L-Card and Nationality Rules for Minor Children in Belgium

Member since 11 August 2019

callonafoNew member20 January 2025 08:05:52

I have reviewed historical topics regarding the L-card for minors鈥攐ne not born in Belgium and the other born in Belgium to a non-EU parent鈥攂ut I couldn鈥檛 find any similar cases. That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 creating this new topic to see if anyone has had a similar experience.

Here is my situation:

I moved to Belgium on a work permit in September 2019 and received my residence card in October 2019. I applied for family reunification for my wife and daughter, who joined me in August 2020 and received their residence cards in September 2020. My wife was issued a card valid for one year, while my daughter received a card with the same expiration date as mine (two years).

When their cards expired, my wife was issued a three-year residence card, expiring on the same date as mine this year. My daughter was issued a two-year card, which expired in October 2024. I contacted the commune to renew my children鈥檚 cards because we had a baby here in Antwerp in 2022. However, due to backlogs at the commune, their cards were recently renewed and issued for only six months, expiring in August 2025鈥攖he same date as my wife鈥檚 card.

Since I had already been in Belgium for five years, I applied for the L-card in October 2024. On January 3, 2025, I received a response from the Antwerp commune, along with the bijlage 16 and bijlage 16bis documents, and I was given an appointment in June 2025 to process and get my L-card.

When renewing my children鈥檚 cards recently, I asked if I could apply for their L-cards once I receive mine, as they are my dependents and I believed the same rules would apply to them. However, the staff member attending to me said no, explaining that a new rule now requires children to spend five years in Belgium before they can apply for an L-card. This contradicts what I鈥檝e read online regarding minors, including those born in Belgium.

I understand that my wife may need to wait five years to process her L-card since she is no longer my dependent and has started working, but what about my children?

My questions are:

聽聽 Is it true that my children must wait five years before applying for an L-card?

聽聽 If I receive my L-card in June, I plan to apply for nationality afterward. Will my children still have to wait five years before I can apply for their nationality?

聽聽 One of my children will complete five years in Belgium in 2025, while the one born here will complete five years in 2027. Does this mean I could obtain nationality, but my children would need to wait that long for theirs?

This situation is a bit confusing, and I鈥檓 unsure what steps to take. If anyone has had a similar experience, I would appreciate your insights.

hssn601 Serial expat

Member since 02 October 2013

hssn601Serial expat20 January 2025 10:19:33

243

Not sure what are the new rules but last year by son also got L-card even he was not been in belgium for 5 years, he is just 4 year old :-D.

callonafo New member

Member since 11 August 2019

callonafoNew member20 January 2025 14:14:23

@hssn601

Thanks for your response. I also haven鈥檛 seen any requirement stating that minors must complete 5 years with a limited residence card (A), even if the parent obtains nationality or permanent residency before the minor A card expires. Sometimes, as I鈥檝e read in some comments, some staff at the commune provide differing opinions, which can be quite confusing.

umairsaeed01 Member

Member since 06 May 2023

umairsaeed01Member20 January 2025 16:40:47

not necessary but once you apply for nationality you can apply for your kids too. Also a good thing would be to contact a lawyer specialising in residency and immigration to understand and challenge the commune's decision.

Ahmed_Talaat Active member

Member since 12 July 2019

Ahmed_TalaatActive member06 February 2025 13:42:22

I have the same question although I'm thinking about something, why would you apply for the L-card for your children noting that if they are under 18 and you acquired the nationality, they inherit it directly from you! In that case, they are literally jumping over step of having the permanent residence!

callonafo New member

Member since 11 August 2019

callonafoNew member10 February 2025 15:15:34

@Ahmed_Talaat

Indeed, that was exactly my point, which I mentioned to the lady who attended to me at the commune. However, she insisted that the rule states they must complete five years before becoming eligible. Anyway, I wasn鈥檛 too bothered since one of them will reach five years in September this year. My main concern was my baby, who was born in Belgium and is already three years old, but she said would also have to wait for five years, even if I have my L-card. I鈥檓 not sure how true this is.

@Aneesh, what do you think?

hssn601 Serial expat

Member since 02 October 2013

hssn601Serial expat10 February 2025 20:36:20

243

@Ahmed_Talaat
Indeed, that was exactly my point, which I mentioned to the lady who attended to me at the commune. However, she insisted that the rule states they must complete five years before becoming eligible. Anyway, I wasn鈥檛 too bothered since one of them will reach five years in September this year. My main concern was my baby, who was born in Belgium and is already three years old, but she said would also have to wait for five years, even if I have my L-card. I鈥檓 not sure how true this is.
@Aneesh, what do you think? - @callonafo

Don't worry my one year daughter already obtained nationality along with me, It is just the lady was wrong.