How to Order Belgian ID Card Online: A Step-by-Step Guide for Expats

Time:2024-12-29 Author:ldsf125303

Okay, so, I needed to get a Belgian ID card. It was a bit of a process, but I got through it. Let me tell you how it went down.

First things first, since June 21, 2021, you gotta show up in person and by appointment to get one of these electronic ID cards (they call them eIDs). So, I made an appointment at the Foreigners’ Office at my local city office. I asked them about the documents needed, like my birth certificate and such, they just told me everything I needed to gather, it was simple.

I went to the town hall in Belgium within eight working days after I got here, just like they told me. I had to register my Belgian address. It is a must. Once they checked my address, they said I’d get my Belgian residence card, this eID thing.

The whole thing is supposed to be step-by-step. I had all my documents ready, some were double-sided and all, but they are all prepared. I also heard that since January 15, 2024, they started giving out electronic residency cards to kids who aren’t Belgian, replacing the old paper ID. But, you know, the paper ones are still good until they expire.

This eID is pretty cool, though. I can use it to prove who I am and even access some online stuff, like MyBXL or Tax-on-web. Anyway, so I got there, handed in all my papers, and waited for them to do their thing.

Oh, and I got an e-mail from the embassy in Oslo, where I could order an eID if needed. I notified them before getting my biometrics taken at another place. It is simple, so I can do it if necessary.

Finally, they called me up and gave me my new Belgian eID! It was a bit of a hassle, especially with the appointment and getting all the right documents, but I managed to do it. Now I’m all set with my official ID here in Belgium.