Belgian Residence Cards & the Titre de Séjour Explained

If you have just arrived in Brussels, one of the first pieces of official plastic you will chase is your residence card — the titre de séjour in French, verblijfstitel in Dutch. Belgium runs an entirely electronic system: a chipped card, issued by your commune and coordinated by the federal Immigration Office (Office des Étrangers / Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken, part of IBZ). The confusing part is that there is no single "residence card" — there is an alphabet of them, and the letter you get tells you exactly what your stay allows. This guide decodes that alphabet so you know which card you should have.

First, the two big families: EU and non-EU

Everything starts with whether you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national (or a family member of one) or a third-country national (everyone else). The two groups get different cards under different rules — the EU cards flow from free-movement law, the non-EU cards from Belgian immigration law. If you are unsure which track you are on, read our companion guide on EU vs Non-EU: which Brussels process applies to you first.

Cards for EU citizens and their family members

If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national staying longer than three months, you register with your commune, are entered in the Foreigners' Register, and receive an electronic card:

• EU card (sometimes written E card) — the "attestation of registration". It proves your right to reside for more than three months. Valid for 5 years.
• EU+ card (E+ card) — the "document attesting permanent residence", issued once you have lived in Belgium continuously for 5 years. Valid for 10 years.
• F card — the residence card for a family member of an EU citizen (for example, a non-EU spouse). Valid for 5 years.
• F+ card — the permanent version for family members, after 5 years of continuous residence. Valid for 10 years.

At the City of Brussels, the First EU Card costs €30 (age 12+) or €12 (under 12); an urgent card is €150. Standard production takes one to two weeks; you will get an invitation to renew when the card nears expiry.

Cards for non-EU (third-country) nationals

Third-country nationals get cards under Belgian immigration law. The letter signals the nature and length of your stay:

The workhorse cards for new arrivals are A (you will renew it annually) and, later, B. The K and L cards are the long-stay prizes: a K card gives you Belgian establishment rights; an L card (EU long-term resident) lets you move and settle elsewhere in the EU more easily. Always verify your own category on the official IBZ (dofi.ibz.be) pages, because eligibility conditions attach to each letter.

The single permit (combined work + residence card)

If you are coming to Belgium to work for more than 90 days, you almost certainly go through the single permit — one procedure that bundles your work authorisation and residence into a single decision. Key points to know:

1. Your employer applies through the one-stop counter to the competent Region (Brussels-Capital, Flanders, Wallonia or the German-speaking Community) based on your main place of work — not to your commune.
2. The Region and the Immigration Office decide jointly, normally within a 4-month window (extendable for complex files). If no negative decision is taken in time, the authorisations are considered granted.
3. Once you arrive and register with your commune, you receive an A card marked to show your labour-market access ("limited" or "unlimited"). If your stay is unlimited, a B card may be issued instead.

For the full application walk-through, see our single permit & work authorisation guide. Whatever your route, factor in the federal contribution fee ("redevance"), which as of 1 January 2026 is roughly €152 for workers/highly-qualified/researchers, €218 for family members of Belgians or authorised foreigners, €242 for many D-visa categories, and €251 for students; applicants under 18 and beneficiaries of international protection are exempt. This fee is separate from the small card fee your commune charges.

And the eID — the card for Belgians

You will hear locals talk about their "eID". That is the electronic identity card issued to Belgian nationals (from age 12), valid for 10 years. It carries a chip with your identity data and digital certificates that let you log in to government sites, sign documents, and identify yourself online — the same practical role your residence card plays for you. Your foreigner's card has the same chip technology, so many of the same online services (Itsme, tax filing, MyGov) work for you too, once your card is activated with its PIN code.

Common problems and fixes

• "I don't have my PIN." Your PIN arrives by post separately from the card. If it is lost, request a new one via your commune. Note that from 2026 Belgium moved to a PIN-only system for new cards — the old PUK code is being phased out — so if your card is recent, follow the current commune/eID instructions rather than older guides.
• "My A card is about to expire." A cards are short (about a year). Start the renewal at your commune well before the expiry date — ideally 30–45 days ahead — because gaps can complicate work and travel. Renewal is not automatic; you must trigger it.
• "I got the wrong letter." If the card letter does not match your situation (for example an A when you expected a B, or missing labour-market access), do not sign it off — flag it at the commune counter immediately and check the definition on dofi.ibz.be.
• "I need to travel and the card isn't ready." Ask your commune about the temporary annex documents that bridge the gap while your electronic card is being produced.

Your next step

Work out which letter your situation maps to (use the table above and the IBZ pages), then book your commune appointment to start or renew the card — that is where every Belgian residence card is actually issued. Do it early: the plastic itself takes one to two weeks, and the PIN follows by post.