If you have an L card, you can stay outside of Belgium for up to six years as long as you live within the EU region
• Have committed fraud or used false or misleading information or documents during the application process

Those who lose their permanent residency rights can reapply as soon as they become eligible again (i.e., after five years in Belgium).

Appealing a decision

The IBZ has the power to refuse an application on the grounds of appendix 20 (French: annexe 20, Dutch: bijlage 20) or terminate someone’s permanent residency status on the grounds of appendix 21 (French: annexe 21, Dutch: bijlage 21).

You can file an appeal against a refusal or termination with the Council for Alien Law Litigation (French: Conseil du Contentieux des Etrangers, Dutch: Raad voor Vreemdelingenbetwistingen) within 30 days of the decision. You should make the appeal in Dutch or French. If you need help translating your documentation, you can use a reliable translation agency such as lingoking.

If you are unhappy with the outcome of your appeal, you can take it to the Council of State (French: Conseil d’État, Dutch: Raad van State) within 30 days of receiving the verdict. They will assess your case and return a verdict within six months.

Useful resources

• IBZ – the Belgian government agency that deals with residence permits
• Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs – the Belgian government department that oversees immigration and residence permits
• Council for Alien Law Litigation – an independent administrative court of law where you can file an appeal if your application was rejected or terminated
• Council of State – the supreme administrative justice court of Belgium
• Belgium.be – federal government portal with information for citizens and residents in Belgium
• Vlaanderen – website for the regional government of Flanders
• Wallonia – website for the regional government of Wallonia
• be.brussels – website for the Brussels-Capital region
• Ostbelgien – website for the German-speaking East Belgium region
• eID – website with information on electronic residence and ID cards in Belgium
• lingoking – translation agency for private customers