Permanent Residency in Belgium: A Complete Process for you
Are you in Belgium and want to apply for permanent residency in Belgium, but don’t know where to start and what documents and procedures you need to follow? Then we are here for you. In this blog post, we will guide you in a simple and easy way through the permanent residency in Belgium process so that you can apply on your own after reading this blog that we are going to post on our platform, Migrate Wisdom.
We always come up with something that enables you to do such things on your own if you are an immigrant in Belgium and other EU countries. So let’s start the topic without wasting your time.
The Golden Rule to Get Permanent Residency in Belgium
If you are a non-EU citizen and want to apply for permanent residency in Belgium, you must complete your uninterrupted legal residence for five years in Belgium. This doesn’t mean you can’t travel on holiday, but your main residence and the basis for your stay (like work, study, or family) must be in Belgium for five consecutive years. Your time starts from the moment you receive your first Belgian residence permit (A-card).
Author note for you
You have question in your mind that How Long Can You Stay outside Belgium during the 5 Years?
No doubt this is the most common question about the “uninterrupted stay” requirement, and the answer is precise. The rule is simple: You cannot exceed 6 months of total absences in any 12-month period.
Let’s make it crystal clear with an example where we give you two scenarios:
1. The Safe Scenario:
You take a 3-month summer trip to your home family
Later, you take several short holidays totaling 2 months.
Total Absence: 5 months.
Result: Your 5-year clock is SAFE. You stayed under the 6-month limit.
2. The Reset Scenario:
You take a 4-month trip.
Then you take another 3-month trip later in the same year.
Total Absence: 7 months.
Result: So you break your uninterrupted stay in Belgium for five year and you will lose your eliglbity until you justify the office about your longer stay e.g. illness during trip which they call “Force Majeure” I mean the situation that is not in your control that you stay there longer outside of Belgium.
The Two Main types of Permanent Residency in Belgium
It’s crucial to know that Belgium offers two main types of long-term residency:
A) Belgian Permanent Residence (Type D Card)
This is the national-level PR. It gives you right to stay in Belgium for indefinite time period, e.g., a common worker, spouse of a Belgian citizen, etc.
B) EU Long-Term Residence (Type E Card)
EU Long-Term Residence is another status that gives you rights to live and work in other EU countries under certain conditions. It has slightly stricter requirements, particularly regarding stable and regular resources and health insurance and integration, etc.
Author note for you
Just like Poland where you have two form of long term residency. The same thing in Belgium too and when we talk EU long term residence which is stronger then permanent residency but you need to complete the requirements that are much stricter then first one. So
If you are an ordinary worker on a series of single permits, and you are completing 5 years then you can apply for Belgium PR (Type D).
Once you have that, or if you have a very stable employment history, you can then apply for the more powerful status EU Long-Term Residency (Type E). Its only give you more right to do job in other EU countries at well. while if you standard pr the first one you cannot work in another country by simply visiting there but also need work permit to work in that country where you moved.
When it’s about spouse for a spouse of a Belgian citizen, the 5-year rule still applies, but the proof of resources and integration might be evaluated differently within the family context. Hope this help you and clear your mind.
Read: EU long-term residency in Poland with a complete process.
Application Process for Permanent Residency in Belgium
Here are the simple five steps that you should follow when you apply for permanent residency in Belgium.
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
Before doing anything else, you must be sure that you meet these four core conditions if you avoid any delay or rejection in the future.
- You have held a sequence of valid residence permits for five years.
- You must prove you have sufficient income to support yourself and your family without relying on social assistance. There’s no fixed amount, but your salary slips, employment contract, and tax documents are key.
- You must be registered with a Belgian mutualiteit (health insurance fund).
- You meet the integration requirement, which generally means you are not considered a threat to public order.
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
If you fulfill the above four requirements, then it’s time for you to officially start gathering documents that you need to attach with your application. These are the key documents:
- A valid passport that you have.
- Your current residence permit.
- Proof of your address in Belgium (a recent rental contract or utility bill).
- Proof of stable income (last three salary slips, employment contract, tax return).
- Proof of health insurance registration.
- One or two recent passport-sized photos.
- The application form (available from your commune where you live).
Step 3: Submit Your Application
Once you have completed all of the above documents, now it’s time to apply for permanent residency in Belgium. Remember that in Belgium you do not apply online. You must book an appointment and submit your complete file in person at your local commune (gemeente/gemeinschaft).
Author note for you
Yes you heard it right; the system is different in Belgium for permanent residency mean you have to visit to the town hall where you are officially registered. You don’t need to go Brussels for file submission. Let’s take an example if you live in Hasselt, and your official address is registered there, you must submit your Belgium Permanent Residence application at the Hasselt stadhuis (city hall/town hall), specifically at the Dienst Vreemdelingen or Population Office instead of going to Brussels city which is the capital of Belgium.
Step 4: Receive the Annex 35
Once you submit your application at the commune, they will review your application; once everything is ok, the commune will issue you an Annex 35.
Author’s note about Annex 35
Annex 35 is a very crucial paper for you because it shows and proves that your application is being processed and allows you to stay legally in Belgium while you wait, even if your current card expires. If you plan to leave Belgium during this time, then do not leave without this document.
Step 5: Receive the Decision
The immigration office (Office des Étrangers / Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken) will process your file. This can take, of course, several months. If they approved your PR application, your commune near your area where you submitted your application will contact you to come and collect your new Permanent Residence Card (D-card), which is valid for 5 years and is renewable.
This is all you have to do throughout the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now it’s time for questions and answers.
Can I do a job anywhere after getting permanent residency in Belgium?
Once you have PR, you have much more freedom on the job market. You generally won’t need a new single permit/work visa for a new employer.
Can my family member also apply for permanent residency in Belgium after I receive PR?
Your spouse and minor children can apply for their own PR based on your status, but they must also meet the five-year residence requirement.
How early I can apply for permanent residency in Belgium
Typically, you can apply for permanent residency in Belgium six months before your current card expires. So it’s not like you have to wait for the card to get expired. The fact is the PR will take longer for you to wait; it’s so that you have the flexibility to apply a few months before.
What is the fastest way to get PR in Belgium?
There is no “fast track.” The standard process requires 5 years of uninterrupted legal residence for most non-EU nationals. So you have to work and pay the tax and integrate with the culture to get PR without any issue.
How much money in an account is required for Belgium permanent residency?
Belgium does not specify any rule like that; instead, you must prove you have stable, regular, and sufficient resources to support yourself and your family without social assistance. This is typically demonstrated with your employment contracts, recent salary slips, and tax documents, not just a savings account.
Can I get Belgium PR without a job?
It is very difficult. The requirement for “stable and regular resources” is strict. If you are unemployed, you would need to prove substantial independent wealth (e.g., savings, pensions, or stable investments) sufficient to live on long-term, and you must have comprehensive health insurance.
Is Belgium PR permanent?
The status is permanent, but the physical card has an expiry date. Your Belgium Permanent Residence (Type D) card is typically valid for 5 years and is renewable. As long as you continue to live in Belgium and renew it, your permanent residency status is maintained.
Can I lose my Belgian permanent residency?
Yes, primarily in two ways:
If you leave Belgium for more than 6 consecutive months without an approved reason (force majeure).
If you live outside of Belgium for more than 6 months per year over a sustained period, demonstrating you have moved your center of life elsewhere.
What is the difference between Belgium PR and citizenship?
PR gives you the right to live and work in Belgium indefinitely, but you remain a citizen of your home country. With Belgium citizenship, you get a Belgium passport, the right to vote in all elections, and EU freedom of movement rights without any residency conditions.
Can I apply for Belgium PR online?
No, the application cannot be submitted online. You must book an appointment and submit your file in person at your local commune (town hall), where you are officially registered.
How long does it take to get PR in Belgium after applying?
The processing time after submission can vary but typically takes 3 to 6 months. During this time, the Annex 35 document you receive from your commune acts as your proof of legal stay.
What is the main benefit of an EU long-term residence permit vs. Belgium PR?
The key benefit is mobility within the European Union. While Belgium PR ties you to Belgium, the EU Long-Term Residence permit gives you the right to live and work in other EU countries (except Denmark and Ireland) under simplified conditions. You can stay in another EU country for up to 3 years without applying for a new national visa, and transferring your residency is much easier. It’s the most powerful status before citizenship.
Is the EU long-term residence permit harder to get than Belgium PR?
Yes, the requirements are stricter. While both require 5 years of legal stay, the EU permit has a higher bar for proof of income and health insurance, e.g.
a) You must prove your resources are not just sufficient but also stable and regular. A permanent employment contract or several years of consistent tax returns is strongly favored.
b) You must have comprehensive health cover that meets Belgian standards, which is more scrutinized than the basic registration with a mutualiteit for the national PR.
Can I apply for EU Long-Term Residence directly after 5 years on a work visa?
Yes, you can apply directly if you meet all the stricter conditions. Many professionals on stable work visas do exactly this to bypass the national PR and obtain the more valuable EU status immediately. The 5-year clock is the same for both permits.
When can I apply for Belgian citizenship after getting Permanent Residency?
You can apply for citizenship as soon as you meet the separate residency requirement for naturalization, which is typically 5 years of legal residence. Since your 5 years of PR-qualifying residence counts towards this, you can often apply for citizenship immediately after receiving your PR card, or even at the same time.
The key is proving you have legally lived in Belgium for 5 years, which your PR application itself demonstrates. You do not need to hold the PR card for an additional period before applying for citizenship, as long as the 5-year timeline is complete.
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Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes based on our research and on available information on the ground. For exact and official info, you should visit the official source
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