Passport

How do you apply for a Belgian passport?

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Procedure to apply for a passport

Please read all instructions below before making an appointment. If your application file is not complete (some document is missing), your application can be refused. 

Mandatory registration and appointment

 
First of all, make sure you are registered in the population registry of the Consulate General of Belgium in Montreal. If you are not registered, your passport application will not be admissible. 

Besides, to obtain a passport, either for a new application or for the renewal of your expired passport, please note that you must go in person, by appointment, to the Consulate General in Montreal. Your biometric data (photo, fingerprints and signature) will be collected on site. There is no need to call the Consulate General to make an appointment: appointments are made exclusively through our online booking platform. The Consulate General does not give appointments by phone or email. 

It is not possible to apply for your passport by e-mail or by post. 

The photo, fingerprints and signature that you may have had registered in a previous passport application cannot be used again for a new passport application, for legal reasons and for the protection of your personal data. 
 

What is the procedure to obtain a passport?


1. You must be registered in the consular population registry of the Consulate General of Belgium in Montreal. If you are not registered, your passport application will not be taken. 

2. Once you have the confirmation that you are duly registered in the population registry in Montreal, complete the application form in Dutch (PDF, 153.88 KB) or in French (PDF, 104.93 KB), on your computer or handwritten in black ink and in capital letters. Do not send it by post but print it and bring it to your appointment.  

3. When you come for your appointment at the Consulate General, bring ALL following documents. If your application file is not complete (some document is missing) your passport application can be refused

  • The application form duly completed, dated and signed; 
  • Your appointment confirmation email; 
  • Your old passport; 
  • If you hold another nationality/citizenship other than Belgian: a copy of your foreign identity card and/or foreign passport; 
  • If you are Canadian, but not born in Canada: a copy of your Canadian Citizenship Certificate (long form - front and back, showing the date when you acquired your citizenship); 
  • A recent proof of address (less than 6 months): a copy of an electricity, gas, water or internet bill, a lease contract or a Canadian driving licence front and back;  
  • A proof of your legal status in Canada: copy of your Permanent Resident card, work permit, study permit...; 
  • A payment card (debit or credit) with which you will pay the cost of the passport at the Consulate General (see fees below); 
  • A prepaid return envelope (express mail service with tracking number, e.g. Xpresspost regional or national, UPS, FedEx, DHL, Purolator) addressed to yourself, so that we can ship your new passport (Note: you may also collect the passport at the Consulate General). 

4. Finally, book an appointment online (choose a date and time slot). The Consulate General does not give appointments by phone or e-mail. 

Note: You do not need to bring a passport/identity-size photo. It will be taken on site during the appointment.
 

What is the procedure for children?


For children under 6 years old


If your child is under 6 years old, the passport application can be done remotely.

First of all, make sure that your child is registered in the population registry of the Consulate General. 

When you have confirmation of your child’s registration, please send by post to the Consulate General of Belgium in Montreal:  

  • The passport application form in Dutch (PDF, 158.09 KB) or in French (PDF, 107.02 KB), duly completed, dated and signed by both parents
  • Two recent colour photos (passport/identity size); 
  • A certified cheque or a bank draft (issued by a Canadian financial institution) or a postal money order (issued by Canada Post) for CAD 52,50 made out to 'Consulate General of Belgium'. Please note that personal cheques are not accepted. If you apply for more than one child, please make only one payment with the total amount for all applications; 
  • A prepaid return envelope (express mail service with tracking number, e.g. Xpresspost regional or national, UPS, FedEx, DHL, Purolator), addressed to yourself, so that we can ship your child's new passport (Note: you may also collect the passport at the Consulate General). 


For children over 6 years old


If your child is over 6 years old, he/she must come in person to the Consulate General accompanied by one of his/her parents. Their photo and signature will be recorded on the spot. If your child is over 12 years old, his/her fingerprints will also be registered. 

For any child over 6 years old, the procedure is as follows: 

  • First, make sure your child is registered in the population registry of the Consulate General; 
  • Fill in the application form in Dutch (PDF, 153.88 KB) or in French (PDF, 104.93 KB) (on your computer or handwritten in black ink and in capital letters), dated and signed by both parents
  • Make an appointment online and choose a date and time slot that suit you; 
  • On the day of your appointment, bring all the documents mentioned in point 4 under "What is the procedure to obtain a passport?
     

How much does a passport cost?

How much does a passport cost? 

  • Adult (>18 years): CAD 112,50 per passport 
  • Minor (<18 years): CAD 52,50 per passport 

Payment is made at the time of appointment by credit or debit card at the Consulate General (except for minors under the age of 6 - see above).  

For more details on consular fees, please consult the consular fees

When will I receive my passport?

 
After your appointment at the Consulate General, it takes approximately 2 weeks to receive your passport. The Consulate General will inform you personally as soon as your new passport is available. 
 

What are my other options to apply for a passport if you cannot travel to Montreal?

 
If you are unable to travel to Montreal, you have several alternative options: 

1. Apply for a passport during a forthcoming biometric mission of the 'Flying Consul' in your region; 

2. Apply for your passport at another Belgian consulate

3. Apply for your passport in Belgium at: 

  • the Belgian municipality of your last registration; 
  • the Belgian municipality of your birth if you have never lived in Belgium but were born there; 
  • the Belgian municipality of your choice if you have never lived in Belgium and were not born there. 

The photo, fingerprints and signature that you may have registered for a previous passport application cannot be used again for a new passport application, for legal and data protection reasons. 
 

How long is a passport valid for?

 
The validity of a Belgian passport depends on your age at the time of application: 

  • You are an adult (over 18): your passport will be valid for 7 years. 
  • You are a minor (under 18): your passport will be valid for 5 years. 
     

Pre-registrate your biometric data


You do not need a passport soon but you want to get your identity picture, fingerprints and signature already registered? This "pre-registration" can be done for free and will stay valid for 1 year. Send the special form (Dutch (PDF, 82.66 KB) - French (PDF, 102.4 KB)) to the Consulate General in Montreal and wait for the appointment confirmation. 

Form (Dutch (PDF, 85.24 KB) - French (PDF, 99.19 KB)) to apply for a passport with pre-registered biometric data.

After confirmation of the Consulate General in Montreal you can also opt for an appointment with: 

Whoever will service you will give you a confirmation form of the pre-registration of your biometric data which will be kept for a limited period of 1 year. This means you will have to send your complete passport application to the Consulate General in Montreal within that period. Do not forget to join the confirmation form

Your written application for a passport must contain the following documents per person

  • For adults and children older than 6: the application form in Dutch (PDF, 153.88 KB) or in French (PDF, 104.93 KB) completely filled in and duly signed (also by both parents for children under 18) 
  • For children under 6: the  application form in Dutch (PDF, 158.09 KB) or in French (PDF, 107.02 KB) completely filled in and duly signed by both parents + an identity picture. 
  • Your current Belgian passport. It will be invalidated and destroyed unless you want it back (it still contains valid visa, you wish to keep it as a souvenir,… In this case, notify this in writing so it can be sent back to you). 
  • If your current passport is lost or has been stolen: a copy of the police statement 
  • A copy of your Canadian driver’s license or another document showing your current address in Canada.
  • If you hold another nationality/citizenship other than Belgian: a copy of your foreign identity card and/or passport. 
  • Should you be Canadian, but not born in Canada: a copy of your Canadian Citizenship Certificate (long form) showing the date of naturalization.  
  • You do not possess the Canadian nationality: a copy of your Canadian immigration documents (work permit, study permit, permanent resident card).  
  • If the application concerns a new born child or a person who has not yet been registered at the Consulate General in Montreal: join a complete application for registration
  • The applicable consular fee.  
  • If you want to receive your new passport by mail: add a duly stamped return envelope (Xpresspost regional or national, UPS, FedEx, DHL, Purolator…) sufficient to contain the passports you have requested. The mailing is done under your responsibility.  

In case you have lost this form, you should download and include an "emergency form" (Dutch (PDF, 128.67 KB) - French (PDF, 136.44 KB)).

Finally, book an appointment online

Defective passport

 
Due to a production error in your passport, you have not been able to travel as planned and have suffered damage of some sort: 

  • You had to postpone or cancel your trip; 
  • You had to stay abroad waiting to receive a new passport; 
  • You had to interrupt your travel and return home. 

Please note that you can receive a new passport for free without having to appear in person for the registration of your biometric data. See also the important notice under Apply in person for the registration of the biometric data

You can also submit a request for financial compensation to the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs 
 

Temporary passport


Temporary or emergency passports can only be delivered under exceptional circumstances. KINDLY NOTE : the fact of not having applied for a regular passport in due time is not considered being an exceptional circumstance. 

Be also aware that the validity of a temporary passport is limited in time and space and that it is not accepted as a valid travel document by each and every country. It can, for example, not be used for travelling into the United States, not even for transiting in a US airport. 

First check with the embassy or the consulate of the country of your destination whether its authorities accept the Belgian temporary passport and under which conditions. You will to find preliminary information on the website of the FPS Foreign Affairs