Residence permit from the age of 12: application, renewal and collection

Kinds of residence permits

There are different kinds of residence permits.

Application for first electronic residence card

For whom?

• You are an EU/EEA/Swiss national
  • Registration from 10 May 2021
    You have received an invitation from the city office to apply for an electronic residence card (EU card), after:
    • Your application was immediately approved. You received a ‘provisional document in support of the registration’ (annex 8ter). Your address has been confirmed by the local police.
    • You had to wait for a decision from the municipal authorities or from the Immigration Office and your application has now been approved.
  • Registration before 10 May 2021
    You received a ‘declaration of registration’ (annex 8).
    • You may exchange the annex 8 for an electronic residence card (EU card), but this is not mandatory.
      
• You are a non-EU/EEA national
  You have received an invitation from the city office to apply for an electronic residence card:
  • Following your registration, your address has been confirmed by the local police.
  • You had to wait for a decision from the Immigration Office regarding your application for family reunification, and your attestation of registration (‘orange card’) has now expired.

• Your child is turning 12
  An electronic residence card is mandatory from the age of 12. However, the city does not invite your child to apply for one.
  • As soon as your child is 12 years old, they may apply for this card.
  • Does your child already have an electronic residence card for children younger than 12 which is valid beyond their 12th birthday? In that case, your child only has to apply for a new card by the time it will expire. Pay attention: in some cases your child first has to apply for renewal of stay.

How to apply?

To apply for your residence card, come to the city office (by appointment).

How to make an appointment?

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

Make an appointment for application

What do you need to bring?

• National passport or identity card
• For EU/EEA/Swiss nationals: annex 19, annex 8ter or annex 8
• For non-EU/EEA nationals: document which you received when you applied for registration
• Invitation from the city office, if any
• 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

Renewal of residence permit (for holders of an A or H card)

For whom?

Your A or H card is about to expire and you want to remain in Belgium.

When to apply for renewal?

Apply for renewal latest between 30 and 45 days before your residence card expires, because processing may take a long time. Usually we have to wait for a decision from the FPS Home Affairs, Immigration Office.

How to apply for renewal?

Step 1: Gather the documents

• National passport (biodata page)
• Current residence card (front and back), annex 15 or annex 49
• The documents required for renewal (depends on your specific situation)
  In the document below you will find examples of the required documents. If you applied for renewal earlier, you will find the required documents on the decision from the Immigration Office which you received last time.

Step 2: Apply for renewal

• Are several family members applying for renewal? Complete the form for each person separately.
• Are you applying for renewal of the residence status ‘family reunification’? Then you may submit 1 application for yourself and your minor children.

Apply for renewal A or H card

You will receive proof of your application in your mailbox.
Did not receive any email? Contact us, something may have gone wrong with your application.

Prefer not to apply online?

Come to the city office with your documents (originals, not digitally), by appointment.
If you are not in Belgium, you can only make an appointment by phone.
Which documents do you need to bring?

Make an appointment

Step 3: We process your application

The procedure may differ. Usually we have to wait for a decision from the FPS Home Affairs, Immigration Office.

Step 4: We invite you to apply for a new residence card

Has your renewal application been approved? Then you will reveive an inivtation to apply for a new residence card.

Application for residence card after approval of renewal

You make an appointment.

How to make an appointment?

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

Make an appointment for application

What do you need to bring?

• National passport
• Invitation from the city office, if any
• 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

Renewal of residence permit (for holders of a 5 or 10 year card)

For whom?

Is your 5 or 10 year card about to expire and do you want to remain in Belgium? Then you must apply for renewal of your residence card.

What to do?

You will receive an invitation from the city office to extend your stay. Didn't receive any letter? Then keep an eye on the expiry date yourself.

In both cases, come to the city office between 30 and 45 days before the card expires, by appointment.

How to make an appointment?

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

Make an appointment for renewal

What do you need to bring?

• National passport or identity card
• Residence card
• Invitation from the city office, if any
• 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

Application for or extension of attestation of registration ('orange card')

For whom?

When applying for family reunification

You have submitted an application for family reunification upon arrival or during your stay in Belgium, and you are awaiting a decision from the FPS Home Affairs - Immigration Office.

When applying for international protection (asylum application)

• You have submitted an application for international protection and you are coming to Leuven to reside here.
• You already have an attestation of registration and you are moving from another municipality to Leuven.
• You already have an attestation of registration and you must have it extended.

What to do?

Application for family reunification

You will receive an invitation from the city office to apply for an attestation of registration.

Application for international protection (asylum application)

• You have moved to Leuven after submitting your application for international protection
  1. Come to the city office to register yourself with the city of Leuven, by appointment.
     
     Prefer not to make your appointment online?
     You can also make an appointment by phone.
     
     What do you need to bring?
     • ‘Annex 26’ (or possibly ‘annex 25’)
     • National passport, if you have one
  2. The local police officer will verify your address.
  3. You will receive an invitation from the city office to apply for your first attestation of registration (by appointment).
• You already have an attestation of registration and you are moving from another municipality to Leuven
  1. Declare your new address
  2. The local police officer will verify your address.
  3. Come to the city office to have your address updated (by appointment).
• You already have an attestation of registration and you must have it extended
  As long as no decision has been taken regarding your application, you come to the city office to have your attestation of registration extended, no more than 3 days before the expiry date (by appointment).

How to make an appointment?

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

Make an appointment for application or extension

What do you need to bring?

Application for family reunification

• National passport
• Annex 19ter, annex 15bis or annex 41bis (as applicable)
• 1 passport-size photo
  • The photo is no more than 6 months old.
  • Pay attention to the requirements (Dutch only).
  • There is a photo booth in the city office.
    Pay attention: take your photo before taking your appointment ticket at the dispenser.
• Invitation from the city office, if any
• Expired residence card, if any
• Money: you can pay using cash or a debit/credit card

Application for international protection

• Annex 25/26
• 1 passport-size photo
  • The photo is no more than 6 months old.
  • Pay attention to the requirements (Dutch only).
  • There is a photo booth in the city office.
    Pay attention: take your photo before taking your appointment ticket at the dispenser.
• Attestation of registration ('orange card'), if any
• Money: you can pay using cash or a debit/credit card

Price

• New card
  €5
• Extension
  No charge

Residence permit lost or stolen

What do you have to do?

1. Go to the police to report the loss or theft of your electronic residence card, attestation of registration ('orange card') or 'annex 8'. You will receive an 'annex 12' or a certificate of loss ('attest van verlies').
2. Make an appointment to apply for a duplicate of your residence permit.

How to make an appointment?

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

Make an appointment for application

What do you need to bring?

• Annex 12 or certificate of loss ('attest van verlies')
• National passport or identity card
• For a duplicate of your electronic residence card:
  You do not need to bring a passport-size photo. We will take a photo during your appointment.
• For a duplicate of your attestation of registration ('orange card'):
  1 passport-size photo
  • The photo is no more than 6 months old.
  • Pay attention to the requirements (Dutch only).
  • There is a photo booth in the city office.
• Money: you can pay using cash or a debit/credit card

Price

• Electronic card
  • € 22
  • Expedited procedure (applied for before 2 pm, delivery the following working day): € 120
• Paper residence permit
  • Attestation of registration ('orange card'): € 5

Collection residence card

After you have received your pin and pukcodes by post, you may collect the card at the city office, by appointment.

How to make an appointment?

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

Make an appointment for collection

More information

• FPS Home Affairs
• Agentschap Integratie en Inburgering