Check whether your town needs an appointment first
In some towns you can walk in and change a forgotten PIN on the spot, in others you book a counter slot, send a form to the population service or order new codes from the federal service first. Check your city to see which applies and what ID to bring.
Bruges
Dries 2, Assebroek, 8310 Bruges
Book a time for the identity check, then follow the activation steps that arrive in your email.
Bring your eID or another accepted identity document, such as a residence card or registration certificate, and your BIS number if applicable. You need an active email address you can access. Confirm acceptable identification if you do not hold a Belgian eID.
Bruges
Koolkerkse Steenweg 199, Koolkerke/De Grendel, 8000 Bruges
Staff check your identity in person, because an email address alone is not enough to get the key.
Bring your eID or another accepted identity document, such as a residence card or registration certificate, and your BIS number if applicable. You need an active email address you can access. Confirm acceptable identification if you do not hold a Belgian eID.
Bruges
Albert Serreynstraat 1/002, Sint-Andries, 8200 Bruges
Get a way to sign in to government services without eID or itsme, after an identity check in person.
Bring your eID or another accepted identity document, such as a residence card or registration certificate, and your BIS number if applicable. You need an active email address you can access. Confirm acceptable identification if you do not hold a Belgian eID.
Bruges
Moerkerkse Steenweg 190, Sint-Kruis, 8310 Bruges
Book ahead to avoid waiting, then attend the identity check and follow the instructions sent to your email.
Bring your eID or another accepted identity document, such as a residence card or registration certificate, and your BIS number if applicable. You need an active email address you can access. Confirm acceptable identification if you do not hold a Belgian eID.
Bruges
Marktplein 12, Zeebrugge, 8380 Bruges
Bruges residents can register for a government login that works without eID or itsme.
Bring your eID or another accepted identity document, such as a residence card or registration certificate, and your BIS number if applicable. You need an active email address you can access. Confirm acceptable identification if you do not hold a Belgian eID.
Bruges
Frank Van Ackerpromenade 2, 8000 Bruges
Book an identity check for your digital key, and confirm you are eligible first if you apply for a business.
Bring your eID or another accepted identity document, such as a residence card or registration certificate, and your BIS number if applicable. You need an active email address you can access. Confirm acceptable identification if you do not hold a Belgian eID.
Guides
Related services
For people who cannot cover rent, food or other essentials: what the local social welfare centre can arrange and how to ask for an appointment.
A paper or digital certificate showing where you are registered, with versions for address history or household. Find the municipal office that issues it.
The eID for teenagers and adults and the Kids-ID for children. See how applying works and find the municipal office that handles your card.
For anyone who has moved house in Belgium. See who reports, what happens after the address check and which office handles it in your new town.
Learn whether you need an extract or a full copy, who can request it and how to reach the civil registry office in your municipality.
See who can apply, what is different for children and how to prepare, then find the municipal office that handles passports.
Other countries
Moving on, or comparing before you decide? See how this works elsewhere.
Most offices in Madrid, Córdoba, and Barcelona
Most offices in Rotterdam, Groningen, and Nieuwegein
Most offices in Warsaw, Kraków, and Bydgoszcz
Most offices in Bielefeld, Aachen, and Hanover
Most offices in Reykjavík, Akureyri, and Egilsstaðir
Where to next
Reset an eID PIN, replace activation codes or set up a digital key for online services. Useful for residents, residence card holders and some non-residents.
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