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Resident permit (ID card A)

After receiving international protection as a recognised refugee or as a beneficiary of subsidiary protection, you can obtain a residence permit in the form of an electronic A card during your temporary residence in Belgium.

• For recognized refugees: The A card is valid for 5 years. After 5 years from the date you submitted your application for international protection, you can in principle obtain an unlimited right of residence and apply for an electronic B card.
• ‍For beneficiaries of subsidiary protection: The A card is initially valid for 1 year. It can then be extended twice for a period of 2 years each time. After 5 years from the date you submitted your application for international protection, you can in principle obtain an unlimited right of residence and apply for a B card.

How to apply to get an ‘A’ ID card?

Recognised refugees

After your refugee status has been recognised by the CGRS or the CALL, you will receive a refugee certificate. You must then contact the foreigners' department of the municipality where you live so that it can issue your A card.

The municipality will inform you about the documents required, the procedure and the cost of the card.

Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection

After subsidiary protection has been granted by the CGRS or the CALL, you must go to the foreigners' department of your municipality of residence with the decision granting you subsidiary protection. The municipality will then issue your A card.

Renew the ID card

For beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, the application to extend the A card must be submitted to the municipality 30 to 45 days before the card expires. For other procedures concerning the renewal or replacement of your residence permit, contact your municipality.

Permanent residency

B Card

After 5 years from the date you submitted your application for international protection, recognised refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection can in principle obtain an unlimited right of residence.

You must apply for a B card at your municipality of residence. The Immigration Office must first assess your situation before the card can be issued.

Belgian nationality

Under certain conditions, you can apply for Belgian nationality after several years of legal residence in Belgium.

There are two procedures that may allow adults to acquire Belgian nationality:

1)  Declaration of nationality

The declaration of nationality is the most common procedure for people who meet the legal conditions.

In several situations, you can apply for Belgian nationality after 5 years of legal residence in Belgium. The conditions depend on your personal situation.

In the general case, after 5 years of legal residence, you must in particular:

• prove your knowledge of one of Belgium's three national languages;
• prove your social integration, for example through a diploma, vocational training of at least 400 hours, an integration course or other means provided for by law;
• and, in this category, prove your economic participation, for example by having worked at least 468 days during the previous 5 years or, if you are self-employed as your main occupation, by having paid the required social security contributions for at least 6 quarters.

There are also specific conditions for certain situations, including people who are married to a Belgian citizen, people who have a Belgian child, people who are unable to work because of a disability or invalidity, and people who have been legally resident in Belgium for 10 years.

The declaration of nationality must be made before the civil registrar of your municipality of main residence. The municipality will tell you which documents are required and check whether you meet the conditions.

Please note: the conditions for acquiring Belgian nationality are complex and depend on your personal situation. It is therefore recommended to contact your municipality before submitting an application.

Recognised refugees can contact the Helpdesk for recognised refugees and stateless persons at the CGRS for certain civil-status documents and certificates required for a nationality procedure. These documents are issued free of charge.

2)  Naturalisation‍

Naturalisation is an exceptional procedure.

To apply for naturalisation, you must in particular:

• be at least 18 years old;
• have legal residence in Belgium;
• demonstrate exceptional merits in the scientific, sporting or sociocultural fields and, as a result, make a particular contribution to Belgium's international standing;
• prove that it is almost impossible for you to acquire Belgian nationality through a declaration of nationality.

You can obtain further information from the municipality where you live.

The Helpdesk for recognised refugees and stateless persons at the CGRS can also issue certain documents required by recognised refugees for a nationality procedure.

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MORE INFORMATION:

You can consult the official information from the Federal Public Service Justice about the conditions for becoming Belgian and contact your municipality to find out which conditions apply to your situation.

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