FAQ - Consular Services
CONSULAR REGISTRATION
Is it compulsory to register at the Belgian Embassy?
As a Belgian citizen abroad, you are not obliged to register in the consular registers of a Belgian embassy or consulate (-general). However, it is recommended. Only registered citizens can apply for a Belgian identity card, a Belgian passport, or consular certificates.
If you are only staying in the country temporarily, for example in the context of tourism or an academic exchange, you may opt to register with Travellers Online instead. In this case, your place of residence in the national register remains unchanged, but we can contact you in case of an emergency.
How do I register at the Belgian Embassy?
You can register online in the consular register if you have a valid and activated Belgian eID and a card reader. You can only register if you have reported your departure abroad to a Belgian municipality and are therefore no longer registered with them. If you have not yet been deregistered from your municipality, you should contact them first.
If you do not have an eID or card reader, you can fill in the registration form manually and send it to the embassy by e-mail or post, with proof of address and a copy of your Belgian identity card or passport. More information can be found here.
When registering at the Embassy, those over 18 years old will also be asked to register as a voter.
Can I register my newborn child at the embassy?
For children born outside of Belgium after 1985, there are two main scenarios, which are explained below.
Note that this is a generalized and simplified overview of the applicable laws, and the text below is not legally binding. All details can be found in the relevant law books (wetboek Belgische nationaliteit / code de la nationalité belge).
If your situation differs from the two scenarios described, kindly contact us via email with a description of your situation as well as with the necessary documentation.
- The Belgian parent of the child was born in Belgium: the child automatically obtains the Belgian nationality at birth.
If this applies to you, you can register your newborn child at our Embassy. Be aware that the parent must be registered with this embassy before registering their child.
Please fill in the registration form for minors, signed by both parents and send it by post along with copies of eID/passport of the parents and a birth certificate for the child (the certificate cannot be older than 6 months).
Note that this scenario only applies if the paternity or maternity of the child was established at the time of birth and in accordance with Belgian law.
It is important to note that a child born outside Belgium risks losing its Belgian nationality on its 28th birthday.
This can occur if the child has at least one other nationality and:
- has not lived in Belgium as an adult,
- or has not requested a Belgian passport or eID since turning 18.
To avoid losing the Belgian nationality, you can either request a Belgian passport or eID, or you can contact the embassy to sign a declaration stating their wish to remain Belgian.
- The Belgian parent of the child was born outside of Belgium: the child does not automatically obtain the Belgian nationality at birth*
*Exceptions might apply in certain scenarios, such as if the child does not have the right to any other nationality.
If you and your child were both born outside of Belgium, the newborn child can acquire the Belgian nationality when the Belgian parent signs an ‘act of attribution of the Belgian nationality’.
The Belgian parent needs to be registered at the embassy to able to start this procedure.
If you believe that this scenario might apply to you, kindly send us an email (consulate.dublin@diplobel.fed.be) explaining your situation, we will then provide you with an overview of the documents you will need to submit.
Once your file is complete, it will first be analysed by the embassy, and then it will be sent to the nationality service in FPS Foreign Affairs. Additional documents may be requested at any stage. Once the file is completed, the process usually takes 3 to 6 months. Delays are always possible.
It is essential that this act is signed before the 5th birthday of the child. After this point, it will no longer be possible for the child to acquire the nationality via the Belgian parent. It is therefore important to start this procedure as soon as possible.
Note that the maternity/paternity between the child and the Belgian parent must be established in accordance with Belgian law.
ELECTIONS
Am I obliged to vote for Belgian elections if I live in Ireland?
All Belgians registered in the consular population registers, over 18 years of age, are obliged to vote. Belgians who fail to vote may be liable to a reprimand or fine in accordance with Article 210 of the Electoral Code.
What do I have to do to participate in the Belgian elections if I live in Ireland?
When applying to register in the consular population registers, every adult Belgian receives a registration form for the elections. Your registration remains valid for future elections, so you do not need to re-register for each election. If you wish to change your voting method, you can contact the consular office to do so. Note that the method of voting cannot be changed between the date of closure of the electoral lists and election day.
Belgians, who are already registered in the consular population registers, can request an electoral registration form at any time from the embassy. This form can be submitted either on paper or digitally to the embassy.
More information on how to register as a voter.
Which ways can I vote?
There are 5 ways:
1. In person in Belgium
2. By proxy in Belgium
3. In person at the consular post
4. By proxy in the consular post
5. By correspondence
More information on the different voting modes.
Can I vote in the European elections in Ireland?
Belgians resident in a European Union member state can take part in the European elections in two ways:
You vote on a list of candidates for Ireland. Information can be obtained from the relevant local authorities. For Belgians residing in another EU country, this is the standard procedure.
If you prefer to vote for candidates on Belgian lists, this is also possible. To do so, you must explicitly apply for participation in the European elections at their consular appeal post. In that case, both the municipality of attachment and the voting method are identical to those of the federal legislative elections.
The application form can be found on this website or can be requested from the embassy.
I registered to vote in person but I cannot be present on election day.
Once the deadline to register for the elections has passed, it is not possible to change your method of voting.
If you are unable to be present on the day of voting here at the embassy, we recommend that you write a letter to the justice of the peace/juge de paix of the constituency where you are registered to explain why you cannot vote. You can ask your former municipality in Belgium for contact information.
The embassy is bound by election law and is not competent to decide on the validity of the reason for not being able to vote. We can therefore only refer you to the competent body that does have jurisdiction. In addition, we cannot advise on how the case should be pleaded before the justice of the peace/juge de paix.
DOCUMENTS AND IDENTIFICATION (e-ID, passport, temporary passport, national register number)
Electronic Identity Card (e-ID)
How can I apply for an e-ID?
If you are registered with the embassy, fill in an application form and send it to the embassy via email or post. You can then book your appointment online. Please allow at least 3 (forms delivered via email) or 5 (form delivered via post) working days between sending the form and the date of your appointment. Please note that you will not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of the form. We will only contact you if a problem was noticed in your form.
Once you have booked an appointment, you can either pay in advance by transfer or on the day by bank card. The prices for an eID are 20 euros for persons over 12 years old and 10 euros for persons under 12 years old.
For a bank transfer, use the following details:
- IBAN: IE76 BOFI 9009 7346 7866 51
- Swift Code: BOFIIE2D
- Reference: first and last name of the person as well as the requested document (e.g., Martine Dupont - passport)
It is also possible to pay at the embassy itself on the day of your appointment using a credit or debit card. Payments in cash are not accepted.
More information can be found here .
Why do I need to book an appointment for the renewal/activation of my eID?
During your identity card appointment, your photograph will be taken, and we will register your biometrics (fingerprints and signature). Registration of these details in person is mandatory. Some form of identification is required during your appointment (previous eID, passport, driving license,...).
Biometric data are only stored on the document itself, not in a central database. Consequently, these data need to be re-registered with each new ID card.
It is also possible to register your biometric data up to six months before applying for a new identity card. To this end, you can make an appointment for 'pre-registration biometrics'. In that case, no further appointment is necessary when applying for a passport or identity card, within six months (for a passport) or three months (for an identity card) following this pre-registration.
When can I pick up my eID card?
The processing time for an eID is 2 to 3 weeks. Once you have received notification that your ID card is ready via email, it can be collected and activated. To do so, you should book an appointment online for the activation of the ID card. You will need the PUK code to activate the card.
An eID can also be activated in any Belgian municipality. You will then need to bring the PUK code and eID with you.
For the collection of the eID only (without activation), no appointment is required. Please bring a proof of identification (passport, old ID, driving license,...).
If you prefer to receive the eID by post, for example because you wish to activate this card at a later time, we ask you to bring a stamped envelope addressed to yourself to be sent by registered post.
I have lost my ID/My ID has been stolen?
If you have lost your ID card, you should first cancel it via DocStop. You can then apply for a new card at the Belgian Embassy. After that, fill in the declaration form for loss/theft and return it to the Embassy.
Passports
How do I renew my Belgian passport?
If you are registered at the Embassy, fill in an application form and send it to the embassy via e-mail or post. You can then book your appointment online. Please allow at least 3 (forms delivered by e-mail) or 5 (forms delivered by post) working days between sending the form and your appointment. After you have booked an appointment, you can pay. Prices for a new passport are 75 euros for adults and 35 euros for minors. Please note that you will not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of the form. We will only contact you if a problem was noticed in your application.
For a bank transfer, use the following details:
- IBAN: IE76 BOFI 9009 7346 7866 51
- Swift Code: BOFIIE2D
- Reference: first and last name of the person as well as the requested document (e.g., Martine Dupont - passport).
It is also possible to pay at the embassy itself using a bank card. In this case, you can pay during the appointment and do not need to do so in advance. Payments in cash are not accepted.
More information on how to apply for a passport can be found here
Why do I need to make an appointment to renew my Belgian passport?
During your passport appointment, a photograph will be taken, and we will register your biometrics (fingerprints and signature). Registration of this data in person is mandatory. Some form of identification is required during your appointment (Old passport, ID, driving licence,...).
Biometric data are only stored on the document itself, not in a central database. Consequently, this data must be re-registered with each new passport. However, with your explicit consent, the data can be kept during the validity period of your passport, in which case an exact copy of your passport can be issued in case of theft or loss (with the same validity dates).
It is also possible to register your biometric data up to six months before you apply for a new passport. To this end, you can make an appointment to 'pre-register biometrics'. In that case, no further appointment is necessary when applying for a passport or identity card within the six months following this pre-registration.
When can I get my passport?
The processing time for a Belgian passport is 7 to 10 working days, starting from the day of your appointment. You will receive a notification via email once it is ready. After receiving this email you can collect it during the Embassy's opening hours. You do not need to book an appointment for the pick-up. Some form of identification is required (Old ID, passport, driving license,...).
If you wish to receive your passport by post, please provide a sufficiently stamped envelope for registered mail ('registered mail'). You enter yourself as the addressee (name and address).
If you would like someone else to pick up your passport for you, you should send us an email in advance with a scan of a written document in attachment (PDF only), giving your permission to this person to collect the passport.
Please note: provide additional postage if you wish to receive several passports in the same envelope.
I urgently need a (temporary) passport!
An appointment within working hours can be made for this purpose via eAppointment. You should bring the relevant supporting documents (incl. proof of theft or loss) to your appointment. If a timely appointment is not available or you need more information, you can contact the consular service by telephone or email
Note that appointments for temporary passports outside working hours are only possible for humanitarian, medical, or other extremely urgent reasons. If you have an emergency outside working hours, you can contact the emergency number outlined on our website.
NATIONAL REGISTER NUMBER
I do not know my national number, can I obtain it at the Embassy?
Your national registration number can be found on your identity card. If you do not have an identity card and want to know your national number, we can give it to you. Please contact us by telephone during office hours. There will be some identification questions before we can release your national number.
PLACE OF RESIDENCE/ADDRESS
Can I obtain a certificate of residence in Ireland from the Embassy?
If you are looking for proof of address, a certificate of residence can be issued by the embassy (if you are registered), upon payment of €20.
You can request this certificate via email from the Embassy. Specify the reason for the request in the e-mail (e.g., "for bank in Ireland" or "for Irish authorities" etc.) and attach a proof of payment.
This certificate will be sent after payment, via e-mail.
You can also print this certificate yourself via Mon Dossier free of charge if you have an activated eID and a card reader.
If you do not have a card reader, there is the option to borrow one from the Embassy, subject to availability. In that case, you should collect and return it in person. If you wish to borrow a card reader, please contact us via email (consulate.dublin@diplobel.fed.be ).
I changed addresses, how can I change my address at the Embassy?
If your place of residence within Ireland has changed, you can notify us of your new address via email. For verification, please attach proof of new address to the email (pdf scan). This can be an invoice or other recent correspondence of an official nature that includes your name and address. If you are moving to another country, you should contact the embassy or consulate-general responsible for your new residence.
I am returning to Belgium, how do I deregister from the Embassy?
The consular service of an embassy cannot update your status when you return to Belgium. So, you will need to register with the local authorities at your Belgian address to regularize your new situation.
It is not necessary to deregister at the Embassy. When you register with a Belgian municipality you are automatically removed from our registers.
What address is linked to my Belgian identity card?
For Belgians abroad, the address on the chip of the Belgian identity card (eID) is limited to the country of residence and the embassy/consulate of registration.
The location on the chip of eID is only designed for the length and structure of addresses in Belgium, and not for addresses abroad.
A change of address on the chip of eID cannot be done remotely. The card must be physically inserted into a card reader at a BELPIC terminal.
I got my Belgian identity card through my municipality in Belgium for my move to Ireland, is this card still valid?
A Belgian who moves abroad for a period of more than three months must report his departure to his municipality. If your stay abroad does not exceed 12 months, you can opt to register as 'temporarily absent'. In this case, you will remain linked to your commune in Belgium. Please contact your municipality for more information on this procedure.
If you leave permanently, the municipality will deregister you and they will then change the address on the chip to "departure abroad". Which will keep the card and certificates valid even without further registration.
In the event that the municipality automatically deletes the person from the population registers, for example because the municipality has indications that you would no longer live here, the identity card will be cancelled. Even in that case, it will still be usable abroad, but the certificates will be withdrawn, so logging in with that card will no longer be possible.
An address change on the chip of the eID cannot be done remotely. The card must be physically inserted into a card reader at a BELPIC terminal.
ITSME
Why doesn't the Itsme app work since I moved abroad?
When creating an itsme account, a Belgian address is required.
Only a Belgian address can be entered on your Belgian eID. If you are registered with a Belgian embassy or professional consulate, you can enter the Embassy's address as your address. This is consequently recognized by Itsme as a Belgian address. This way, you can create an itsme account.
Regarding the use of the itsme app, it is important to note that itsme is not a product from the Belgian government, but from the Belgian banking sector.
Belgian banks are required to keep track of their customers' address and have also integrated this address requirement into itsme. Unlike the use of eID and other Belgian digital keys where no address condition or verification is required.
You can aways check into Belgian administrative services with the card reader and activated eID. It is an alternative option to Itsme that can be used for identification or login.
DEEDS/LEGALISATION
I need to sign a notarial deed from abroad, can the Embassy intervene?
Within the European Union, neither Belgian embassies nor consulates are authorized to intervene in notarial acts.
For several years now, it has been possible to remotely sign notarial deeds using an activated eID and a card reader.
If you do not have a card reader, there is the option to borrow one from the Embassy, subject to availability. In this case, you should collect and return it in person. If you wish to borrow a card reader, please contact us via email (consulate.dublin@diplobel.fed.be).
Can I get my signature legalised at the embassy?
Legalising a signature can be done at the embassy. You can book an appointment via the online appointment system
Please note, we only legalise the signature itself (on personal appearance after making the appointment, with your passport or identity card in your possession, on payment of 20€): consequently, we do not comment on the content of the document to be signed.
If it concerns the signing of a notarial deed, this cannot be done by our services. As we are located within the EU zone, you should then contact a local notary in the country where you are located.
I need an extract from my Belgian criminal record
If you live abroad and wish to obtain an extract from the Belgian criminal record, you need to send a personal request by email to:
Federal Public Service Justice - Central criminal record - strafregister@just.fgov.be
Please specify in your request:
- your name and first name
- your address
- your date and place of birth
- the reason for your request
You can also attach a scan (pdf) of your identity card or passport (not compulsory).
The extract from the criminal record is issued free of charge.
DRIVING LICENCE
My driving licence has expired, how can I renew it?
Belgian Embassies are not competent for driving licences. Consequently, driving licences cannot be renewed/extended at the embassy.
You must renew your licence in your country of residence. You can obtain a certificate of your Belgian driving licence in the municipality where you were last registered.
Refer to the following link for detailed information on driving licences in Ireland.