Electronic identity card and Kids-ID

• Uses of an eID
• Ways to apply for an eID: in person, per post, or in Belgium
• Activation of the eID card
• Validity period of an eID
• Other information: theft or loss, cardreaders for eID's

Use of an eID

As a travel document

You don’t need an eID to travel or stay in Japan. An eID is useful in Belgium and the other member states of the European Union. To find out which document you need for which country, consult the website of the FPS Foreign Affairs.

For identification purposes through the internet

The chip of the eID contains an electronic identity and signature certificate. A special card reader can read these certificates. You can thus identify yourself and arrange services with several institutions and organizations in Belgium (management of your tax file through Tax-on-web, obtain documents from the city administrations, purchase of a train ticket, some bank services,…). If you want to do this online you, have to buy such a special card reader. More information can be found on www.eid.belgium.be.

Important, these certificates can only be activated by the Embassy in Tokyo by e-Appointment. One has to appear in person with the eID and the PUK code. This code is sent to you by separate mail when the eID is issued. In case this code is lost you can request a new one on this website (NL & FR). The new code will be sent to you through the Embassy in Tokyo.

Ways to apply for an eID

Your current eID remains valid until its expiration date, but it is recommended that you request your new eID before your old eID expires.

Applicants 6 years and older must apply in person (or have their biometric data preregistered to enable them to apply through the post at a later date).

A new eID can be issued in around 6 weeks.

Important: An application for a new eID can only be submitted by Belgians who have been deregistered from the population register in Belgium and are officially registered in this post. The application can only be processed if your administrative file is up to date.

Option 1: Application at the Embassy (in person)

1. Make an e-Appointment ("eID - application) to apply for an eID
2. Prepare the necessary documents, the consular fee in exact change, and a self-addressed LetterPack Plus (optional)
3. Come to the Embassy on the date of your appointment to submit your application file and to have your biometric data taken
4. Receive your new eID per registered mail (LetterPack Plus) or pick it up after making an e-Appointment ("eID - collect + activation")
5. (Optional) Have your new eID activated (see below)

Option 2: Application at the Embassy (through the post)

1. Have your biometric data preregistered within 12 months before your intended application. 
2. When you are ready to apply, send the necessary documents, the consular fee, the confirmation form, and a self-addressed LetterPackPlus (optional) per post
3. Receive your new eID per registered mail (LetterPack Plus) or or pick it up after making an e-Appointment ("eID - collect + activation")
4. (Optional) Have your new eID activated (see below)

Option 3: Application in Belgium

You can also apply for your e-ID at

1. the Belgian municipal office where you were last registered; 
2. the municipal office of the Belgian municipality where you were born if you have never lived in Belgium, but were born there; or
3. a Belgian municipality of your choice if you have never lived in Belgium and were not born there.

This option is more expensive. Please confirm the price with the municipality where you wish to introduce the application.

The new eID and PUK code will then be delivered to the municipality no later than 2 working days later, and you can activate the card immediately at the municipality.

Activation of the new eID card

Activating the card and certificates allows citizens to identify themselves online and connect to official Belgian websites to make use of online government services.

Any Belgian citizen registered in the population registers of a Belgian embassy or professional consulate can activate their eID (the card and its certificates) at their own consular post, another consular post, or a municipal office in Belgium. The cardholder must come in person, the activation cannot be done by by a third person, not even with a procuration. This also applies to minors 12 years and older. 

Procedure:

Make an e-Appointment and bring your new eID and the PUK code you received. 

Validity period of an eID

The validity depends on your age at the date of the application: 

The eID remains valid:

• when you move (to another career post, from or to Belgium)
• if it was issued by a Belgian municipality and provided that the holder has reported his move to the municipal administration.

The eID is no longer valid:

• if it is reported to have been lost or stolen
• if the holder’s photo is no longer resemblant
• if it was issued after August 2008 by a Belgian municipality and if the holder has not reported his move abroad to the municipal administration.

Other information

In case of theft or loss

If your eID or Kids-ID is lost or stolen, a report to the police is necessary and you must also report the loss to www.checkdoc.be

Card readers for eID's 

The Belgian ID card readers that we have in our Embassy are on our keyboard. Unfortunately, for security reasons, it is not possible to give you access to our ICT equipment.

You can purchase an eID card reader in almost all stores or online web shops that sell computers, multimedia or electrical equipment. For example, you can check with Amazon whether they sell a compatible reader for Belgian identity cards.

The card readers that some banks offer for internet banking can also be used as an eID card reader.

Another possibility is to request a “token” at www.taxonweb.be.