Registration procedure
EU/EEA citizens
The residence procedure has in fact been abolished for all EU/EEA citizens. The only formality left, is the obligation to present yourself at the town administration office. The international guest will then receive a Declaration of Presence (Annex 3ter - "Melding van Aanwezigheid"). This document does not have a validity period but it mentions the date of entry. From that date on you can stay legally for a maximum of three months.
A extension of the Declaration is not possible. Nevertheless, under certain conditions any EU/EEA citizen has the right to stay longer. In that case you will need to apply for a long term residence permit.
When registering at the host city you will need to bring your international passport or identity card. The Declaration of Presence is delivered free of charge.
Registration or domicile?
- You want to keep your home address and only require a temporary accommodation address. This is, of course, the easier of the two administrative procedures. And it is especially useful when you are only staying for a short while (e.g. during an exchange programme). It does, however, exclude you from certain rights and obligations.
- You wish to be domiciled in Ghent, i.e. you are a registered inhabitant and are therefore entitled to certain rights, but at the same time, you have certain obligations. = extended procedure
As stated, if you register your Ghent address as your domicile, you can extend your possibilities at integration. A domicile is often a prerequisite for a bank account, a cheaper mobile phone or public transport deal, contracts with utility companies (gas, electricity, water), a residence parking card, etc.
Students
Details:
Non-EU/EEA citizens
Students
As an international student, you cannot be granted a residence permit by only enrolling for course units (credit or exam contract). A full time diploma contract will be required (with the exception of an enrolment for the predoctoral programme).
Details:
Other international guests
It is advisable not to apply for a short stay visa if the international guest plans to stay for more than 3 months (e.g. as a temporary solution). A prolongation procedure will take a very long time and a lot of paperwork.
- Long stay: individual authorization - The authorisation has to be applied for to a Belgian diplomatic or consular post. A long stay (more than 3 months) requires a registration in the register of foreigners ("vreemdelingenregister") and will only be granted if an authorisation for temporary stay ("machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf") has been included in the passport. If the authorisation is granted, the period of stay is limited to the duration of and reason for which the international guest travelled to Belgium (e.g. study, internship, work etc.).
- Long stay: authorization by law - International guests whose right to stay is recognised by an international treaty or by law; International guests who meet the legal conditions to obtain the Belgian nationality; Spouses who lost the Belgian nationality through marriage; International guests within the framework of family reunion.
