There are three ways to apply for asylum in Belgium:
- After your arrival in Belgium, in the registration centre at the Immigration Office (IO) (Rue Belliard 68,1000 Brussels, at 8.30 a.m. from Monday to Friday).
- At the border with the border authorities, for example at the airport.
- With the director of the prison or a staff member of the closed centre, if you are staying there.
You cannot apply for asylum from abroad.
You must apply for asylum in person. You cannot do this on behalf of someone else. Your children who are under 18 years old and arrive with you in Belgium, will be included in your procedure as a parent.
The IO (DVZ/OE) will register your application for asylum in the registration centre and the following will happen:
- A security search.
- Establishing your identity. Be sure to present all your identity documents.
- Checking whether you need an interpreter and for which language. The IO (DVZ/OE) decides whether your asylum procedure will be in Dutch or French.
- Taking your fingerprints and picture to check whether you have already been registered in another European country (see Dublin check).
Afterwards, Fedasil will check whether you have a right to stay in a reception centre and will perform a medical examination. Read more on the Fedasil website.
From the start of the asylum procedure, you can ask for a lawyer to assist you. This legal assistance is free of charge if you do not have enough financial means. Here you can read how to ask for the assistance of a lawyer.