Give your fingerprints and collect your residence card in Belgium

Two visits to your municipality, with a letter of codes in between

Once your right to stay is approved, your municipality’s foreigners’ desk orders your electronic residence card. You give fingerprints and have a photo taken when you apply, then collect the card in person with the codes that the federal home affairs service posts to your address. Children from age twelve come in person as well.

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How it works

Give biometrics or collect a residence card

Book the appointment for fingerprints, a photo or collecting your residence card.

After you apply for a residence permit, or once it is approved, you may need a separate appointment to have your fingerprints and photo taken or to collect your card. Follow the instructions in your letter or e-mail, as the location can differ from the office that handled your application. Bring your passport, the letter or appointment confirmation and, if requested, proof that you paid the fee. Your card is usually ready a few weeks after the biometrics appointment.

Also searched as

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At a glance

Offices
42 offices in 26 cities
Book online
At 27 of 42 offices
Apply online
Not offered
Offices for specific groups
  • For EU, EEA and Swiss citizens: 5 offices

Booking rules change from one town to the next

Municipal desks that handle residence cards

Your own municipality usually orders your card, and in Brussels the liaison offices around the city take EU card requests too. Each office shows whether it works by appointment, which days it opens and what to bring.

See card offices

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A paper or digital certificate showing where you are registered, with versions for address history or household. Find the municipal office that issues it.

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Digital ID and eID help

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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Applying for or renewing a Belgian ID card

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.

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Reporting a move within Belgium

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.

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Birth, marriage or death certificate in Belgium

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.

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Other countries

The same task in other countries

Moving on, or comparing before you decide? See how this works elsewhere.

Where to next

Residence card offices in Belgium

Municipal offices where fingerprints are taken and electronic residence cards are handed over, with how each one arranges visits.

Belgian residence card desks

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