Administrative documents

• ID card, identity certificate and passport
• Birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate
• Documents issued by the commune in which you are registered
• Change of name

ID card, identity certificate and passport

ID card

The ID card is issued by the commune of primary residence to all Belgians aged 12 years or over. The ID card must be carried at all times from the age of 15.

Every Belgian citizen has an eID card, which provides acces to the online services of IRISbox using a card reader (FR/NL).
To find out more about the eID card, visit the federal website welcome to e-belgium (FR/NL).

ID card for children

The ID card for children is issued by the communal administration for all children aged under 12 years. This document is valid up until the child celebrates its 12th birthday, provided it does not change its name or nationality.

This ID document is issued free of charge.

Identity certificate

The identity certificate is issued by the communal administrations for all children aged under 12 years on the request of the child’s parent or guardian. It is valid for two years after issue.

Passport

A passport is required for travel to countries where the ID card is not valid. The term of validity is five years. To find out what travel documents you need for your destination (FR/NL) see the Belgian diplomacy website (in French, Dutch and German).

Birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate

These documents can be obtained through IRISbox in most of Brussels communes.

Birth certificate

The birth certificate is issued by the commune in which you were born or the commune where your birth certificate was transcribed.

Death certificate

The death certificate is issued by the commune where the death was registered or the commune where the deceased last resided.

Marriage certificate

This document is issued by the commune in which you were married or the commune where your marriage certificate was transcribed.

Divorce certificate

This document is issued by the commune in which you were married.

Documents issued by the commune in which you are registered

These documents can be obtained through IRISbox in most of Brussels communes.

• Police record
• Certificate of household composition

  The certificate of household composition is issued by the commune in which you are registered or by any official body.

• Certificate of nationality
• Certificate of residence
• Certificate of residence with address history
• Life certificate

  This certificate may be required in connection with your pension rights.

• Declaration of change of address

Change of name

A person may be permitted to change their first or last name, as long as certain conditions are fulfilled, as laid down by law.

For more information contact the Federal Public Service Justice,
Service des Changements de Noms et de Prénoms (FR/NL).
Boulevard de Waterloo 115, 1000 Brussels
Phone: +32 (0)2 542 67 01
Fax: +32 (0)2 542 70 23