Apply for right to return (for non-Belgians)
Are you not a Belgian and are you going abroad temporarily for more than 3 months? Then you must report this to the city. Otherwise, you may be struck from the national register and your residence card may be revoked.
In order to avoid problems upon your return to Belgium, you must apply for your 'right to return'. If you report your return to the city before your right to return has expired, your residence card remains valid.
Who can apply for the right to return?
You meet these 4 conditions:
- You are not a Belgian.
- You reside in Belgium with a residence card which is still valid for at least 3 months.
- You are going abroad for more than 3 months.
- You come back to Belgium when you still have the right to return.
How long you may exercise the right to return depends on your residence card.- A card for mobility students: Until the expiry date of your A card
- EU+ or F+ card: No more than 2 years
- M+ card: No more than 5 years
- L-card:
- Stay in an EU country: No more than 6 years
- Stay in a country outside the EU: No more than 1 year
- All other situations: No more than 1 year
When to apply?
At the earliest 1 week and at the latest 1 day before your departure.
Are you already abroad?
Then you can still apply for the right to return.
We record the date of your departure as moving date in the national register.
How to apply?
Step 1: Contact us
Contact us. We will check whether you meet the conditions for the right to return.
Step 2: Gather the information for your application
- Your address abroad
- Date when you will return (if you already know it)
- Documents:
- Your national identity card (front and back) or national passport (biodata page)
- Your Belgian residence card
- Proof of the date of your departure abroad
E.g exit stamp, airline ticket, train ticket, … - Proof demonstrating your need to go abroad
- This is only required if you will return to the same address in Leuven.
Pay attention: only your housemates may continue residing at this address. Were you living alone? Then no one may reside there during your absence. - E.g. proof of medical treatment, marriage, studies, work …
- This is only required if you will return to the same address in Leuven.
Step 3: Apply for the right to return
Are you applying for more than one person? Complete the application for each person separately.
Step 4: We process your application
- We process your application.
- No more than 2 weeks later, you will receive a confirmation by email with official proof of your right to return (an ‘annex 18’ and sometimes a ‘model 8’). Your residence card will remain valid.
How to report your return?
Read how you report your return
Do you have a question?
Contact us, we are happy to help you.
