Applying for permanent residence

Where to apply?

At the municipality where you reside.

For whom?

EU/EEA or Swiss nationals with an EU card, an annex 8 or an E card

You are free to apply for permanent residence yourself, but this is not mandatory. If you apply for permanent stay, you will obtain an EU+ card.

Non-EU/EEA nationals with an A or H card

We recommend that you apply for permanent residence yourself, as you will no longer have to apply for renewal of your stay.

• You have the residence status 'recognised refugee' or 'subsidiary protection'.
  You can submit an application for unlimited stay (B card).
• You do not have the residence status 'recognised refugee' or 'subsidiary protection'.
  You can submit an application for long-term resident (L-card), on condition that your residence status is not ‘medical regularisation’ or ‘humanitarian regularisation’.
  Sometimes the federal authorities (Immigration Office) grant a B card of their own accord.

Non-EU/EEA nationals with a B card

You already have unlimited stay, but you can also apply for permanent residence yourself. You can choose between:

• Application for authorisation of settlement (K card)
• Application for long-term resident (L card)

You can submit your application immediately after obtaining your B card or at a later stage.

Non-EU/EEA nationals with an M card

You already have unlimited stay, but you can also apply for permanent residence yourself. In that case, you submit an application for permanent stay (M+ card).

Non-EU/EEA nationals with an F card

You are automatically entitled to permanent residence. Shortly before your F card expires, we will invite you to submit an application for permanent stay (F+ card)

When is it possible to submit your application?

After you have legally resided in Belgium for minimum 5 years. This period must be continuous and immediately precede your application.

• Are you a recognised refugee or have you been granted subsidiary protection?
  You can apply for permanent residence (B card) 5 years after submitting your application for international protection (asylum application).
• Some periods of your residence are only taken into account partially or not at all.
  E.g. a period during which the family member with whom you are in family reunification or yourself had the residence status 'student', only counts for half.

These are general guidelines, and your specific situation may differ.

What are the consequences?

• You will be registered in the population register. Before, you were registered in the foreign nationals register.
  With a B card, you remain registered in the foreign nationals register.
• If you are a non-EU/EEA national, you no longer require a work permit to work in Belgium.
• You can apply for Belgian nationality if you meet the conditions.
• You can be temporarily absent from Belgium for a longer period.
• You receive a residence card which is valid for 10 years. A B card is only valid for 5 years.

How to apply?

Step 1: Provide us with your information

Provide us with your information, so that we can assess whether you may submit an application for permanent residence.

Attach these documents to your application (in pdf, 1 scan per document):

• National identity card or passport: biodata page (not applicable for recognised refugees)
• Residence card or annex 8
• Do you also want to request information for other family members? Then include their names and Belgian national registration numbers.

Ask whether you can apply for permanent residence

Step 2: We assess your file

• We check whether you meet the conditions.
• If you meet the conditions, we will email you the list of documents required for your application and from which date you may submit your application.
• Note: we can only offer advice. The federal authorities (Immigration Office) decide on your application.

Step 3: Submit an application for permanent residence with the city

What you need to know before you start

• You must add documents. You can check which ones in the email you received from us
  • Add the documents in pdf, 1 scan per document.
  • If possible: upload the documents consisting of several pages or belonging together as 1 pdf file (e.g. upload several pay slips as 1 document so that we have 1 proof of financial income).
• Are you applying for permanent residence for other family members? Then submit an application for each family member separately.
  Does your entire family have the residence status ‘recognised refugee’ or ‘subsidiary protection’, do you live at the same address and are you all eligible for a B card? Then you may submit a single application for all family members.

Apply for permanent residence

Step 4: The Immigration Office processes your application

We forward your application to the Immigration Office. It can take up to 5 months before you are notified of their decision.

Are you a non-EU/EEA citizen and does your residence card expire during the processing period? Then you still need to apply for renewal of your stay.

Step 5: Application for residence card

If the Immigration Office approves your application, you will be invited to apply for a new residence card, by appointment.

How to make an appointment?

If you are not in Belgium, you can only make an appointment by phone.

Make appointment for application residence card

What do you need to bring?

• National passport (not applicable for recognised refugees)
• Current residence card
• Invitation from the city office
• Money: you can pay using cash or a debit/credit card

You do not need to bring a passport-size photo. We will take a photo during your appointment.

Price

• Normal procedure
  € 20
• Expedited procedure
  If the application is submitted before 2 pm​​​​​​, delivery the following working day: € 120