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

After your registration in the city registry, you can apply for or renew a residence permit at the city office. 

Renewal of residence for foreign students
Are you a non-EU/EEA student, is your residence card about to expire and do you wish to continue your studies in Belgium? In that case a different procedure applies.

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.
Attention

Have you not received any invitation 3 weeks after the address check by the local police, or after the municipal authorities or the Immigration Office should have taken a decision regarding your application? Contact us.

  • 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 11 years and 9 months old, they may already apply for this card.
      However, your child may only collect the card from the day they turn 12.
    • 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
  • 1 passport-size photo, 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

  • 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?

Is your A or H card about to expire and do you want to remain in Belgium? Then you must apply for an extension of your stay.

When to apply for renewal?

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

It is, therefore, best to apply for renewal between 30 and 45 days before the expiry date.

How to apply for renewal?

    • Email to: nietbelgen@leuven.be
    • Subject line of the email: 'renewal residence'+ Belgian national registration number (‘rijksregisternummer’) + your surname + given name(s) (as stated on your national passport)
    • Attach the following documents (in PDF format, each document scanned separately and in colour):
      • 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.
    Downloads
    Documents required for renewal of an A card(pdf, 168.86 KB)
    • Mention the following information in the email:
      • Surname, given name(s) (as stated on your national passport)
      • Date and place of birth
      • Nationality
      • Reason for the renewal application
      • Belgian phone number
        If you do not have a Belgian phone number, please provide the Belgian phone number of a contact person, mentioning their name

    Pay attention

    • If you are submitting an application for more than one person, you must send one email per person. The attached documents may only relate to that person.
      Exception: you may submit a single application for yourself and your minor children.
    • Only complete files will be processed.

    Application for residence card after approval of renewal application

    When your application to extend your stay in Belgium has been approved, you will be invited to apply for a new residence card, 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
    • Invitation from the city office, if any
    • 1 passport-size photo (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

    • 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
    • 1 passport-size photo (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

    • 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.

    AttentionDid you still have a valid residence card when you submitted your family reunification application? If so, it is up to you to make an appointment when this card expires (if your waiting period of 6 or 9 months has not come to an end by then).

    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)
    • Invitation from the city office, if any
    • Expired residence card, if any
    • 1 passport-size photo (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

    Application for international protection

    • Annex 25/26
    • Attestation of registration ('orange card'), if any
    • 1 passport-size photo (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

    • 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 residence permit 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.
    AttentionSince 10 May 2021, an annex 8 is no longer issued and EU nationals are obliged to apply for an electronic card (EU card).

    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
    • 1 recent passport-size photo (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
    AttentionRecovered your residence permit?
    You may no longer use or reactivate a residence permit which you declared lost or stolen. Have the recovered permit cancelled by the municipal authorities, and apply for a new one as soon as possible.

    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

    Counter non-Belgians

    Stadskantoor
    Professor Van Overstraetenplein 1
    3000 Leuven

    View all opening hours
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