Should be done within 8 days of arrival & compulsory for anyone staying 3 months +
Registration is compulsory for anyone who plans to stay longer than 3 months in Belgium. This should be done within 8 days of arrival, and requires the following documents:
- Passport or ID;
- A housing contract;
- Passport-sized photos;
- Proof of health insurance;
- Proof you can support yourself in Belgium.
Once the municipality has your documents, there is a residence check by the police, usually two weeks later. One thing they often look at is the name on your doorbell.
Once your residence is confirmed you received a Belgian national number and are registered in the population and foreigners register. You also receive residence permit - best option to request the electronic format which has a chip. The e-card costs around 25 euro and is valid for 5 years.
You normally need to show proof of health insurance to register. However to apply for Belgian health insurance, you need to show proof of residency. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out both of these processes parallel, and report to one or the other that your request is in progress. If you are an EU citizen, you can show proof of your European Health Insurance Card