Summary
A passport is an official travel document recognised throughout the world. It can be applied for or renewed in your municipality of residence.
You need a valid passport to travel to all countries where an identity card (eID, Kids-ID) is not sufficient. This includes most countries outside the European Union. It may be stamped with a visa.
Since 2014, passports have also included biometric data: identity and nationality, fingerprints (from the age of 12), photo and signature. A passport is valid for 7 years (5 years for minors) from its date of issue, and must be applied for in your municipality of residence.
In detail
To apply for a passport, go to your municipality’s passport service. Don’t forget to bring with you:
- your identity card;
- your most recent passport (if you have one and it was issued within the last 10 years);
- a colour identity photo. Please note that this photo must meet a number of strict criteria. If it doesn’t, your municipality will refuse it and ask you for a new one.
Once your municipality has verified your identity, the quality of your photo and, where applicable, your previous passport, it will record:
- your photo (only if an initial visual inspection confirms that the basic criteria are met – if your photo is not compliant, your municipality will refuse it);
- fingerprints of two of your fingers – usually your index fingers (from the age of 12); and
- your signature (from around 6 years of age, as soon as the child knows how to write their name).
Procedure for minors (under 18 years)
The application form (printed by the municipality) for a minor must always be signed by the minor themselves (from around 6 years of age) and by one of their parents.
The child must always be present during a passport application for them, regardless of their age.
Costs
The cost of passports issued in Belgian municipal administrations varies depending on:
- the number of pages (34 or 66);
- the age of the applicant (minor or adult);
- the application procedure (normal, urgent or highly urgent); and
- whether any municipal tax is levied for the service.
For further information on the rates in force, please contact your administration or go to diplomatie.belgium.be/sites/default/files/2022-01/prix_passeports_fr_0.pdf
Timeframe
- Under the standard procedure, your passport will arrive at the municipal administration where you submitted your application within 5 working days of the application. If you provided a mobile phone number or an email address when submitting your application, you will receive a text message or email as soon as your passport arrives.
- Under the urgent procedure, a passport applied for before 15:00 will arrive on the following working day at the municipal administration where you submitted your application. For more information, contact your municipal administration.
- Under the highly urgent procedure, a passport applied for before 15:00 between Monday and Friday will arrive 4.5 hours later, on the same day, at the counter at rue des Colonies 11, 1000 Brussels (very close to the Central Station). You can submit a highly urgent passport application at the municipal administration where you are registered or in person at the rue des Colonies counter (payment by card only). A passport applied for on a Saturday under the highly urgent procedure, whether at the rue des Colonies counter (between 08:30 and 12:15) or at your municipal administration (during its opening hours), will be available from 10:00 the following working day (i.e. on Monday unless it is a public holiday) at the rue des Colonies counter.