F Card renewal in Belgium: apply for F+ directly or renew F first?

aplaster New member

Member since 08 January 2026

aplasterNew member08 January 2026 17:38:44

Hi everyone,

I’m confused about renewing my Belgian F card and whether we can apply for permanent residence.

Our situation (married couple living in Belgium):

• Spouse: French, EU card

• Me: American, F card

• Both cards expire in ~8 months

• We’re approaching 5 years of residence in Belgium

Questions:

1. Can we apply directly for EU+ / F+, or do we need to renew the current EU/F cards first and only then apply for EU+/F+?

2. For my case (F card), which “track” applies in Belgium? On the IBZ/DOFI site I only found these two sections:

• EU citizens: https://dofi.ibz.be/en/themes/citizens- … lgium-eu-3

• Third-country nationals (long-term resident): https://dofi.ibz.be/en/themes/third-cou … us-belgium

I’ve read there are two EU frameworks: Directive 2004/38/EC (EU citizens + family members) vs Directive 2003/109/EC (EU long-term residents). But I can’t tell from IBZ which one applies to an F → F+ permanent residence application.

3. The conditions look different (income/health insurance, etc.). For example, the Third-country nationals page mentions requirements like sufficient means of subsistence (e.g., €1,038 + €346 per dependant) and health insurance, while the EU route doesn’t seem to require them in the same way.

4. Biggest confusion: absences/travel rules. The third-country nationals page mentions 6 consecutive months max and 10 months total over 5 years, while the EU route uses a “6 months per year” approach. For an F+ application, do communes usually ask for a full 5-year travel/absence record?

Thanks a lot.

Alex2626 New member

Member since 06 March 2025

Alex2626New memberYesterday 05:59:11

Hello,

Apply Directly: You can apply for the F+ card (Permanent Residence) directly up to 5 months before your current F card expires, provided that you have completed 5 years of legal residence. First, check your address history and calculate the period from your first registered address. If you have completed 5 years of residence together with your spouse, you may apply for the F+ card before your F card expires (up to 5 months in advance).

Absences: Your limit is 6 months per year. The "10 months total in 5 years" rule does not apply to you.

Those strict figures you saw (such as €1,000+ per person) apply to individuals who have no ties to an EU citizen and are seeking "Long-Term Resident" status (L card/D card) entirely on their own. In your case (the transition from F to F+), the process is much different and far more flexible.

Another condition is that you should not have received social assistance (CPAS/OCMW), or at least not to an extent that makes you an "unreasonable burden" on the social assistance system.

Notes:

These rules apply if you are still married to a Belgian/EU citizen, living at the same address, and your residency registration has never been interrupted (deleted). However, the commune will know your specific situation best; these are based on my experiences. I applied one month ago myself(still waiting); they only required a passport and issued an Annex 22. From what I understand, if your F+ card is refused, they issue a new F card instead