National Orders

The FPS Foreign Affairs is responsible for awarding distinctions in the national orders to deserving foreign citizens and Belgians living abroad.

Legislation and regulation

Legislation and regulations on the national orders.
  1. Last updated on
  • Law of 1 May 2006 on the award of honorary distinctions in the National Orders, published in the Belgian Official Journal of 24 October 2006.
  • Royal Decree of 13 October 2006 establishing the rules and procedure for the award of honorary distinctions in the National Orders, published in the Belgian Official Journal of 24 October 2006.
  • Royal Decree of 27 January 2008 approving various regulations and equivalence relating to the award of honorary distinctions in the National Orders to officials and employees of the federal public authorities, published in the Belgian Official Journal of 22 February 2008.
  • Royal Decree of 27 January 2008 approving the regulation on the award of honorary distinctions in the National Orders to members of the integrated police services, published in the Belgian Official Journal of 26 February 2008.
  • Royal Decree of 16 April 2008 approving the regulations on the award of honorary distinctions in the National Orders to staff working in the education system of the Flemish, French and German-speaking Community, published in the Belgian Official Journal of 16 May 2008.
  • Royal Decree of 5 June 2008 laying down, in the absence of regulations, the minimum conditions for the award of annual honorary distinctions, published in the Belgian Official Journal of 30 June 2008.
  • Royal Decree of 10 February 2009 approving the equivalence regarding the award of honorary distinctions in the National Orders to the staff of the Brussels-Capital Region, published in the Belgian Official Journal of 13 March 2009.