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 valid for the entire duration of your absence.
• You are going abroad for more than 90 days.
• You will return to Belgium before the end of the period during which you may stay abroad.
  The duration of the period depends on your residence card.
  • A card for mobility student: 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

Do you not meet the conditions?
Then you must deregister and your file in the national register will be closed.

Do you want to return to Belgium afterwards? Then you will have to register yourself again. If applicable, you first apply for a new long-stay visa (type D).

What does temporary stay outside Belgium entail?

There are 2 options:

• Right to return
  • After your temporary stay abroad, you return to Belgium but not to your current address in Leuven.
  • You will be deregistered from the foreign nationals register, but your residence card will remain valid.
  • Your right of residence will not be interrupted. Upon your return, we will reopen your file in the foreign nationals register.
• Right to return with temporary absence
  • After your temporary stay abroad, you will return to your current address in Leuven.
  • You will remain registered in the foreign nationals register and your residence card will remain valid.
  • This is only possible if you meet these 3 conditions:
    • Only your housemates may continue residing at this address. Were you living alone? Then no one may reside there during your absence.
      You are also not allowed to sublet.
    • You must be able to return to your address both during your absence and upon your return. This means that your personal belongings remain in your premises. Were you living alone? Then the premises remain furnished and unoccupied.
    • You must prove that it is necessary for you to go abroad.

Attention Is your A or H card due to expire shortly after your return? Apply for extension of your stay in good time.

Did you not request ‘temporary absence’? Before we can reopen your file, the local police officer must confirm that you are residing at your address in Leuven again. You can only apply for extension of your stay from that moment on. During busy periods, such as the start of the academic year, the address check may take a long time. Keep this in mind when planning your return.

When to apply?

At the earliest 1 week and at the latest 1 day before your departure.

How to apply?

Step 1: Gather the information for your application

• Your address abroad
• Date when you will return (if you already know it)
• Proof demonstrating your need to go abroad
  • This is only required if your opt for the right to return with temporary absence.
  • You are absent due to:
    • Studies: add a certificate from your educational institution. The document states the following:
      • Confirmation that you need to go abroad for your studies
      • The period during which you need to be abroad
    • Work: add a certificate from your employer. The document states the following:
      • Confirmation that you need to go abroad for work
      • The period during which you need to be abroad
    • Medical reasons: add a medical certificate from the attending physician
    • Other reasons: proof that you need to go abroad temporarily
  • Read the rules for translation if the document is not drawn up in Belgium.
• 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. airline ticket, train ticket, …
    Are you leaving by car? If so, you may also sign a declaration on honour. Add it to your application, duly signed.

Step 2: Apply for the right to return

Are you applying for more than one person? Complete the application for each person separately.

Apply for the right to return

Step 3: We process your application

1. We process your application.
2. 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