Currently, more than 45,000 Ukrainian refugees live in Belgium. Temporary protection for them, as well as for residents of other EU countries, has been extended until March 2026. Find out about the conditions of entry, residence, education and healthcare for Ukrainians in Belgium in 2024

An insurance policy is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside of Ukraine

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Entry rules

No visa is required to enter Belgium. Ukrainians can use biometric passports valid for 180 days from the date of entry. Similar requirements apply to tourists.

If you do not have a passport, you can provide any other identity document. However, without a biometric passport, Ukrainians are only allowed to enter via the land border, and the rule does not apply to Belgian airports and seaports.

For how long can temporary protection be applied for and extended?

Citizens of Ukraine who have a biometric passport can stay in Belgium without a visa for 90 days. The period can be extended up to a maximum of 180 days if the situation in Ukraine does not allow for safe return after the expiry of the period.

Citizens of Ukraine who do not have a biometric passport but have been granted a visa to Belgium can also obtain an extension of their permitted stay up to a maximum of 180 days.

Ukrainian citizens who have a limited residence permit in Belgium and no longer meet the conditions for renewing their permit (card A) can obtain an extension of their permitted stay for a maximum of 180 days.

In order to extend your stay in Belgium, you should immediately contact the municipal administration of your place of residence to request an extension.

You can legally live and work in Belgium if you have a type A residence permit and Annexe 15/Bijlage 15 (Annex 15):

- The type A card is issued by local municipalities in Belgium. The service costs 17-25 euros per person + the cost of a photo (5-7 euros). It takes from a few weeks to 2-3 months to complete. You will receive a letter in the mail with a pin code for the card, after which you need to come to the municipality to activate and receive the A card. The A identification card is valid for one year. It can be extended twice - both times for 6 months. If a new Card A cannot be issued, you will receive an Annex 15.

What documents do I need to apply for temporary protection?

In order to obtain a type A card or Annex 15, you need to come to the Registration Centre for Citizens of Ukraine and provide the following documents

- an identity document (paper or biometric passport)

- biometric data (fingerprints);

Where can Ukrainians apply for temporary protection in Belgium?

Free travel for Ukrainians in Belgium

Financial assistance to Ukrainian refugees

Ukrainians who have applied for an Annex 15 or a Form A card can receive financial assistance. The amount of financial assistance in Belgium depends on the family composition, the number of children and their age.

The amount of payments is as follows:

- 1139.97 € - monthly for a single adult;

- 758.64 € - monthly for each family member if the family consists of two people;

- 150-220 € per month additionally for each child in the family.

Accommodation

After registration, you will be accompanied by Fedasil (Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers), which directs refugees to municipalities with free housing. Since the housing situation in Belgium is currently in crisis, Fedasil advises you to ask your friends and acquaintances for accommodation, but if you do not have anyone to stay with, the agency can provide emergency accommodation for 1 or 2 nights.

Pets are not allowed in emergency accommodation and accommodation of Belgian municipalities. Ukrainians who come to Belgium with a pet must find a shelter for their pet on their own.

Please note that social services first check the living conditions offered to refugees. You and the landlord can also sign an agreement on temporary accommodation, which defines the rights and obligations of each.

Where to look for a job?

Ukrainians have the right to work legally in Belgium, but in order to work, you must

- have an A card (or Annex 15 to the A card) with unlimited access to the labour market;

- register with the public employment and vocational training service (Le Forem).

The Employment Centre can help you find a job, provide access to French language courses or help you learn a new profession.

IFAPME offers training for many professions of the future, with courses available for people over 15 years old.

You can also look for a job on the following sites:

takecarebnb.org/en

sharemyhome.org/uk/i-need-a-home

icanhelp.host

Education.

Medical services

Only Ukrainians who have issued Annex 15 or Card A can receive free medical care in Belgium, so we advise you to take care of an insurance policy before travelling to Belgium, as this is a guarantee of your safety and a quiet stay in the country until you receive all the necessary permits.

For those who are granted temporary protection status, health insurance will cover all necessary medical care.

In case you need emergency medical care, you can go to any doctor or emergency room of the nearest hospital. The procedures will be provided free of charge.

More information on temporary protection in Belgium is available here.

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