Stay of more than 3 months as a citizen from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland

You do not have the nationality of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. You are staying in Belgium for more than 3 months. What do you need to do?

Upon arrival in Belgium

Step 1: Register yourself

Do you reside in Leuven? Register yourself with the city as soon as possible. How you do so depends on your situation. 

Registration with visa type D

Are you coming to Belgium for a stay of more than 3 months with a visa type D? Then you must register yourself in the city registry as soon as possible.

Registration without visa type D

Are you coming to Belgium for a stay of more than 3 months without a visa type D? Then you must register yourself in the city registry as soon as possible.

Registration as a foreign student

Register yourself with the city of Leuven as soon as possible. How to register? This depends on your situation.

Residence of Ukrainians who had to flee their country

You must go through a number of steps to register yourself in the city registry.

Stay as asylum seeker

Do you want to apply for international protection in Belgium? Apply for asylum with the Immigration Office of the federal authorities. Next apply for an orange card with the municipality where you will reside.

Step 2: Complete your file (if required)

Have you not yet provided all documents? You provide them within the time limit communicated to you. 

Non-Belgian file still to be completed

Submit the missing documents on time.

Step 3: Apply for electronic residence card or orange card

After approval we invite you to apply for a residence card. This is not mandatory for children younger than 12.

Do you have to wait for approval of your application? Then you will first receive an orange card in some cases. 

Has your residence document been lost or stolen? Apply for a new one. 

Residence card for non-Belgians from the age of 12

Do you want to apply for a new electronic residence card? Make an appointment at the city office.

Residence card for non-Belgians under the age of 12

Does your child not have Belgian nationality and are they younger than 12? Then you can apply for an electronic residence card for your child.

Orange card

After you have been registered with the city, you can apply for an orange card ('attestation of registration'). Do you already have an orange card, but is it about to expire ? And have you not yet received any decision about your application? Have the orange card extended.

Residence document lost or stolen

Has your residence document been lost or stolen? Read what you need to do.

Step 4: Collect residence card

Have you received the PIN and PUK codes by post? Then you may collect the card at the city office. Make an appointment.

Collection of residence card

Did you apply for a residence card and have you now received the PIN and PUK codes by post? Then you may collect the card at the city office. Make an appointment.

Extending or changing your stay within the first 5 years

You must regularly extend your stay within the first 5 years of residency in Belgium. The procedure differs for students. 
You can also have your residence status changed within this term.

Extension of stay

Is your A or H card about to expire and do you want to remain in Belgium? Apply for extension.

Extension of stay as a foreign student

If you wish to continue your studies in Belgium, you must apply for renewal of your stay.

Changing your residence status

Are you already legally residing in Belgium, and do you wish to change your residence status? Contact us.

After 5 years of residence in Belgium

Have you resided in Belgium for 5 years? Then we advise you to apply for permanent residence. 
Is your 5- or 10-year residence card about to expire? Then we invite you to apply for a new one.

From then on, you may also apply for Belgian nationality.

Permanent residence

Have you been residing in Belgium legally and continuously for at least 5 years? If you meet the conditions, you can apply for permanent residence.

Renewal of 5- or 10-year residence card

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

Becoming a Belgian

You can automatically obtain Belgian nationality or you can obtain it by taking steps yourself. This is usually done by contacting the city.

Do you have a question?

Contact us, we are happy to help you.

Call us

016 27 21 94

Mail us

nietbelgen@leuven.be
We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Something wrong or unclear on this page? Let us know.