Application for international protection

An application for is made and then lodged to the Immigration Office (IO).  At the border, the application must be made in person to the border control authorities. In the territory, the application must be made in person at the Immigration Office (Boulevard Pacheco/Pachecolaan 44, 1000 Brussels (Cube)), with the exception of persons imprisoned or detained in a specific place. Next, , with the help of an interpreter if necessary, various administrative data are collected, biometric data are taken and an assessment is made of the procedural needs of the applicant for international protection. The language in which the procedure is conducted is determined at the time the application is lodged.  A hearing is held at the Immigration Office.

The Immigration Office also determines whether Belgium is responsible for processing the application for international protection on the basis of Regulation (EC) No 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013. If Belgium is not responsible, a decision to refuse residence with an is notified. If Belgium is responsible for the application, it is forwarded to the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) for examination.

For all administrative matters relating to residence documents, annexes, extension of documents (residence permit, registration certificate, annexes), registration of children born in Belgium during the procedure or after a status has been obtained, school trips, follow-up on decisions to withdraw or abrogate an international protection status, etc., applications are processed and followed up by the Immigration Office.

See also our FAQ and the websites of the following  authorities: