--- title: Belgian eID and National Register Enrollment for Foreign Residents country: belgium service: "eid-electronic-identity-card-rijksregister-registre-national" category: identification difficulty: moderate estimated_time: "About 3 weeks from commune appointment to a fully activated card; same-day or next-day via the super-urgent track in Brussels" cost_range: "Federal commune tariff €20,10 (adult eID) to €161,40 (super-urgent SPF Brussels); commune surcharge (*taxe communale*) added on top and varies by municipality" last_verified: 2026-05-26 canonical: https://publicservices.guide/belgium/eid-electronic-identity-card-rijksregister-registre-national/ status: current confidence: low tags: - identification - eid - "national-register" - "new-arrival" - registration - commune - "residence-card" - expat sources: - https://ibz.be/en - https://ibz.be/en/registration-and-reporting-obligation-general - https://ibz.be/en/registering-a-change-of-address - https://ibz.be/en/single-digital-gateway/expired-identity-cards - https://www.ibz.rrn.fgov.be/sites/default/files/documents/fr/documents-d-identite/Tarifs_2026_FR.pdf - https://ibz.be/en/single-digital-gateway/kids-id-an-identity-document-for-children - https://sma-help.bosa.belgium.be/en/faq/where-can-i-find-my-national-registration-number - https://dofi.ibz.be/en - https://www.belgium.be/fr/famille/identite/carte_d_identite --- # Belgian eID and National Register Enrollment for Foreign Residents **Country:** 🇧🇪 Belgium **Last verified:** 2026-05-26 **Estimated time:** About 3 weeks from commune appointment to a fully activated card; same-day or next-day via the super-urgent track in Brussels **Cost:** Federal commune tariff €20,10 (adult eID) to €161,40 (super-urgent SPF Brussels); commune surcharge (*taxe communale*) added on top and varies by municipality ## Required documents - **Recent identity photograph (federal biometric standard)** *(Photo d'identité / identiteitsfoto)* - Where to get: Belgian photo studio familiar with the federal Photomaton / eID standard - Required: Original print, white background, neutral expression, head 70-80% of the frame - _Note:_ Communes routinely reject photos with shadows, smiles showing teeth, head tilts, or non-white backgrounds. Use a Belgian studio that knows the federal standard rather than a generic passport photo from another jurisdiction. - **Existing identity document** *(Carte d'identité / identiteitskaart / passeport)* - Where to get: Issuing-country authority (passport office or national ID office) - Required: Original; not expired. For renewals, the card being replaced; for first issues, a passport or foreign national ID - _Note:_ Identity is verified in person at the counter — copies alone are not accepted. - **Proof of residence at the declared address** *(Preuve de résidence / bewijs van verblijf)* - Where to get: Landlord, property owner, or host providing accommodation - Required: Rental contract, ownership deed, or host declaration - When: First registration in a commune, or after a change of address - _Note:_ The commune may ask for additional proof such as a recent utility bill or a sworn host declaration depending on local practice. - **Visa or arrival annex (foreigners only)** *(Visa / *Annexe 3ter* / Annexe 19 / Annexe 19ter)* - Where to get: Belgian diplomatic post (visa) or the commune of residence at first declaration (annexes) - Required: Visa C or D as applicable; the commune issues the matching annex at intake — Annexe 3ter for short stay under 3 months, Annexe 19 for EU long-stay pending registration, Annexe 19ter for non-EU family of an EU citizen - _Note:_ The supporting documents required by the underlying residence-permit stream (work contract, study admission, marriage certificate, sponsor declaration) must also be deposited; the Immigration Office (Office des Étrangers / Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken) decides the file before the electronic residence card is produced. - **Parental authority proof (Kids-ID applicants only)** *(Preuve de l'autorité parentale)* - Where to get: Belgian birth certificate showing parentage, or court decision granting custody - Required: Original, accompanied by the applying parent or guardian's own eID. The child must be present at the commune for the photo and signature step. - _Note:_ Kids-ID is optional, not mandatory; validity is 3 years. Apply at the commune of residence or, for Belgian children abroad, at the Belgian consulate of the host country (slower track, about 6 weeks). ## Costs - **eID — adult Belgian citizen (normal procedure, about 3 weeks):** 20.1 EUR — Federal commune tariff effective 1 January 2026; taxe communale not included. Cited from the official 2026 fee schedule PDF. - **Kids-ID — Belgian child under 12 (normal procedure):** 8.1 EUR — Federal commune tariff 2026; taxe communale not included. - **Electronic residence card — EU / EU+ / F / F+ / N / M, age 12+ (normal):** 20.1 EUR — Federal commune tariff 2026; taxe communale not included. - **Electronic residence card — EU / EU+ / F / F+ / M, under 12 (normal):** 8.1 EUR — Federal commune tariff 2026. - **Electronic residence card — A / B / H / K / L / I / J, age 12+ (normal):** 20.7 EUR — Federal commune tariff 2026. - **Electronic residence card — A / B / K / L, under 12 (normal):** 11.3 EUR — Federal commune tariff 2026. - **Urgent commune delivery — eID or electronic residence card:** 122.6 EUR — A few working days; shipped to the commune with PIN/PUK. Taxe communale not included. - **Urgent commune delivery — Kids-ID:** 110.6 EUR — A few working days; taxe communale not included. - **Super-urgent SPF Brussels — eID:** 161.4 EUR — Same-day or next-day pickup at Parc Atrium, Rue des Colonies 11, 1000 Brussels. Federal hotline 02 488 21 16 Monday-Friday 08h30-18h30 / Saturday 08h30-12h30. - **Super-urgent SPF Brussels — Kids-ID:** 149.4 EUR — Same-day or next-day at Parc Atrium, Rue des Colonies 11, 1000 Brussels. - **Administrative fine — late commune declaration:** 200 EUR — Applies to short-stay arrivals reported after the 10-day window and long-stay arrivals registered after the 3-month window. ## Steps ### 1. Confirm Your Registration Track - Belgian citizen turning 12, renewing an expired card, or returning from abroad — apply at the commune of residence (Belgians without a Belgian residence may apply at the last commune, the commune of birth, or a commune of choice under the current federal rule) - EU national or family member moving to Belgium — short-stay reporting within 10 days for Annexe 3ter, or long-stay registration within 3 months for Annexe 19 - Non-EU national arriving on a long-stay visa — long-stay registration within 3 months for the matching annex and the residence-permit stream > **Tip:** Belgian citizens receive an eID and foreigners receive an electronic residence card, but both enroll in the Rijksregister through the same commune intake and receive a National Register Number with identical use across the country. ### 2. Book the Service Population / Dienst Bevolking Appointment *(Service Population / Dienst Bevolking)* - Find the commune where you actually live and open its online appointment system - Select first registration / inscription / inschrijving — for newcomers, or the matching service for renewal or change of address - Book the earliest available slot; large communes can run several weeks out > **If this fails:** Missing the 10-day short-stay deadline or the 3-month long-stay deadline triggers a €200 administrative fine even if your underlying stay is fully lawful. Book before you fly when possible. ### 3. Declare Arrival Within the Federal Deadline - Short-stay under 3 months: present to the commune within 10 calendar days of arrival — the commune issues Annexe 3ter and records the arrival; no electronic residence card is produced and no National Register Number is assigned - Long-stay 3 months or longer: present to the commune within 3 months of arrival to lodge the residence application — EU citizens receive *Annexe 19*, non-EU family of an EU citizen receive Annexe 19ter, and the file is forwarded to the Immigration Office - Existing residents changing address: declare the move to the new commune within 8 working days — this is a separate timer from the new-arrival windows > **Tip:** These three timers run independently. A short-stay declaration does not automatically extend into a long-stay registration; a separate commune appointment is required when the stay extends past 3 months. ### 4. Be Available for the Police Residence Check - Within about 15 days of the declaration, a local police officer (agent de quartier / wijkagent) visits the declared address to confirm you actually live there - The check is unannounced; if you are away on first visit, the officer returns before a negative report is filed - On a positive result, the commune enters the address into the Rijksregister / Registre National > **If this fails:** A negative residence-check report blocks the address update and therefore blocks the eID or residence card production. Notify the commune of planned absences during the 15-day window so the officer knows when to call. ### 5. Attend the Card Appointment at the Commune - Bring the biometric photo, identity document, address proof, and any annex you already hold - Sign the digital pad at the counter and pay the federal commune tariff plus the commune's taxe communale - For a foreigner's first card, the residence-permit dossier must already have reached the Immigration Office decision; the commune issues the matching electronic residence card after that > **Tip:** The federal tariff is the rate the commune pays the producer. The taxe communale on top is decided by the local Conseil communal / Gemeenteraad and varies — some communes set it at zero, others add €10-€20 or more. The official 2026 tariff footnote reads `Taxe communale NON incluse`. ### 6. Wait for Production and PIN/PUK Delivery - Standard production takes about 3 weeks; the card is shipped to the commune - PIN and PUK codes are sent separately by registered mail to your address — they may not be combined into a single delivery - If you lose or never receive the PUK, request a new code via the commune > **Tip:** If you need the card faster, the urgent commune track (€122,60) ships in a few working days and the super-urgent SPF track (€161,40) at Parc Atrium, Rue des Colonies 11, 1000 Brussels ships same-day or next-day. The federal hotline is 02 488 21 16. ### 7. Activate the Chip at the Commune - Return to the commune with the activation letter, the new card, and both PIN and PUK letters - The agent activates the qualified-signature certificate on the chip and the holder enters the chosen PIN - The card is then ready for physical identity, Schengen travel, and electronic authentication (Tax-on-Web, MyMinFin, bank login, eHealth, mutualité / ziekenfonds enrollment) > **If this fails:** Skipping the certificate activation step leaves the chip half-functional for online life — physical identity works but qualified signatures and tax-on-web filings do not. Activate the certificate at the same appointment. ### 8. Use Your National Register Number Across Belgian Services - Open a Belgian bank account — most banks require the eleven-digit National Register Number at customer onboarding - Choose a mutualité / ziekenfonds (health-insurance fund) and present the eID; the Number links your enrollment to the federal registers - Hand the Number to your employer for payroll and to the Tax-on-Web service for income-tax filing - The Number is permanent — moving commune, leaving Belgium, returning, naturalising, or losing nationality does not change it > **Tip:** The Number is the eleven-digit identifier stored on the chip (and on a foreigner's electronic residence card). It travels with the holder for life and appears on payslips, social-security records, mutualité forms, and tax filings. ## FAQ ### I am an EU national arriving for a job that starts in 4 months. When must I register? Within 10 calendar days of arrival you report to the commune for short-stay (Annexe 3ter). Within 3 months of arrival, having confirmed your stay will exceed 3 months, you lodge the long-stay application and the commune issues an Annexe 19 (pending registration). After the police check confirms your address and the Immigration Office accepts the file, the commune issues an Annexe 8 registration certificate or, on request, an E card (electronic). Reference: ibz.be reporting-obligation page. ### I am a non-EU national arriving on a long-stay visa for family reunification. Which card will I receive? Initially an Annexe 19ter (pending) at the commune. On Immigration Office approval, an F card — a 5-year electronic residence card for non-EU family of an EU citizen. After 5 years of continuous residence you may upgrade to the F+ card for permanent residence. Reference: ibz.be permanent-residence page. ### I am Belgian and have lost my eID while abroad. What do I do? Call DOC STOP on 00800 2123 2123 (free in Belgium) to block the chip immediately. Visit the nearest Belgian consulate to apply for a replacement; the consulate fee is around €20 plus shipping (lower than a commune fee in Belgium because no taxe communale applies). The replacement card is produced by the federal producer and shipped via diplomatic pouch. ### What is the difference between a Belgian eID and the National Register Number? The eID is the physical card and chip. The National Register Number is the eleven-digit unique identifier stored on that chip (and on a foreigner's electronic residence card). The Number lives in the federal Rijksregister / *Registre National*; the card is one of several places where the Number is printed and machine-readable. Reference: BOSA help centre — sma-help.bosa.belgium.be. ### My commune charges much more than €20 for an eID — is that legal? Yes. The federal tariff is €20,10 for an adult eID at the 2026 schedule (normal procedure). Every commune is permitted to add its own taxe communale on top, voted by the Conseil communal / Gemeenteraad. The federal tariff footnote reads `Taxe communale NON incluse`. Reference: the 2026 fee schedule PDF hosted at ibz.rrn.fgov.be. ### I need my eID urgently — what are the express options? Two faster tracks exist. The urgent commune track ships the card to your commune in a few working days at a federal rate of €122,60. The super-urgent SPF track ships the card same-day or next-day to the federal pickup point at Parc Atrium, Rue des Colonies 11, 1000 Brussels, at a federal rate of €161,40. Both are reachable on the federal hotline 02 488 21 16 Monday-Friday 08h30-18h30 and Saturday 08h30-12h30. Taxe communale still applies on top. ### Do I get a National Register Number if I am only on a short stay (under 3 months)? No. A short-stay declaration produces an Annexe 3ter but does not enroll you in the Rijksregister and does not produce a National Register Number. The Number is only assigned when the long-stay registration is opened. Reference: ibz.be registration-and-reporting-obligation page. ### I am a Belgian child of 11 about to turn 12. Do I need to swap my Kids-ID for an eID? Yes. The Kids-ID is for children under 12; the eID is mandatory from age 12. At the 12th birthday the commune calls the holder in for the eID application. Validity is 6 years on the youth card, then renewed for 10 years on the adult eID. Reference: belgium.be identity-card page. ### What happens if the police residence check finds nobody home? The agent de quartier / wijkagent makes repeat visits before filing a negative report. A negative report blocks the National Register address update and therefore blocks the eID or residence card production. If you travel for work during the 15-day check window, notify the commune so the officer knows when to visit. Reference: ibz.be change-of-address page. ## Local tips - The taxe communale on top of the federal tariff varies by commune — ask the Service Population for the local rate when you book, so the total is not a surprise at the counter - Photos taken at non-Belgian studios are commonly rejected; use a Belgian Photomaton or a studio that knows the federal eID standard - Bring both PIN and PUK letters to the activation appointment — the chip cannot be activated without both ## Sources - [Directorate-General Identity and Citizens' Affairs (FPS Home Affairs / IBZ)](https://ibz.be/en) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T1_ — The Directorate-General Identity and Citizens' Affairs (Direction générale Identité et Affaires citoyennes / Algemene Directie Identiteit en Burgerzaken / Generaldirektion Identität und Bürgerangelegenheiten) within the SPF Intérieur / FOD Binnenlandse Zaken / FÖD Inneres produces the eID and the electronic residence card, and operates the federal National Register. - [FPS Home Affairs (IBZ)](https://ibz.be/en/registration-and-reporting-obligation-general) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T1_ — Short-stay arrivals (under 3 months) must report to the commune within 10 days of arrival and receive Annexe 3ter. Long-stay arrivals (3 months or longer) must register within 3 months of arrival; EU citizens receive Annexe 19 and non-EU family members Annexe 19ter. The Immigration Office decides applications within 6 months after the municipality submission. A €200 administrative fine applies to missing either deadline. - [FPS Home Affairs (IBZ)](https://ibz.be/en/registering-a-change-of-address) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T1_ — Change of address by an existing resident must be declared to the new commune within 8 working days of moving. A local police officer conducts a residence check within 15 days of the declaration; on a positive result the commune records the new address in the National Register. - [FPS Home Affairs (IBZ)](https://ibz.be/en/single-digital-gateway/expired-identity-cards) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T1_ — Identity cards must be renewed when the validity period expires, the photo no longer resembles the holder, the card is damaged, or the person's surname, first name or sex changes. Three months before the validity end-date the holder registers at the local authority to apply for a new card. Required documents: a recent identity photo and the existing identity card. Standard production takes about 3 weeks; a fast-track procedure for electronic identity cards exists at a much higher cost. - [Direction générale Identité et Affaires citoyennes (federal 2026 fee schedule)](https://www.ibz.rrn.fgov.be/sites/default/files/documents/fr/documents-d-identite/Tarifs_2026_FR.pdf) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T1_ — The 2026 federal commune tariff for an adult eID is €20,10 under the normal procedure (about 3 weeks), €122,60 under the urgent commune procedure, and €161,40 under the super-urgent SPF Intérieur procedure. Kids-ID is €8,10 normal / €110,60 urgent / €149,40 super-urgent. Electronic residence card tariffs are €20,10 for EU / EU+ / F / F+ / N / M aged 12+, €8,10 for the same categories under 12, €20,70 for A / B / H / K / L / I / J aged 12+, and €11,30 for A / B / K / L under 12. Footnote (1) reads `Taxe communale NON incluse`. The super-urgent track operates from Parc Atrium, Rue des Colonies 11, 1000 Brussels, on telephone 02 488 21 16 Monday-Friday 08h30-18h30 and Saturday 08h30-12h30. The order amending the schedule is the Ministerial Order of 20 December 2023 published in the Moniteur belge / Belgisch Staatsblad of 12 January 2024. - [FPS Home Affairs (IBZ) — Directorate General Identity and Citizens' Affairs](https://ibz.be/en/single-digital-gateway/kids-id-an-identity-document-for-children) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T1_ — Kids-ID is optional, issued to Belgian children under 12 residing in Belgium or living abroad. Validity is 3 years from issue. The parent or legal guardian must apply on the child's behalf and the child must be present at the commune for the photo and signature step. Applications from abroad go through the Belgian consulate of the host country. - [BOSA Service Management Application Help Centre](https://sma-help.bosa.belgium.be/en/faq/where-can-i-find-my-national-registration-number) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T1_ — The National Register Number is an eleven-digit identifier assigned at first enrollment in the federal Rijksregister / Registre National. It is printed on the eID and on a foreigner's electronic residence card, and identifies the holder across Belgian administrations, social-security funds, mutual health societies, tax filings, and bank-account opening. - [Office des Étrangers / Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken (Belgian Immigration Office)](https://dofi.ibz.be/en) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T1_ — The Belgian Immigration Office decides the residence-permit file behind a foreigner's electronic residence card. The card category — A, B, EU, EU+, F, F+, H, K, L, M, M+, N — encodes the underlying permit type. Contact: phone 02/793.80.00, email infodesk@ibz.fgov.be. - [Direction générale Identité et Affaires citoyennes (belgium.be portal)](https://www.belgium.be/fr/famille/identite/carte_d_identite) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T1_ — The eID is mandatory for Belgian residents aged 12 and over. Belgians aged 18 to 74 receive a card with 10-year validity; Belgians aged 12 to 17 receive a card with 6-year validity. The 30-year category for citizens aged 75 and over has been discontinued; new applications by citizens 75+ receive a shorter cycle. --- Verification pending — see the canonical page for the latest trust state. Canonical: https://publicservices.guide/belgium/eid-electronic-identity-card-rijksregister-registre-national/