If as a non-EU citizen you want to stay more than three months in Belgium, you are classified as a resident and will have to go through a range of formalities to obtain a residence permit. In any case your nationality will evidently not be enough to obtain the right of residence. The general rule is to obtain a D visa (long-term visa) from the Embassy in your home country before you arrival in Brussels! However in some cases it is also possible to lodge your application directly in Brussels with the municipal administration in your place of residence.
As a non-European citizen, the possibilities of obtaining a residence permit are more limited than for a European citizen and will be granted mainly for the purposes of work, studies or family reunification. Applications are normally submitted from the country of origin via the Belgian Embassy, but some residence applications may be made from Belgium depending on your situation.
FROM YOUR HOME COUNTRY VIA THE BELGIAN EMBASSY
Any future resident wishing to stay for more than three months in Belgium as student, trainee, salaried employee, self-employed worker, person with sufficient means, or family member must first apply to a Belgian embassy or consulate in his country of origin for a "temporary residence permit".
Make sure to present the embassy with the following documents:
GOOD TO KNOW : Most diplomatic posts work with external service providers as VFS or TLS to collect the application and to issue the visa.. For most diplomatic posts and exernal service providers, visa forms will need to be filled out online, and sometimes the appointment will also need to be made online. See here for more details.
Work permit or single permit.
Professional card.
Someone having sufficient means
Prove of income : pension allowance, income from rented accomadation or savings (on case-by-case analysis by the Immigration Office).
Trainee of an EU institution
Single permit (to be lodged via the EU institution).
Trainee of a Belgian employer
Work/single permit when applicable.
Enrolment to a Belgian university/school, health insurance, prove of sufficient means of subsistence.
Family member : partner/spouse/children/parent
See “Family reunification”
After arrival in Belgium, future residents must register within 8 working days of arrival with the population or aliens department of the municipality of residence.
If you already know the location where you are going to live, you can make an appointment with the local municipality beforehand, as it can sometimes take a long time.
Make sure to present the municipality with the following documents :
Your municipality will then issue a temporary document (Appendix 15 or Appendix 49). Expect a control of residence by the police after which you will be registered in the aliens register and will get a national number.
FROM BELGIUM VIA THE MUNICIPALITY
If you are already in Belgium you can in certain cases introduce your request for a long term residence permit directly at the municipality of your place of residence.
Present yourself within 8 working days of arrival with the population or aliens department of the municipality of residence.
If you already know the location where you are going to live, you can make an appointment with the local municipality beforehand, as it can sometimes take a long time.
Bring the following documents:
Expect a control of residence by the police after which you will be registered in the aliens register and will get a national number.
The great advantage of permanent residence is that you don't need a work/single permit or a professional card and you don't have to renew your residence permit every year. Although permanent residence is a prerequisite for applying for Belgian nationality, it should not be confused with the nationality application procedure, which is subject to different conditions.
All applications for permanent residence must be submitted to the foreign affairs department of your local municipality.
There are different types of permanent stay for non EU citizens :
B card : an unlimited stay “séjour illimité / verblijf van onbeperkte duur” (Certificate of registration in the Register of Foreigners for an indefinite period) which is mandatory to have access to a K card. This card allows any non EU citizen to work without work permit or professional card but still keeps him registered on the aliens register. There is no specific procedure for applying to switch from an A to a B card. The conditions vary depending on the reason for your stay. Contact your municipality to find out if you are eligible.You must have been legally resident in Belgium for an uninterrupted period of 5 years. Some A cards do not lead to a B card after 5 years. For example, a student residence permit. This card is valid for 5 years.
K card : a settlement authorization “autorisation d’établissement / machtiging tot vestiging” (Identity card for foreigners) granted after 5 years of residence once you are holder of a B card. This card allows any non EU citizen to work without work permit or professional card and registers him in the population register. The fact of being registered in the population register gives you the right to social integration.This card is valid for 10 years.
L card : status of long-term resident “statut resident longue durée / status langdurig ingezetene”- granted to a non-EU citizen if
When to unsubscribe from the municipality?
When leaving Belgium, you are required to prevent the Aliens service before departure. It will carry out your removal from the register of foreigners. You have two options to report your departure from Belgium: