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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Upon arrival in Belgium

Step 1: Register yourself

Registration with visa type D

Registration without visa type D

Registration as a foreign student

Residence of Ukrainians who had to flee their country

Stay as asylum seeker

Step 2: Complete your file (if required)

Non-Belgian file still to be completed

Step 3: Apply for electronic residence card or orange card

Residence card for non-Belgians from the age of 12

Residence card for non-Belgians under the age of 12

Orange card

Residence document lost or stolen

Step 4: Collect residence card

Collection of residence card

Extending or changing your stay within the first 5 years

Extension of stay

Extension of stay as a foreign student

Changing your residence status

After 5 years of residence in Belgium

Permanent residence

Renewal of 5- or 10-year residence card

Becoming a Belgian

Do you have a question?

Call us

Mail us

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

Upon arrival in Belgium

Step 1: Register yourself

Registration with visa type D

Registration without visa type D

Registration as a foreign student

Residence of Ukrainians who had to flee their country

Stay as asylum seeker

Step 2: Complete your file (if required)

Non-Belgian file still to be completed

Step 3: Apply for electronic residence card or orange card

Residence card for non-Belgians from the age of 12

Residence card for non-Belgians under the age of 12

Orange card

Residence document lost or stolen

Step 4: Collect residence card

Collection of residence card

Extending or changing your stay within the first 5 years

Extension of stay

Extension of stay as a foreign student

Changing your residence status

After 5 years of residence in Belgium

Permanent residence

Renewal of 5- or 10-year residence card

Becoming a Belgian

Do you have a question?

Call us

Mail us

Read more