General information

Legalisations

Travel to Belgium

Once you are registered with the Embassy, all Belgians aged 12 or more can apply for an identity card.

If you already have an electronic ID card (“e-ID”) issued in Belgium and you took the necessary steps to de-register AFTER 01.11.2008, then your ID card remains valid until its expiry date. You do not need to replace it.

The same applies to the old-style ID cards issued by the embassy in London and e-ID cards issued by other Embassies or Consulates.

In all other cases, however, you should apply for a new ID card.

To print the application form, please click here.

To print the signature form, please click here.

To view the instructions, please click here.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Your identity card contains an electronic chip which, upon activation, enables you to undertake some internet transactions. More information on this subject can be found on http://welcome-to-e-belgium.be.

Activating the microchip is not obligatory, but if you wish to do so you will need to come to the embassy in person.

DIRECTIVE 2004/38/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL OF 29 APRIL 2004

If you are registered with the Embassy you can print off the application form + signature form and send it to the passport department with:

- two identical passport photos in colour;
- either a copy of the first two pages of your current passport 
  or the passport itself;
- letter authorising the Embassy to check with the Home Office
  that you have not obtained the British nationality. (click here)
- the applicable amount in postal orders.

If you are not yet registered or are unable to print off the forms, please contact the passport department, either by:

• letter to The Belgian Embassy - Passport department
• or by fax, number 020/7470 3710
• or by email to london@diplobel.fed.be

Alternatively, you can come in person to the Passport department at 17 Grosvenor Crescent, London SW1X 7EE. Opening hours are from 9am to 1pm, Monday to Friday. (except Bank holidays).

Please note:

Passports are sent to Belgium and applications can take 3-4 weeks to process.
Please make sure to start the application process well before the expiry date of your current passport.
You may keep your passport until the new one is ready and return it before the new one can be released.

In extremely urgent cases a temporary passport can be applied for together with the application for a normal passport. This passport is valid for up to 6 months. Please contact the passport department of the Embassy for more information regarding the cost. Please note too that a temporary passport may not be accepted by certain countries and you should check with the Embassy of the country in question to ascertain whether or not they accept a temporary passport.

The validity of a new passport (counting from the initial date of issue) is 5 years.

We regret we cannot accept personal cheques or credit cards. All payments are in cash/postal orders.

If you need to replace lost or stolen identity papers, please make sure to inform your local police station as proof that you reported the loss. The proof will be required to obtain a replacement passport. This document will have to accompany your application together with the lost property form which can be printed here.

Once you are registered with the Embassy, please inform us in writing of any change in your circumstances (change of address, marital status, etc). Please join the necessary proofs to support the change (marriage certificate, 3 copies of utility bills showing the new address). This will avoid problems should you wish the Embassy to issue a certificate of any kind. It goes without saying that all information held on file is strictly confidential.

     PLEASE NOTE: 

If you wish to receive your passport / ID card by post, please add a prepaid self-addressed Special Delivery envelope.