After the transition period, a distinction will be made between UK nationals who resided or worked in Belgium before the end of the transition period in the capacity of economically active citizen, as a person with sufficient resources or a student and UK nationals who have not made use of them.
UK nationals who resided in Belgium before the end of the transition period as economically active citizens, persons having sufficient resources or students may continue their residence beyond the transition period. In order to do so, they must apply to the commune for a residence card for beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement. An application period has been foreseen to submit this application, lasting from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. More information on the procedures to be followed for each category can be found HERE.
UK nationals who worked in Belgium before the end of the transition period but did not reside as economically active citizens may continue their activities as frontier workers beyond the transition period. To do so, they must apply to the commune for a local border traffic card for beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement (N card). An application period has been set in place to submit your application running from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. More information on the procedures to be followed for each category can be found HERE.
UK nationals who did not reside or work in Belgium before the end of the transition period but wish to do so after the end of the transition period must follow the rules and procedures applicable to third-country nationals. More information on the procedures to be followed for each category can be found HERE.
After the transition period, a distinction will be made between family members of UK nationals who were resident in Belgium before the end of the transition period or who may join the beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement after the end of the transition period under the Withdrawal Agreement and those who are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement.
Family members of UK nationals who resided in Belgium before the end of the transition period may continue their residence beyond the transition period. To do so, they must present themselves at the commune to apply for a residence card for beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement (M card). An application period has been foreseen to submit this application running from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. More information on the procedures to be followed per category can be found HERE.
UK nationals who resided outside Belgium before the end of the transition period but who are still allowed to join their British family member who is a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement must apply to the commune for a residence card for beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement (M card). An application period has been set in place to submit this application, which lasts from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. More information on the procedures to be followed per category can be found HERE.
Family members of UK nationals who did not reside or work in Belgium before the end of the transition period or family members of British beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement who are not themselves protected by the Withdrawal Agreement must follow the rules and procedures applicable to third-country nationals. More information on the procedures to be followed by category can be found HERE.
During the application period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021, you can identify yourself at the border with your old residence card (E, E+, F, F+, valid annex 15), your certificate issued at the time of submitting your application for beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement (Annex 56 or 57) or your new electronic card for beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement (M or N card).
After the application period, i.e. as from 1 January 2022, you can only use your certificate issued at the time of submitting your application for beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement (Annex 56 or 57) or your new electronic card for beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement (M or N card).
Do not forget that you will always have to pass through ALL PASSPORTS at the border, even if you are in possession of your old residence card or your new electronic card for beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement (M or N card). You must also always have a valid identity card or passport. Your passport will not be stamped.
From 31 December 2020, the E card will only cover your rights protected by the Withdrawal Agreement and no longer those reserved to Union citizens. There is therefore no point in delaying your application in order to enjoy the rights reserved for Union citizens for a longer period of time.
Until 31 March 2022, you can continue to use your valid E/E+/F/F+ card in Belgium pending delivery of your card. After 31 March 2022, these cards will automatically expire, even if their validity date has not yet been exceeded. If you have applied for a status as beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement, you will receive a certificate of application covering the same rights as the E/E+/F/F+ card until a decision is made and your card is issued..
Until the end of the Belgian application period, until 31 December 2021, you can also use your old card at the internal and external borders of the European Union to prove that you are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement.
If you do not have an E/E+/F/F+ card or if your E/E+/F/F+ card loses its validity before 31 March 2022, you can rely on the certificate that you will receive when you submit your application at the commune. This certificate protects the same rights as the E/E+/F/F+ card until a decision is made and your card is issued.
The E/E+/F/F+ card is also automatically cancelled if you do not complete your application within 3 months of submitting it. In this case, you can still rely on your certificate of application pending a decision.