Identity card for Belgians living abroad

For Belgian children under the age of 12 who reside abroad and are registered with a consular post, parents may apply for a Kids-ID.
 

A Kids-ID is valid for 3 years, even in the event of a change of residence (to another consular post or to Belgium).

The Kids-ID remains valid:

• in the event of a move (to another region, another country or to Belgium);
• if it was issued by a municipality in Belgium and the holder has reported the move abroad to the municipal administration;
• even if the child becomes older than 12 years of age. In that case, the Kids-ID replaces the eID until its expiry date.

The Kids-ID is no longer valid:

• if it has been reported lost or stolen;
• if the photograph no longer resembles the child;
• if it is damaged;
• if it was issued by a municipality in Belgium and the holder has not reported the move abroad to the municipal administration.
   

Is your child under 6 years old?

A Kids-ID application can be submitted remotely. Send the application form (in Dutch (PDF, 294.24 KB), French (PDF, 297.74 KB) or German (PDF, 296.75 KB)) together with a photograph of your child to the consular post where he or she is registered. Depending on the parental authority rules of the country in which your child resides, the application may be submitted by one parent living with the child or must be submitted by both parents.

You may also apply for a Kids-ID through a municipality in Belgium. See the information below.
 

Is your child between 6 and 11 years old (inclusive)?

Send the application form (in Dutch (PDF, 190.72 KB), French (PDF, 221.24 KB) or German (PDF, 216.67 KB)) to the consular post where the child is registered. Depending on the parental authority rules of the country in which your child resides, the application may be submitted by one parent living with the child or must be submitted by both parents.

You and your child must then appear in person for the registration of the child's photograph. This registration can take place at the consular post where the child is registered, during a mobile kit mission organised by that post, or at any other Belgian consular post (except honorary consulates).
 

Applying for a Kids-ID through a municipality in Belgium

Regardless of the age of a child under 12, you may also apply for a Kids-ID through a municipality in Belgium. In that case, the child and both parents must be present when the application is submitted.

A Kids-ID requested through a municipality is more expensive than one requested through a consular post, but it is issued very quickly, no later than within 2 working days.

The competent municipality is:

1. the municipality where the child was last registered in Belgium;
2. the municipality of the child's birth if the child has never lived in Belgium but was born there;
3. any municipality of your choice if the child has never lived in Belgium and was not born there.

You do not need to contact your consular post before going to a municipality. However, some municipalities require an appointment to be made in advance.
 

A Kids-ID requested through a Belgian consular post costs €15 and is delivered to the consular post within two weeks.

In addition, if your consular post offers this service, mailing costs may apply if you wish to receive the card by post. Please note that shipment is at your own risk. In the event of loss, you will have to apply for a new card at your own expense.

A Kids-ID requested through a municipality in Belgium is more expensive (around €120, with the exact cost varying from one municipality to another). It is delivered there within two working days following the application.
 

The phone number mentioned on the Kids-ID (+32 78 150350) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In case a child carrying its Kids-ID has lost its way, any person finding it can easily contact its parents or a contact person thanks to a cascade system of phone numbers that has been activated by the parents.

Visit the website Hello parents in order to activate this cascade system or for more information.
 

If your child is 12 years old and the Kids-ID is still valid, you can have it activated so that he or she can identify themselves online.

To do so, you and your child must appear in person at any Belgian consular post or municipality in Belgium. The authentication code received with the card is required for this procedure.