SITE CURRENTLY UNDER REVISION. Some information on this website may be outdated and no longer accurate. We’re currently updating our content to better reflect the current situation. Thank you for your understanding.
An Immatriculation Certificate (AI), commonly called an orange card, is a temporary residence document that you receive as an applicant for international protection. The certificate also indicates whether you have the right to work in Belgium.
If you have submitted a first application for international protection, you will receive an Annex 26 from the Immigration Office. You must then report to the municipality of your main place of residence within 8 working days. The municipality can issue you an Immatriculation Certificate valid for 4 months from the date you submitted your application.
If you have submitted a subsequent application, you will receive an Annex 26 quinquies. You can receive an Immatriculation Certificate if the CGRS declares your application admissible.
If you have been transferred from the arrival centre to another reception centre, you will have a main place of residence in Belgium. You must then report to the municipality where you reside, with your Annex 26, to obtain your Immatriculation Certificate.
The practical arrangements may vary from one municipality to another. You may need to make an appointment and provide a recent passport photo and other documents requested by the municipality.
Your social worker can help you with these administrative procedures and tell you which documents you need to bring.
Please note: the Immigration Office is currently modernising the Immatriculation Certificate. During this transition period, different models may be in circulation. Some municipalities still issue the traditional orange card, while others may issue a temporary/provisional A4-format certificate. All these models have the same legal value.
For a first application for international protection, the Immatriculation Certificate is initially valid for 4 months from the date the application was submitted. It can then be renewed every 8 months, unless the Immigration Office indicates otherwise.
If the CGRS has not yet taken a decision on your application 4 months after you submitted it, you can work in Belgium. When you renew your Orange Card at the municipality, it will automatically state: “Labour market: unlimited.” This means that you can practise all professions in Belgium.
Your right to work remains valid until the CGRS takes a decision on your application. If you appeal against a negative decision, your right to work remains valid until the Council for Alien Law Litigation (CALL/RvV/CCE) takes a decision on your appeal.