Order to leave the territory

The presence of foreign nationals on Belgian territory is monitored by the police, the Social Inspectorate and the Federal Public Service Finance. The Immigration Office takes any administrative decision related to their residence.

When the police in Belgium check a person, they first contact the Immigration Office for an administrative decision. The Immigration Office studies the file based on the administrative report drawn up by the police, checks the foreign national's residence situation, decides and gives instructions to the police as soon as possible. These decisions will be forwarded to the police and must be served on the person concerned. If the foreign national is found to be staying irregularly, one of the following decisions will be made:

  • or confirmation of a previously notified order to leave the territory;
  • detention in a detention centre or an open family unit (the second option is for families with minor children) pending their return ;
  • transfer to an open centre for unaccompanied minors and supervision by the Guardianship Service of the Federal Public Service Justice.

Any administrative decision is subject to a judicial decision. The decision of the Immigration Office only becomes when the magistrate decides not to arrest the foreign national in an based on the crimes they have committed.

Belgium's strategy is to focus increasingly on . When an order to leave the country is issued, efforts will be made to provide adequate guidance for return, either a voluntary return or a forced return, if the foreign national refuses to comply voluntarily.

When a foreign national is served with an order to leave the territory, they are given clear and concrete information on the course of the procedures, voluntary return and the risk of forced return.

You have received the order to leave the territory. This decision means that you must leave Belgium. What exactly do you have to do?

You must have left Belgium, at the latest, on the date mentioned in your ‘order to leave the territory’.

The most obvious and straightforward solution would be to arrange to return to your country of origin. You may also go to another country, but only if you have documents allowing you to enter this country and if authorization to return to this country is still valid.

If you no longer have your identity documents to return to your country of origin, you must go to the embassy of your country of origin. They can issue you with a passport or return document. If you have any problems, one of the departments mentioned below can help you.

If you do not leave the country by your means or under your initiative, the police will arrest you. The Immigration Office may decide to keep you at a detention centre or housing intended for this purpose while waiting for your journey to return to either your country of origin or another country to be arranged.

In addition, if you do not take any action relating to the , an may be imposed. This ban means that, for a period of 3 to 20 years, you will not be allowed to enter the territory of member states. You will be reported throughout the entire .

You must pay for your journey yourself. However, you may request support from the program if you cannot do this. You can obtain a return ticket through this program under the same conditions as a regular traveller. You will be accompanied at the airport of departure and most connecting airports and airports of arrival (if you leave by plane), and you may receive additional assistance.

If you would like to take advantage of this program or get more information about the voluntary return, please call on 0032 800/32 745. You can also contact a local .

If you have chosen to leave by your own means, you must inform the Belgian authorities of your departure. To do this, you must hand over the original form from the to the Federal Police when you cross the border. If you do not pass a border post when you leave Belgium, you must send proof of your departure (e.g. a photocopy of your passport with an exit stamp) by email suiviOQT [at] ibz.fgov.be (fr) / opvolgingBGV [at] ibz.fgov.be (nl).

 

There are procedures for appealing against a negative decision regarding an order to leave the territory. These procedures are described at the bottom of the decision form. Your lawyer can provide you with information about this. If you do not have a lawyer, you can contact a local law society to receive legal aid (free of charge).

Only a few of the procedures suspend the . If you file an appeal with a suspensory effect, while awaiting the final decision, on the instructions of the Immigration Office, the municipal government of your place of residence will issue a temporary stay document (via an ).

In other cases, you will not receive a temporary stay document and you must leave the territory, even if you have filed an appeal. In certain circumstances, you may be subject to preventive measures. These are detailed on the order to leave the territory and must be obeyed.

Have you carried out undeclared work or worked illegally? Were you the victim of an accident at work? Were you not paid or paid less than the legal minimum amount?

You may still be able to collect your salary and report your accident through the Direction Générale Contrôle des Lois Sociales.

If sufficient evidence of your work exists, the Direction Générale Contrôle des Lois Sociales may intervene with your employer to ensure that you receive the salary you are owed. It will assist you with the necessary steps for reporting a workplace accident. You can find all information on www.meldpuntsocialefraude.belgie.be 

lmmigration Office

www.dofi.ibz.be
Infodesk 02/488.80.00

Support on return

02/488.97.77
//dofi.ibz.be/nl/themes/return/Icamsupport [at] ibz.fgov.be">Icamsupport [at] ibz.fgov.be

Fedasil

00 32 800/32 745

Fedasil | Voluntary Return
www.voluntaryreturn

Embassies

To find the address of your embassy www.diplomatie.belgium.be